Classics

Ancient Carthage: History

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This is a map of hinterland of Carthage from Lancel's Carthage, a History, p. 271.

See a timeline of important dates in Carthaginian history.

Early History: Foundation and early explorations in the western Mediterranean

After the collapse of the Hittite empire, the Phoenicians began to prosper. They were a seafaring people intent on trade, not territorial hegemony. With the press of the growing Assyrian empire in the ninth century, and perhaps an increase in population, the Tyrians sent colonists to the site of what they called "New City," Carthage. Carthage would grow to rival her mother city of Tyre and she is the only colony that founded new colonies in Spain, Sardinia, Sicily and North Africa.

A virtual graveyard of ships have been found in the waters between Sicily and Carthage. Most of the wrecks appear to be Roman transport ships. For more information on commericial shipping, see Lancel (1992, 1995), pages 121-133.

When the settlers arrived in what is now Tunisia, they encountered the native population of Berbers who had been in the area since the ninth millennium BCE. The resulting culture we call Punic was an amalgamation of native and Punic elements. The Berbers, who had been semi-nomadic, adopted urban living.

The Carthaginians soon made their presence felt in Sardinia, north of Carthage.

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Their influence is documented in artifacts both indigenous and imported, including a bronze statuette of a native Sardinian chieftain in the Museum of Cagliari, and necklaces. In exchange for metals (gold, tin, silver), the Carthaginians would give necklaces, cloth, pottery, etc. Here is an example from the island of Sardinia.

Discovered in 1963, the famous Pyrgi tablets (gold sheets) document a treaty between the Etruscans of Caere (Pyrgi is the port city of Caere). The Punic text is on the left sheet. Such documents give us a better understanding of trade relations betweent the Etruscans and the Carthaginians in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

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S. Lancel, Carthage, a History, p.85

Carthage at its Zenith

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Fortifications of Selinus (Selinunte) in anticipation of Carthaginian attack, especially the fortifications along north end of town (second image). Photo: © C. Renaud, 1987

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View of akropolis from extramural sanctuaries to east. Photo: © C. Renaud, 1987

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View of akropolis. Photo: © C. Renaud, 1987

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Temple A on akropolis. Turned into a Punic sanctuary. In the pronaos of the temple are the symbols of Tanit and Hermes. Photo: © C. Renaud, 1987

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Temple B on akropolis. Photo: © C. Renaud, 1987

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Temple "G" at Selinunte. The temple was never finished. When the Carthaginians attacked in 406, the temple had been under construction for almost 100 years. Columns for this temple were being transported from the quarry when they had to be abandoned suddenly. It would seem that the citizens of Selinus were caught unawares. This slide shows one of the colossal doric capitals. Photo: © C. Renaud, 1987

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View of temples of Akragas from the Temple of Concord. Photo: © C. Renaud, 1987

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Map of the Hannibalic or Second Punic War. From Khader and Soren, Carthage: A Mosaic of Ancient Tunisia, p. 32

Religion

Phoenician religious practices have received much attention, due especially to the child sacrifices that occurred at their cities to ensure the health and well being of the community. The major gods were Baal Hammon (the name Hannibal means "favorite of Baal"), Tanit, Baal's consort, Eshmoun, and Melqart, later assimilated to Hercules.

At Carthage, the cult of Tanit became the most important god. Her symbols include doves, a palm tree, grapes, a crescent moon. She is the goddess of many names (like Isis) a queen of the Manes (shades of the dead).

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Image of Tanit. Neo-Punic Funerary Stele. From Khader and Soren (1987), 180

The Tophet

The Tophet to the south of Carthage and west of the harbors was the area where children (up to 4 years old) were sacrificed and buried. Sometimes animals would be substituted in place of children, but as Carthage's fortunes began to wane, the substitution became less common. As Diodorus Siculus records:

They were filled with superstitious dread, for they believed they had neglected the honors of the gods that had been established by their fathers. In their zeal to make amends for their omission, they selected 200 of the noblest children and sacrificed them publicly; and others who were under suspicion sacrificed themselves voluntarily, in a number not less than 300. (Diodorus 20.14.1-7 and following).

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Graver Markers from the Tophet area. The funeral stele on the left dates to the fourth century BCE. The Punic characters indicate that it is a dedication to the Tophet's divinities. Photo from Khader and Soren (1987), 151, no. 14. The stele on the right dates to the same period. The stele exhibits traditional symbols of the sun and moon (crescent). Photo is from Khader and Soren (1987), 151 no. 15


Copyright © 1997-2002 Christine Renaud, all rights reserved.