In order to gain the best and most reliable information about Hercules, a journey was made to the city of Tyre in Phoenicia. This voyage was taken because Tyre was known to have a famous and greatly respected temple dedicated to Hercules. Many people spoke of this temple with admiration, claiming it was very ancient and rich in offerings. For anyone wishing to understand the true origins of Hercules, this was an important place to visit Ephesus Tours Guide.
The Temple of Hercules in Tyre
Upon arriving in Tyre, the temple of Hercules was visited and carefully observed. The temple was richly decorated and filled with valuable offerings brought by worshippers over many generations. Among these offerings were two remarkable pillars. One pillar was made entirely of pure gold, and the other was made of emerald. The emerald pillar was especially impressive, as it shone brightly at night, reflecting light in a striking way.
These objects showed how deeply the god was honored and how important the temple was to the people of Tyre.
What the Priests of Tyre Said
While at the temple, a conversation took place with the priests who served there. They were asked how long the temple had existed. Their answer differed greatly from the beliefs held by the Greeks. According to the priests, the temple was built at the same time as the city of Tyre itself.
They explained that the city had been founded two thousand three hundred years earlier. This meant that the worship of Hercules in Tyre was extremely ancient and did not depend on Greek tradition. Their account suggested that the god Hercules had been honored long before the time when Greek stories placed the birth of Hercules, the son of Amphitryon Two Different Figures Named Hercules.
Another Temple of Hercules in Tyre
In Tyre, there was also another temple where Hercules was worshipped under a different form, known as the Thasian Hercules. This showed that the god was honored in more than one way, even within the same city. This discovery encouraged further travel to learn more about this form of worship.
