The mythology Punic, or Phoenician mythology, or Carthaginian mythology is very close to the people of canaan. This section will only cover the differences with Canaan.
The Phoenicians are an ancient people originating from the cities of Phoenicia, a region which approximately corresponds to present-day Lebanon. This name comes from the authors greeks who wrote about them. Phoenicia has always been divided between several cities, the most important of which were Byblos, Sidon (Sayda), Tire (Sour) and Arwad, and we do not know if they were aware of a common identity. Historians have used the adjective “Phoenician” to designate the civilization that flourished in the region between 1200 and 300 av. J.-C.
Carthage was founded by Phoenician settlers from Tire in 814 BC. According to legend, it was Queen Dido - or Elyssa -, sister of the king of Tyre, Pygmalion, who founded the city. The queen is said to have asked the neighboring sovereign Hiarbas, a Berber king, for permission to found a kingdom on his lands. He then offered him land as large as a cow's hide. The more clever queen had a cowhide cut into very thin strips and traced the contours of Carthage. In reference to this mythical founder, the Carthaginians are sometimes nicknamed the “children of Dido” in literature.
