Carthaginian Mythology - Near Eastern deities mixed with Greek?

[Arlequín]

Not condemned at the time apparently. Symbolic couples, Greek and Celt, were entombed alive after the Battle of Cannae for example.

They weren't formerly banned until 97 BC, a few generations after the end of the Punic Wars and then there were exceptions not considered 'sacrifices' as such. Cicero was writing around the time of the ban, not when such sacrifices had been common. Livy and Pliny were even further removed.

While not formerly sacrifices, deaths of gladiators were still dedicated to the Manes and Vestal Virgins and especially 'ex-virgins' were still entombed alive on occasion for the 'benefit of the city'.

[Metternich]

Most of what we know about the Carthaginians comes from Roman accounts, which are certainly not unbiased.  It is quite likely that by the time of the Barcas child sacrifice had become a rare event, done in times of great crisis.  And as for the Romans, the gladiatorial events very well may have begun as a  propitiatory funeral blood-rite.

[FierceKitty]

Livy claims it was considered minime Romano sacro, for what his opinion's worth.

[casual tea]

Indeed, the sources on Carthage are mostly from their rivals, the Greeks and Romans. Sadly there's a lot we still don't know.

Here's yet another link that may be informative:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Carthage

[zippyfusenet]

Archaeological evidence:

https://www.academia.edu/2298111/Child_Sacrifice_at_Carthage_Religious_Rite_or_Population_Control._Biblical_Archaeology_Review_10_1_1984_30-51_with_Lawrence_E._Stager_

It just crossed my mind that the hamsa or Hand of Fatima amulet could be related to the Hands of Tanit, and it seems others think so too:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamsa