These commemorative Melkart statues, created by Antonio Aparicio Mota, are placed in different parts of the city. The places where they are placed are related to the crossing of the Phoenician ships in the 7th century BC and to the course of the river Iro, which was an access route to the interior and to the shelter of the Cerro del Castillo, where the Phoenicians settled.
The purpose of placing statues of Melkart throughout the city of Chiclana is part of the initiative "Chiclana, of Phoenician origin", which seeks to recreate the route that the Phoenicians took when they founded the settlement that we know today as Chiclana.
The placement of these statues has symbolic significance, as Melkart was a Phoenician god associated with navigation, tuna fishing and Phoenician trade in the Mediterranean. These statues represent the Phoenician influence in the region and the importance of Melkart in the history of Chiclana. Furthermore, the Phoenician route in Chiclana aims to recreate the unknown history of the city, which goes back to the beginning of the first millennium BC, and to show that Chiclana has a Phoenician origin.
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The temple of Melkart: a Phoenician legacy in Chiclana de la Frontera
In the heart of Chiclana, in the south of Spain, you will find the Valentín Sancti Petri hotel, surrounded by an impressive landscape that transports us to a millenary past. The temple of Melkart, located in the surroundings of the Sancti Petri Castle, is a testimony to the influence that the Phoenicians had on the region. In this article, we will explore the story of how the Phoenicians arrived on our shores and how their legacy is still alive today.
The arrival of the Phoenicians in Chiclana.
In the 11th century BC, the Phoenicians arrived in Chiclana from Tyre and founded Gadir, a commercial and religious centre. The route "Chiclana, of Phoenician origin" recreates their arrival and settlement in the Cerro del Castillo. The temple of Melkart, from the 8th century BC, is an example of their architecture and influence.
Tuna fishing and Phoenician trade in Chiclana
The Phoenicians introduced tuna fishing and trade in the Mediterranean, becoming a symbol of Gadeira. They founded Gadir to search for precious metals, establishing a commercial base in Sancti Petri.
Religion and territorial defence in Chiclana
The 3rd century BC Sancti Petri Castle, built by the Phoenicians and fortified by the Romans, is a key monument. The temple of Melkart symbolised the power of Tyre and the union of religion and territorial defence.
Today, the temple of Melkart is a testimony to the Phoenician influence in Chiclana. The route "Chiclana, of Phoenician origin" covers historical sites, highlighting Phoenician navigation, fishing, trade and religion in the region.
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