Dido

Remembered as Carthage's founding queen and symbol of the city's greatness, her curse seemingly fulfilled when Rome destroyed Carthage in 146 BCE

Transformed Carthage into a thriving maritime trading hub, attracting Phoenician colonists and establishing commercial networks across the Mediterranean

Rejected marriage proposals from King Iarbas of the Numidians, who threatened war if she refused to become his queen and abandon her independence

According to Virgil's Aeneid, hosted the Trojan hero Aeneas, falling deeply in love with him through divine intervention by Venus and Juno

Abandoned by Aeneas when Jupiter commanded him to fulfill his destiny of founding Rome, leaving Dido heartbroken and consumed by despair

Threw herself upon a funeral pyre built of Aeneas's gifts, cursing Rome with her dying breath and prophesying eternal enmity between Carthage and the future empire

Born as Elissa, princess of the Phoenician city-state of Tyre, daughter of King Mattan I, destined to become the legendary founder of Carthage

Witnessed her husband Acerbas (Sychaeus), high priest of Melqart, murdered by her power-hungry brother Pygmalion who sought to seize his wealth

Escaped Tyre with loyal followers and her husband's hidden treasures, embarking on a perilous Mediterranean voyage to find a new homeland

Arrived on the North African coast near modern Tunisia, negotiating with local Berber king Iarbas for land to establish a settlement

Famously bargained for 'as much land as an oxhide could cover,' then cleverly cut the hide into thin strips to encircle the hill of Byrsa

Founded the city of Carthage (Qart-hadasht, 'New City') on the strategic promontory, establishing what would become Rome's greatest rival in the ancient world