Anyone who spends time on Ibiza soon realizes that our island is blessed with a profusion of powerful independent women. So it is no wonder that in ancient times the leading deity in Ibiza was not a male god, but was instead the goddess Tanit. Many centuries have passed since the primitive religion that spawned Tanit disappeared from Ibiza, yet the spirit of strong feminine energy that she represents still resonates throughout the island. It is that spirit which has attracted so many wonderful women to come here seeking a place where they can fully and freely express themselves. 

How did the energy of this special goddess emerge on Ibiza, and why is it still here after so many years? The Phoenicians were the first to settle in Ibiza about 2,600 years ago, but 100 years later the mighty Carthaginian Empire superseded Phoenicia. Tanit was the leading deity of Carthage, and they brought the worship of this goddess to their Ibiza colony. She was a powerful symbol of feminine strength, and a fertility goddess who watched over the fields, regulated the weather and ensured abundant harvests. Tanit was idolized by the people of Ibiza, and for centuries she was honoured with a massive annual festival of fertility.

Worship of Tanit dominated Ibiza for 400 years, but when Carthage was defeated by the Roman Empire she was gradually replaced by Roman goddesses. Over the ensuing centuries, religious worship on Ibiza shifted from the Roman gods, to Islam and finally to Christianity... but somehow the spirit of Tanit always remained beneath the surface. It arose from the ashes in 1907, when the es Culleram sanctuary near Cala San Vicente was discovered by the Archaeological Society of Ibiza. This was the very place where the ancient festivals celebrating Tanit had been held, and over 600 carvings and statues of her were found in the cave.

These discoveries sparked a growing fascination with Tanit that reached new heights when Ibiza became an international destination in the 70’s and 80’s. In keeping with those times, she was reinvented as a symbol of love, sensuality and freedom. Today her image can be found in many places around the island, from pieces of art adorning the walls of hotels and villas, to trinkets at the summer markets. She is truly eternal.