Ibiza has always had a special quality about it that everyone treasures. From time immemorial, civilisations have crossed swords to get their hands on this sacred land, so coveted for its blue sea, privileged Mediterranean location, magical energy, or really, for a combination of all of the above. Pirates, Moors, Carthaginians…all who tread on the island left traces \u2014large and small\u2014 of their culture, which, ultimately, is what has made Ibiza so diverse, rich, tolerant and different from the rest. The Carthaginian gods Tanit and Bes are a part of that legacy, and stand as authentic symbols of the island. For those of you who are as yet unfamiliar, we’ll tell you a bit about them.<\/p>\n
Tanit has always been Ibiza’s darling child. The Carthaginian goddess represents the Earth, Love, Life and Fertility, and though renowned throughout Carthage, it was here on the island that she found her most devoted followers. Temples were even erected in her name, like Cova des Culleram<\/em>, where rites and sacrifices (of animals and, if legends are to be believed, human children) were performed as offerings to the great Mother Goddess<\/em>. In the 1960s, after many centuries, hippies breathed new life into her legend. It is now common to find her as a decoration in stores, emblazoned on jewellery and adorning shop windows.<\/p>\n Then there is the God Bes. A short, stout and somewhat scruffy-looking figure who comes to us from Ancient Egypt. The god of Dance, Music, Fun and Humour, he is usually depicted sticking out his tongue or plucking away at some musical instrument, both activities being said to ward off poisonous animals and evil spirits. Among his attributes are fertility and the power to grant a satisfactory sex life, which explains why prostitutes have been known to tattoo him on their backsides. But Bes’s legacy on Ibiza extends much further: the name Ibiza actually means \u201cIsland of Bes\u201d. Do you know why?<\/p>\n It’s a curious tale. As we mentioned,\u00a0Tanit had long been the object of particular affection on the island, while Bes was more of a second-tier Egyptian god. It would seem to follow, then, that Tanit be Ibiza’s favoured frontwoman. However, Ibosim \u2014\u201cIsland of Bes\u201d\u2014 was ultimately chosen, for reasons not entirely understood today. Some have speculated this was due to the Carthaginians’ surprise at finding the island absent of snakes, a phenomenon they attributed to Bes’s superhuman protection. There is also a decidedly \u201cless scientific\u201d theory on the subject. We all know that Ibiza has got a positive energy capable of sucking in anyone who sets foot on its shores. Perhaps thousands of years ago Carthaginians already sensed this special aura. Some people posit that the island was by then already famous for its non-stop music, dancing till the break of day, fun and good vibrations that are still the name of the game. Surprise, surprise, all the exact same powers are assigned to Bes.<\/p>\n Whatever the case may be, what’s certain is that Ibiza has always been and will remain a magical island steeped in spirituality, one where everyone venerates his or her own god. We wanted to introduce two more to you today so you’d keep them in mind here on Ibiza. The island is, without a doubt, home to a thousand cultures, all watched over by the commanding Tanit and the fun-loving Bes, always ready to protect their island.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ibiza has always had a special quality about it that everyone treasures. From time immemorial, civilisations have crossed swords to get their hands on this sacred land, so coveted for its blue sea, privileged Mediterranean location, magical energy, or really,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1322],"tags":[541],"class_list":["post-1582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-en","tag-tanit-en"],"yoast_head":"\n