Dido

Legendary Queen of Tyre
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Definition

Queen Dido (aka Elissa, from Elisha, or Alashiya, her Phoenician name) was a legendary Queen of Tyre in Phoenicia who was forced to flee the city with a loyal band of followers. Sailing west across the Mediterranean, she founded the city of Carthage c. 813 BCE and later fell in love with the Trojan hero and founder of the Roman people, Aeneas. The tale of Dido is most famously recounted in Virgil's Aeneid, but she appeared in the works of many other ancient writers both before and after.

More about: Dido

Timeline

  • c. 814 BCE
    Traditional founding date for the Phoenician colony of Carthage by Tyre.
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