Heartless, trite ancient god (4)
I believe the answer is:
baal
'ancient god' is the definition.
'Baal' can be an answer for 'god' (Baal is an example). I am unsure of the 'ancient' bit.
'heartless trite' is the wordplay.
'heartless' suggests removing the centre.
'trite' becomes 'banal' (I've seen this in another clue).
'banal' with its middle taken out is 'BAAL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for baal that I've seen before include "Canaanite fertility god" , "God of the Phoenicians" , "False Phoenician god (OT)" , "Fertility god (false to some)" , "God Elijah defeated" .)