Image Details

Erich Lessing

Nearly identical mosaic depictions of the Phoenician-Punic goddess Tanit appear on the entrance floors of dwellings in Selinunte, Sicily (see photo of entrance floor from Selinunte, Sicily), and Kerkouane, Tunisia (shown here), 75 miles east of the major Punic city of Carthage. In both instances, the Tanit symbol is probably apotropaic—meant to protect residents from harm.