Gibraltar’s recorded history began around 950 BC with the Phoenicians, who lived nearby. The Carthaginians and Romans later worshipped Hercules in shrines said to have been built on the Rock of Gibraltar, which they called Mons Calpe, the “Hollow Mountain”, and which they regarded as one of the twin Pillars of Hercules.Although there is no record of the Phoenicians founding a town on the Rock, many modern towns and cities in southern Spain and along the north African coast are built on the remains of towns initially founded by the Phoenicians.  Phoenician objects found on Gibraltar, including in the Gorham’s Cave complex, indicate they may have used the caves as shrines.