In the depths of ancient Carthage, where sandstorms whispered the secrets of millennia and the stars seemed closer than anywhere else, an event took place that still makes the blood run cold in the veins of those who hear about it. It is the story of the predictions of an elder from the temple of Baal-Hamon, the god of the sun and fertility. His name has been almost forgotten by time, but his prophecies remain alive, like dark shadows slipping through the pages of history.
The action unfolds in the 3rd century B.C., during the Poona Wars, when Carthage was a majestic city surrounded by mighty walls and adorned with golden domes. Here, among the glittering palaces and majestic temples, was the temple of Baal-Hamon, a place where ancient knowledge and the secrets of destiny were kept. One of the priests of this temple, who was called only ‘He Who Knows’, had the gift of seeing things that others could not even imagine.
His name was Hamon, a man with a face riddled with deep wrinkles, as if every line on his skin were the record of some terrible prophecy. He spoke little, but his words were like the thunder that destroys everything in its path. One night, when the stars burned especially bright, he travelled to the top of one of the towers for a ritual that would reveal to him the secrets of the future.
As Hamon began his ritual, he saw something terrible. The vision was so real that he felt a cold sweat on his back, even while under the scorching Carthaginian sky. He saw Carthage plunged into darkness, its great walls shattered, and the people like ants fleeing from imminent disaster. But the worst was ahead: he saw the shadow that would fall over the world if Carthage fell.
A prediction before the council
The next day Hamon came down from the tower, his eyes full of terror. He went straight to the Council of Elders to tell of his vision. ‘Oh, great rulers,’ he whispered as they found themselves in the shadow of the columns, ’your house will reach the heights of greatness, but then will come a darkness that no one will be able to stop. It will move like a ghost through the lands you claim as your own. And only those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the light will be able to stop this evil.’
The elders were men of practicality, but even their hearts clenched at the priest's words. They asked many questions, trying to understand who this man was who was willing to sacrifice himself. But Hamon only smiled enigmatically, repeating: ‘This is someone whose heart is already touched by darkness, but who will still find the strength to resist it.’ These words remained in the minds of all who were present at the meeting.
The coming of darkness
As the years passed, events began to unfold as if fate itself had followed Hamon's prediction. The Roman Republic began its advance towards Carthage. The city was surrounded, its defenders losing hope day by day. People spoke of strange signs in the sky, of voices heard in the night, and of shadows that moved where there should be nothing.
And then one day, when the city was about to fight its last battle, one of the common citizens, a young warrior named Malk, decided to fulfil a prediction. He was no hero, no warlord, just a man who had lost everything - his family, his home, his hope. But it was he who dared to do what others were afraid to even imagine - he volunteered himself as a sacrifice.
Malc disappeared the night before the decisive battle. No one knew where he had gone, and it wasn't until days later that it was revealed that he had committed suicide on the edge of the city, writing a message on the wall of his home: ‘For the light. To the future.’
That same night, the unbelievable happened. The Roman army, which was already preparing to storm the city, suddenly retreated. No one could explain the reason for this decision. It was said that the Roman commander had a dream in which the spirit of Malka appeared to him, demanding that the war be stopped. Others said that the gods heard his sacrifice and protected the city.
The mystery of the victim
After this incident, Malka's name became a symbol of self-sacrifice. He was buried in the main square of Carthage and the site of his death became sacred. But something strange was happening around the site. Those who approached it after sunset told of feeling cold, of whispers that could not be ignored, and of shadows that moved though there was no wind.
It is said that Hamon returned to Carthage many years later to see the result of his prediction. He went to the tomb of Malcus and stood there for a long time looking at the tombstone. Then he whispered: ‘Not all victims remain dead,’ and vanished into thin air as if he had never existed.
Reality or fiction?
The story of Hamon and Malk has been the subject of much debate and interpretation. To some it was clear evidence of mystical power, to others it was simply an amazing coincidence. However, some scholars suggest that the priest may have used his intimate knowledge of human psychology and the political situation of the time to create the effect of prophecy.
For example, he may have realized that fear of sacrifice could unite people, and that the very act of self-sacrifice could be a powerful symbol for opponents. Even so, the accuracy and scope of his prediction remains impressive.
Significance to history
The story of Hamon and Malka remains one of the most enigmatic pages of the ancient world. It reminds us how people have always sought answers to questions about the future using a variety of methods, from spiritual practices to analyzing current events. Perhaps it is the combination of these approaches that makes humanity so unique.
Today, we can only guess at how accurately Hamon foresaw events that occurred many centuries later. But his story continues to inspire us, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, we can find the light of hope and wisdom.
