Temple of Hercules Gaditanus

But Strabo believes the account to be fraudulent, in part noting that the inscriptions on those pillars mentioned nothing about Heracles, speaking only of the expenses incurred by the Phoenicians in their making.

As described by Silius Italicus in the 1st century BC, the facade featured the twelve labors of Hercules, intricately crafted in bronze.

Moreover, the temple held renowned relics such as the belt of Teucer, a Greek hero and son of Telamon, and the tree of Pygmalion, whose fruits were said to be emeralds.

Titus Livius narrates that Hannibal arrived at the island to offer his vows to the god before embarking on the conquest of Italy.

This revelation came after he had wept in front of the bust of Alexander the Great, feeling despondent that he had reached the same age without achieving significant success.