Re Carthage:
Very interesting. They survive to this day.
Puts a new light on the Abraham and Isaac story too.
That's my take as well.
I recall seeing a comedian on tv do a riff on religion being stupid. He used the story of Abraham (nearly) going through with sacrificing his son Isaac like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I remember thinking, "Because in the 2nd Millennium BC, IT WAS!