How did Phoenician religion spread to Carthage and other Mediterranean colonies?

The spread of Phoenician religion to Carthage and other Mediterranean colonies was a direct result of the extensive maritime expansion and colonization efforts undertaken by Phoenician city-states, particularly Tyre, beginning in the early 1st millennium BCE.12

As Phoenicians established settlements—such as Utica and later Carthage—they brought their traditional deities, rituals, and religious practices with them. While religious worship in the Phoenician homeland varied by city, these shared beliefs were transplanted to colonial sites, where they evolved and integrated into local contexts.321

Key aspects of this religious transmission included:

• Deities: Major gods like Melqart (the principal deity of Tyre) and Baal remained central to colonial religious life. In Carthage, Baal Hammon emerged as the chief protector, while the goddess Tanit gained widespread prominence.3
• Ritual Continuity: Practices such as the use of stelae and the burial of remains in urns were maintained across various colonies, including Hadrumetum, Motya, and sites in Sardinia.3
• Cultural Solidarity: Adherence to these traditional religious modes provided a sense of identity and solidarity for the colonists as they established themselves in new territories.3