Melkarth and his Children
A mighty host raised Milqart of Sidon against the kings of the nations, and all the face of the earth was subdued before them.
From beyond Kittim was raised an army of seafaring kings, and from as far as Kaphtor came a host of the sons of Kittim and Javan. And the name of these kings were Ekishtur king of Kittim, Tiyuk king of Sillama, Atagala of Pappa, Pilagora of Kuri, Atmetu of Teba, Ahish of Aroga, and Itandar king of Mukini. These landed on the coast in the region of Sidon, beseeching Ashtart goddess of the city, saying: We will see Milqart, a hero of renown in these parts.
But Ashtart, suspecting trickery on behalf of these strangers at her gate, spoke unto them from the midst of the walls, saying, with a voice like a mighty blast: Go, and get thee hence! for I never knew thee among the sons of Sidon, nor yet among even her servants.
And at this the kings of the west were troubled, and trembled within themselves, fearing that Milqart would destroy them from the face of the earth. And so they took silver and gold, the wealth of princes, and came in procession to the gates of the great city, saying: We come bearing gifts for Ashtart, and for Milqart the son of Ashtart, that they may bless us, and leave us to dwell in peace and prosperity in our lands which lie beyond the sea.
Upon hearing this, Ashtart commanded the men of the city, her servants, commanding them to go, and to open the gates, and to accept the tribute of the Kittimites and the Javanites. And she herself was decked in splendid ornaments of gold, and supped from the vessels which the kings had brought to her sanctuary. And she was greatly pleased with them, and blessed them openly and within her heart, and the kings departed thence for their own country. But Milqart, upon his return from battle, arrived in wonder at the temple of his mother, saying: Woman, from whence cometh the great gifts of gold and of silver which deck thy courts and which furnish thy house with such splendour as I and my sons had never seen since we departed ere the week began?
And Ashtart answered him: I was much pleased with these gifts as tribute, brought into Sidon my city by the kings of the west from beyond the sea, from even as far as Kaphtor, where Kushor makes his dwelling.
And Milqart upon hearing this became vexed, saying: Woman, is it no longer known in Sidon to be wary of gifts given by the hands of the Javanites? For behold, their hearts know nothing but craftiness and guile, even from the time of the earthâs division until the day when I shall take my seat in the throne of the west. Nonetheless, for thy sake, lady, will I bless them and honour them, for I see that our treasuries are over-full because of them.
And from that day, the hosts of Milqart made a covenant with the children of Javan, to leave them in peace as they marched for war. And with the great excess of gold they had been given they paid for arms and helmets and armour, and with shield and spear campaigned against the nations of the whole world.
At this time they marched, with Milqart at their head, against the land of Phut, and the giants which dwelled in Phut, and made war against them and their offspring.











