Astarte and Eshmun were the chief divine pair of Sidon, worshipped together as patron deities of the city according to Phoenician inscriptions and classical sources.
Asclepius was identified with the Phoenician healing god Eshmun through Greco-Phoenician syncretism, particularly at Sidon where Eshmun's temple was reinterpreted as an Asclepieion.
Baal-Zebub and Eshmun both served oracular and healing functions in Phoenician-Philistine religion. Ahaziah's consultation of Baal-Zebub about his injury parallels Eshmun's role as divine healer.
Melqart of Tyre and Eshmun of Sidon were the two greatest Phoenician civic deities. Greeks equated Melqart with Heracles and Eshmun with Asclepius, reflecting their parallel roles as patron gods.
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