Sur les traces d’Athéna chez les Phéniciens

Abstract

In the “Phoenicocentric” account of Philo of Byblos Athena is presented as the daughter of El, the Greek Kronos. She is told to have settled in Attica to rule this part of the world, according to her father’s decisions. A set of epigraphic sources shows a different relationship between Athena and the Phoenician communities: the tutelary goddess of Athens regains patronage on her homeland, and from here she meets the Phoenicians, especially in Cyprus. In Idalion and Lapethos, Athena is explicitly identified with the Canaanite goddess Anat, yet poorly documented in the Phoenician area. Together, they seem to overcome an indigenous Great goddess. Inscriptions revealing offerings to the goddesses, often related to military events, depict how the performative powers of both Athena and Anat was appreciated, especially by the kings to whom they assure victory in the battle.

Keywords

• Athena
• Anat
• Greek-Phoenician bilingual inscriptions
• Cyprus
• Carthage
• Philo of Byblos