March 13, 2024 • 29 mins
In this episode of Global Treasures, we will discuss the Archaeological Site of Carthage, originally founded by the Phoenicians. Join us as we discuss the rich history, historic preservation, travel tips and so much more.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Abigail (00:00):
I'm Abigail,
Keith (00:01):
and I'm Keith,
Abigail (00:02):
and this is the Global Treasures Podcast.
We'll cover different WorldHeritage Sites each episode.
Keith (00:11):
These sites have been identified as having outstanding universal value
Abigail (00:15):
because they have cultural and or natural significance that's
so exceptional that it transcendsnational boundaries and is of importance
to present and future generations.
Keith (00:26):
There are 1, 199 sites across the world with more being added each year.
Abigail (00:32):
We'll explore the legends, history, travel tips, and so much more.
Keith (00:38):
Welcome to Season 2, where we will explore the 45
sites that UNESCO added in 1979.
Abigail (00:45):
In this episode, Keith and I will be introducing you to the archaeological
site of Carthage, located in Tunisia.
Keith (00:54):
This North African city was the capital of one of the most powerful
empires of the ancient world and wasin direct competition with Rome as the
most dominant around the Mediterranean.
The three wars that Carthagefought with Rome are the stuff of
legends and lasted a hundred years.
The rivalry was so great that it famouslycaused Cicero, the Roman senator,
(01:15):
to repeatedly exclaim "Delenda estCarthago", or Carthage must be destroyed.
The city was featured prominently in Greekmythology as the home of the legendary
Dido, who is also known as Elissa.
She is the legendary founderand first queen of the city.
The original queen of the Phoeniciancity state of Tyre, located in modern
(01:36):
Lebanon, she fled tyranny and foundedher own city in northwest Africa.
Since we only know of Dido throughGreek and Roman sources, all of which
were written well after the foundingof the city, the historical accuracy
of this legend is uncertain, butit is still wonderful to explore.
The details are best known fromthe account given in Virgil's epic
(01:57):
poem, The Aeneid, written about 20BC, which accounts the legendary
story of the Trojan hero Aeneas.
Dido is painted as a clever andenterprising woman who is Aeneas's
lover who runs away from her evilbrother Pygmalion after finding
out that he had her husband killed.
Under Dido's leadership, thecity of Carthage is founded
(02:18):
and quickly becomes prosperous.
Abigail (02:21):
Dido remains a figure that has endured.
She inspired countless poems, operas,and classical oil paintings, and as
a result, her legend continues on.
In the 20th century, she was chosenas a national symbol in Tunisia,
so that Tunisian women can bereferred to as "daughters of Dido".
(02:42):
She was even featured onTunisian Currency in 2006.
So the name Carthage means newcity or new town, and the city was
declared a UNESCO site in 1979.
It became the most powerful trading andcommercial city in the Mediterranean from
650 BC until its destruction in 146 BC.
(03:05):
By about 200 BC, The city was theoriginal Mediterranean superpower, with
vast control over trading ports andvarious North African trade routes.
At its height, Carthage controlled muchof North Africa, Sardinia, Corsica,
Sicily, and the Iberian Peninsula.
(03:26):
The city also became the secondlargest in the ancient Mediterranean,
only behind Alexandria, thecapital of Ptolemaic Egypt.
Keith (03:36):
A visit to this archaeological area reveals some spectacular main sites.
There's so much to see and studyhere that there are still ruins
that haven't been studied, andno one knows what they are yet.
Driving through the area on the mainroads, you'll pass columns reaching up
to the sky and stone structures thathave not even been fully unearthed.
Carthage is currently seeing arevitalization of archaeological
(03:59):
efforts by the Tunisian Ministry ofCulture and the European Union that
is aiming to restore several of thenumerous sites of the ancient city.
This effort is also aiming to renovate theCarthage National Museum, and the museum
is expected to reopen in June of 2026.
So if you're listening to this episodeafter that time, make sure to make
(04:19):
the museum part of your travel plans.
It is rumored that it isgoing to be outstanding.
A 20 minute drive away from the presentday city of Tunis, From the peak of
Bursa Hill, which overlooks the Punicport that was responsible for the
growing of the city's power, you canexplore the ancient Acropolis, which
is the upper, fortified height ofthe ancient city, the aforementioned
(04:41):
museum, and also several wonderfullymaintained Carthaginian houses.
Abigail (04:47):
Starting from this complex on the top of the hill, you can descend
into the ancient city to explore thecrescent shaped port that was home
to the famous Carthaginian fleet.
While today, it's only used by fishingboats, it was the nucleus of the most
powerful navy in the ancient world.
A small walking path runs aroundthe rim, where you can try to
(05:09):
visualize how awe inspiring itmust have been for our ancestors.
Keith (05:14):
Down the street is the Tophet of Solammbo, which is thought to
be an ancient graveyard, and couldhave even been the burial ground
for animals and children thatwere used in ritual sacrifices.
While the sacrifice rumor may be true,it's more likely that this was a rumor
spread by Greek and Roman rivals.
Roughly 20, 000 urns buried understone slabs have been found here,
(05:37):
marking it as one of the largestcemeteries from the Phoenician period.
Abigail (05:41):
Also in the city, Odeon Hill is an archaeological site that holds
numerous ruins, including the theater, theOdeon, and the park of the Roman villas.
And I realize we should explain, an Odeonis the name for ancient Greek and Roman
buildings built for activities such assinging, shows, and poetry competitions.
(06:05):
So, the park includes the Villa ofthe Aviary, the best preserved Roman
villa within the site of Carthage.
Another, the House of Horses, containsa mosaic of more than 50 circus
horses bordered by hunting scenes.
While most of the rest of the Romanvillas are not in the best shape,
you can see that the neighborhood hadorthogonal streets with successive
(06:29):
tiers of houses and streetsbuilt into the side of the hill.
Keith (06:34):
In size, the Theater of Carthage is the second largest Roman theater
in Africa behind the one in Utica.
The theater is the stuff of legendsand can even be explored today.
It extends over an area equivalentto four city blocks and is probably
from the time of Augustus Caesar.
The author Tertullian, who is aprolific early Christian author
(06:54):
from Carthage, mentions the famoustheater in his writing, describing
the richness of decoration, thesplendor of the marble, the parquet
floor, and the beautiful pillars.
You can actually watcharchaeologists restore structures
here and refurbish mosaics.
Abigail (07:11):
The city also boasts what's considered to be the
largest Roman odeon as well.
adjacent to the theater andtaking up a space of three city
blocks, it has a seating capacityof up to 20, 000 spectators
Keith (07:26):
Down by the ocean and adjacent to Tunisia's presidential palace, the
Baths of Antoninus are the largest setof Roman baths built on the African
continent, and actually one of the threelargest built by the entire Roman Empire.
Built during the reign of EmperorAntoninus Pius, they are considered
to be one of the most importantlandmarks in all of Tunisia.
(07:48):
Used for centuries, they were still activewell into the Arab period of the city.
Remarkably well preserved walls,tunnels, and porticos make
up this archaeological site.
The source of the water for these bathsis one of the longest Roman aqueducts,
the 82 mile long Zaghouan aqueduct.
(08:08):
This feat of ancient engineering broughtwater from a nearby mountain range all
the way to the cisterns of La Malga.
These are the largest cisterns survivingfrom the ancient world and held
roughly 14 million gallons of water.
Abigail (08:23):
The circus of Carthage hasn't been well researched, but
was Rome's second largest circus.
One that rivaled the Circus Maximus.
Built on top of a formernecropolis sometime around 238 A.
D., it remained in use for centuries.
Measuring 1, 550 feet long by 100 feetwide, there was seating for 45, 000
(08:49):
spectators who could watch the exciting,and sometimes deadly, chariot races.
The best description of the circusis based on a mosaic found in the
Bardo National Museum in Tunis,which I'll talk about later.
It's the only mosaic to show boththe interior and exterior facade.
Keith (09:08):
The city was a fantastic melting pot of cultures due
to the centralized trade.
Greeks, Phoenicians, Italians,Iberians, Nubians, and Libyans from
North Africa all met, traded goods,traded ideas, religion, and culture.
And as a result, created a city thatwas truly unique in the ancient world.
(09:30):
Carthage boasted a sophisticated dockharbour that had as many as 200 docks.
This, along with an extremelywealthy population, supported a
sprawling metropolis of temples,markets, and estates within the city.
From roughly 650 B.
C.
to 146 B.
C., Carthage grew from a small colonyto the capital of a sprawling empire.
(09:53):
As this colony grew in size andpower during the 7th century B.
C., It began to assert its independencefrom its nearby mother city, Tyre,
which is actually one of the oldestcontinually inhabited cities in the world.
Even as the independence of the citygrew, Carthage continued to show
allegiance by sending an annual embassyto Tyre's Temple of Melqart, which
(10:17):
was Tyre's patron deity at the time.
Abigail (10:20):
After Tyre was conquered by the Babylonians in the early 6th
century, The Phoenician colonies inthe western Mediterranean turned to
the increasingly powerful Carthage forprotection and support against the Greeks.
Other ancient Phoenician colonies, suchas Utica and Gades in Hispania, which
(10:41):
is also known as modern day Spain,became bound to Carthage by treaties,
thus expanding Carthage's reach.
Keith (10:49):
A note to remember throughout this episode, we'll both often use the
word Punic to describe Carthage and theevents surrounding this ancient city.
Punic is often used as a synonym forCarthaginian, so don't be thrown off.
When I first learned about ancientCarthage and studied it, it seemed
like the authors were describingsomething else, but Carthage and
(11:09):
Carthaginian events, people, andculture are often referred to as Punic.
So even though Carthage had extensivecontact with Greeks and Libyans, the
Carthaginians retained the Punic language,which was a dialect related to Hebrew.
This language would long outlastthe Carthaginian Empire all
the way into the 5th century A.
(11:29):
D.
with some linguistic historiansclaiming that it may have even
lasted as long as the 9th century.
Abigail (11:37):
As the city became more and more powerful through its unrivaled
navy, it started to become clearthat they treated their allies
very differently than Rome did.
Roman allies, at the time, participated inmutual defensive organizations under the
direct leadership of Rome and graduallyintegrated the people into Roman society,
(11:58):
granting rights and even citizenship.
Carthage approached thearrangement much differently.
Carthage preferred to extract taxesfrom its loose confederation of
subjects and the subjects allies.
These taxes were used to financeCarthage's powerful navy and
to buy mercenary soldiers.
(12:18):
We both think that it's importantto understand the history of the
city in order to also understand howimportant the archaeological site is
and why UNESCO chose it for listingunder the World Heritage Sites.
So let's cover some of the mainevents of the Punic Empire.
Keith (12:35):
As mentioned before, 814 BC is the traditional founding date for the city,
although as we mentioned, Queen Dido issaid to have founded the city in 825.
Over the next 300 years the city grewin power and in importance due to the
focus placed on trade and consequentlythe navy that protected that trade.
(12:55):
This growth led Carthage to eventuallyfight Greece for dominance in Sicily.
Which is one of the regionsof modern day Italy.
From 580 BC to 306 BC, Carthage foughtbattle after battle against other
cultures and nations to expand its reach.
Some of these battles are famousenough to be studied today, such as
the Battle of Alalisa off the coastof Corsica and the Battle of Himera.
(13:20):
The naval and military action duringthis time led to the first treaty between
Rome and Carthage, the expansion of theCarthaginian Empire into the Iberian
Peninsula, the control of Sicily byCarthage, and the further expansion
of Carthage deeper into North Africa.
Abigail (13:36):
In 264 BC, the Mamertines, who were a small mercenary band of Italian
origin, held the city of Messina in Italywhere they used it as a raiding base.
When their city was besieged by a nearbycity of Syracuse in 265 BC, they called
for help from a nearby Carthaginian navy.
(13:58):
After several escalations where allieswere increasingly called, Carthage and
Rome were brought into direct conflict.
This war was fought between the twosuperpowers for over 22 years and
was known as the First Punic War.
Keith (14:14):
During this war, the two ancient superpowers fought to establish control
over the very important strategicislands of Corsica and Sicily.
This war resulted in Carthageceding Sicily and the Lipari
Islands, but also forced Carthageto pay reparations to Rome.
During this time, one of the mostfamous Carthaginians was born
(14:35):
to Hamilcar Barca, one of theCarthaginian generals in 247 BC.
This child's name was Hannibal, who wouldbe one of the most powerful enemies of the
Roman Empire and would eventually singlehandedly spark the Second Punic War.
Abigail (14:51):
As Carthage was further expanding into modern day Spain in 237 BC, an
agreement was made between Rome andCarthage not to cross the Ebro River.
Ignoring this, a young Hannibaltakes control of Carthage's armies
in Spain and crosses the Ebro to sackthe city of Saguntum, a Roman ally.
(15:13):
And this sparks the Second Punic War.
In 218 BC, Hannibal left Spainin his famous trek to cross the
Pyrenees and Alps to avoid theRoman navy with 30, 000 troops, 15,
000 horses, and 37 war elephants.
Taking only 16 days to crossthe mountains, he launched an
(15:35):
attack on Rome from the north.
Keith (15:37):
Winning three battles in succession, Hannibal advanced on Rome
itself, but couldn't take the city dueto lack of supplies and reinforcements.
In 216, Hannibal wins the incrediblyfamous Battle of Cannae, which becomes the
worst defeat in Roman Empire's history.
The war continues to be fought by twoempires throughout Northern Africa, the
(15:59):
Iberian Peninsula, the MediterraneanIslands, and even in Italy by 2 0 5 bc
the Carthaginians were driven out ofthe Iberian Peninsula and the famous
Roman General Scipio Africanus sailedto North Africa with the armies.
This leads to Carthage recallingHannibal from Italy to defend
the city against Scipio.
(16:21):
Scipio defeated Hannibal at theBattle of Zama and ended the Second
Punic War in which Carthage wasdefeated for a second time by Rome.
Hannibal then flees to Hadrumentum and apeace treaty is signed by both empires.
Abigail (16:36):
In 195 BC, Hannibal was in danger of being handed over to the Romans, so
he fled further to the Salucid court ofAntiochus III and became his advisor.
In 183 BC, Titus Quintus Faminus, forgivemy pronunciation, the Roman general who
(16:57):
defeated Macedon, demanded that Hannibalshould be surrendered to the Roman hands.
King Prusias gives into thesedemands, causing the great Hannibal
to commit suicide in the village ofLibyssa in order to escape captivity.
Keith (17:13):
Forty five years later, a Carthaginian army attacks Numidia,
breaking the Second Punic War peacetreaty, which sparks a third Punic
War between Rome and Carthage.
A year after, Rome sends an armyof 80, 000 infantry and 40, 000
cavalry to attack and siege Carthage.
For two years, the city holds out in thissiege until Scipio Africanus the Younger
(17:37):
takes control of the siege and orders theconstruction of a mole, which is kind of a
massive wall, across the Carthage harbor,thus blocking aid by the Punic Navy.
The siege is eventually successful.
And in 146 BC, the city of Carthageis utterly destroyed, and its lands
become the new Roman province of Africa.
(17:59):
Scipio Africanus the Younger, completelyenslaves its entire population, and
Carthage effectively ceases to bean empire for the rest of history.
Abigail (18:09):
Between the years of 49 and 44 BC, Julius Caesar would establish
Carthage as a Roman colony, and hissuccessor, Augustus Caesar, would
continue to support its development.
After a few decades, Carthage would becomeone of Rome's most important colonies.
By the first century A.
(18:30):
D., it had grown to become thesecond largest city in the western
half of the Roman Empire, with apeak population of half a million.
The city continued to grow in importancefor the Roman Empire, and eventually
became the capital of the Romanprovince of Africa, which was a major
breadbasket for the entire empire.
(18:51):
The wealth that flowed through thecity caused major construction,
including the famous amphitheater.
Keith (18:58):
In 397, Carthage became the center of early Christianity, and the
city developed the Bursa Hill area withluxurious dwellings including the Villa
des Voliers, which is the Villa of theAviary, a circular monument called Rotonde
sur Podium Carre, which was excavatednearby during the UNESCO campaign,
and this monument can be visited today
Abigail (19:20):
in 4 39, the city was conquered by the Vandals and thus
served as the capital of the Vandalkingdom for more than a century.
It was reconquered by the EasternRoman Empire in 5 34 and went
back to serving as an importantEastern Roman regional Center.
For the next 165 years, the city wasthe capital of Byzantine North Africa
Keith (19:44):
In 6 98, the city was sacked and destroyed once again in a scorched
earth policy by the Umayyad Arab forces.
This was to prevent it frombeing reconquered and used as a
fortress by the Byzantine Empire.
The city walls were torn down,the water supply cut off,
agricultural lands were ravaged,and the harbors were made unusable.
(20:07):
This marked the permanent endto Roman rule in the region.
There is evidence, however, thatpeople continued to live in the city,
and even that the Roman baths werestill functioning and in good shape.
Abigail (20:19):
Throughout the 700s, Carthage was used as a source of building
materials for nearby Kairouan and Tunis.
The city was garrisoned by Muslim forcesuntil it was captured by Crusaders
during the 8th Crusade in 1270.
After the withdrawal of Crusaders,the Hafsids decided to destroy the
(20:39):
remaining fortress at Carthage to preventany future use by a foreign power.
Keith (20:45):
The ruins of Carthage were rediscovered at the end of the 19th
century and Odeon Hill was excavatedfrom 1900 to 1901, with the amphitheater
then being excavated in 1904.
Excavations and archaeology hascontinued to this day on this
incredibly important ancient site.
So as one of the most importantancient sites around the Mediterranean,
(21:07):
I'm sure that Carthage is on themust see list for many travelers.
Let's talk about how to get there, andsome tips and tricks while visiting.
And of course, let's talk about the food.
So Abigail, what did you find out?
Abigail (21:21):
Sure, so let's get you there.
If you're flying into Tunisia from anothercountry, you'll want to fly into the
Tunis Carthage airport and take the metroline, a bus, or taxi to Carthage, which
should only take you about 15 minutesor so, they're very close together.
Once you get to the archaeologicalsite, you can purchase a ticket that
(21:42):
will get you into all of the sites.
Or, you can try to find informationon buying a ticket in advance online
through the official governmentwebsite to avoid waiting in long lines.
Tickets are inexpensive, but you couldconsider booking a tour or getting
a personal guide who speaks yournative language and knows the history
(22:02):
because there are no informationalplaques or signs at the sites.
And the primary language isArabic, so you might otherwise find
yourself staring at buildings ormonuments, not actually knowing the
context or what you're looking at.
Also, the different sites are spreadout, so expect to do a lot of walking.
And if you have a disability, this isn't asite where you're necessarily going to be
(22:27):
accommodated if you have physical needs.
Keith (22:30):
Alright, that's good stuff.
So what seems like thebest time of year to visit?
Abigail (22:34):
Per usual, I encourage you to use the weather as your guide.
That often helps Keith and I.
While it's in the mid 50s Fahrenheitin January, which is comfortable,
it can get up to the mid 80s insummer, which are hot and dry.
The winters seem to bemore mild and rainy.
However, I should note that this is a sitethat gets a lot of visitors, so that might
(22:56):
change your tune in terms of when you wantto go, because you may encounter crowds.
Carthage gets 242, 500 visitors annually.
Keith (23:07):
So obviously Carthage is probably the destination for many visitors.
Do people seem to just visit thearchaeological site of Carthage?
Or do they do otherthings while in the area?
Abigail (23:17):
I mean, the site is large, so it's not like you'll
be in and out in an hour.
However, some sites you can couple includethe Bardo Museum, which is in Tunis, and
houses Islamic art, among other treasures.
People often visit the Medina ofTunis as well in the same trip,
which is also a UNESCO site.
(23:38):
In terms of where you can stay,there are a lot of nice hotels
to budget friendly hostels.
Also, some things to note, this countryhas some of the most interesting laws
I've noted so far in my research.
Example number one, it's illegal totake photos of embassies, governmental,
and military sites or buildings.
(23:59):
So don't just aimlessly takephotos of pretty buildings or you
might find yourself in hot water.
Also, if you're like me and you seekout antiques, make sure you obtain
permission or any necessary permitbefore trying to take it home.
I guess they have a lot of issueswith antiquities trafficking,
which is the illegal sellingof culturally important items.
(24:22):
So this is like selling stolenartifacts from tombs, etc.
You likely won't even know that's whatyou're purchasing, so just be smart.
If the price is too good to betrue, that might be a red flag.
Keith (24:35):
Yikes, that kind of thing bothers me.
These antiquities belong in museums,or even better, at the original
site in which they were found.
Okay, everyone knows that Itravel first for the culture,
but then second for the food.
What can we look forwardto for cuisine in the area?
Abigail (24:51):
I was getting to that.
So, the food tends to be spicy.
Keith (24:55):
Ooh, I dig spicy.
Abigail (24:57):
I know you do.
An example of a popular condimentor marinade / sauce, if you will, is
harissa, which is a mix of garlic,chili peppers, and other spices
that's frequently used in dishes.
Couscous is a staple as well, and this isboiled durum wheat, which is on UNESCO's
list of intangible cultural heritage.
(25:20):
It's frequently served at gatheringsfrom holidays to funerals.
Meats like lamb or whole fishwith the head and tail included,
with french fries are popular too.
Keith (25:30):
Okay, that stuff sounds wonderful, and as usual, I'm sure we
could put an entire episode togetherabout the food in this region.
Alright, what about other legends besidesthe all important legend of Queen Dido?
Did you find any other?
Abigail (25:44):
Two legends.
So the first is around djinns.
There's a story frequently toldto children by their parents when
they're being naughty and loud.
According to legend, whistling at nightwill summon djinns, which are spirits,
who supposedly are real creatures thatare kind of residing in a world outside of
(26:05):
ours, but have the ability to harm humans.
I guess they bring bad juju.
It kind of reminds me of thestory of La Llorona, something
to scare children into behaving.
So don't make your parents whistle, kids.
The second is super interesting.
There are legends floatingaround about hidden treasure.
(26:26):
There are writings that go as far backas 68 AD claiming there are valuables and
gold coins underneath Tunis and Carthage.
It's believed that shortly before thecity was destroyed, the Carthaginians
took all of their worldly possessions andburied them in a tunnel under the city.
This sounds plausible to me, andhas been done throughout history.
Keith (26:49):
Wow.
So that's a legend worth listening to.
I mean, the Carthaginians knew thatthe city was about to be taken,
so I'm guessing they would haveample reason to do such a thing.
Any leads on this yet?
Abigail (27:00):
I mean, in terms of proof, when the harbor of Tunis was being
built, the Carthaginians Engineers foundtraces of a tunnel, but no treasure.
However, they didn't go very deep becauseI'm guessing it wasn't very safe to.
Maybe there will be a gold hunting orprospecting show about this in the future.
Very intriguing.
Alright, now I want to transition totalk about some of the issues that this
(27:24):
site faces in terms of preservation andkeeping its UNESCO World Heritage status.
Carthage has been at risk ofbeing taken off the list over the
years for a couple of reasons.
The first being due tobeing located on the coast.
The rising sea levels and coastalerosion leave the site in danger
(27:44):
of damage from future flooding.
There has been talk of adding seawalls toprotect the ruins, but I don't see that
there's been any movement on actuallygetting that construction started.
Also, there was major controversywhen the government knocked down
homes overnight without alertingresidents, because some homes and
buildings were constructed withoutpermission on land that specialists
(28:09):
deemed to have historical importance.
The government has been battlingin court with locals who
are claiming discrimination.
I just can't imagine coming home oneday to find my house wasn't there.
That's a tough situation.
I hope that they're able to find a happymedium between keeping foot traffic to a
minimum to protect the site, while alsorespecting local residents so we can all
(28:33):
continue to enjoy this incredible place.
Thank you for listening tothe Global Treasures Podcast.
If you would like to support the show, youcan subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can also check us outon YouTube and Tik TOK.
Keith (28:49):
Also, tell your friends about us.
If you know people who love historyand love to travel, share this
podcast with them so that they canlearn some new history or maybe even
get some ideas for thier next trip.
Abigail (29:02):
Join us next time when we traveled to Poland to learn the dark
history of the Auschwitz Birkenau Naziconcentration and extermination camp.
I'm Abigail,
Keith (00:01):
and I'm Keith,
Abigail (00:02):
and this is the Global Treasures Podcast.
We'll cover different WorldHeritage Sites each episode.
Keith (00:11):
These sites have been identified as having outstanding universal value
Abigail (00:15):
because they have cultural and or natural significance that's
so exceptional that it transcendsnational boundaries and is of importance
to present and future generations.
Keith (00:26):
There are 1, 199 sites across the world with more being added each year.
Abigail (00:32):
We'll explore the legends, history, travel tips, and so much more.
Keith (00:38):
Welcome to Season 2, where we will explore the 45
sites that UNESCO added in 1979.
Abigail (00:45):
In this episode, Keith and I will be introducing you to the archaeological
site of Carthage, located in Tunisia.
Keith (00:54):
This North African city was the capital of one of the most powerful
empires of the ancient world and wasin direct competition with Rome as the
most dominant around the Mediterranean.
The three wars that Carthagefought with Rome are the stuff of
legends and lasted a hundred years.
The rivalry was so great that it famouslycaused Cicero, the Roman senator,
(01:15):
to repeatedly exclaim "Delenda estCarthago", or Carthage must be destroyed.
The city was featured prominently in Greekmythology as the home of the legendary
Dido, who is also known as Elissa.
She is the legendary founderand first queen of the city.
The original queen of the Phoeniciancity state of Tyre, located in modern
(01:36):
Lebanon, she fled tyranny and foundedher own city in northwest Africa.
Since we only know of Dido throughGreek and Roman sources, all of which
were written well after the foundingof the city, the historical accuracy
of this legend is uncertain, butit is still wonderful to explore.
The details are best known fromthe account given in Virgil's epic
(01:57):
poem, The Aeneid, written about 20BC, which accounts the legendary
story of the Trojan hero Aeneas.
Dido is painted as a clever andenterprising woman who is Aeneas's
lover who runs away from her evilbrother Pygmalion after finding
out that he had her husband killed.
Under Dido's leadership, thecity of Carthage is founded
(02:18):
and quickly becomes prosperous.
Abigail (02:21):
Dido remains a figure that has endured.
She inspired countless poems, operas,and classical oil paintings, and as
a result, her legend continues on.
In the 20th century, she was chosenas a national symbol in Tunisia,
so that Tunisian women can bereferred to as "daughters of Dido".
(02:42):
She was even featured onTunisian Currency in 2006.
So the name Carthage means newcity or new town, and the city was
declared a UNESCO site in 1979.
It became the most powerful trading andcommercial city in the Mediterranean from
650 BC until its destruction in 146 BC.
(03:05):
By about 200 BC, The city was theoriginal Mediterranean superpower, with
vast control over trading ports andvarious North African trade routes.
At its height, Carthage controlled muchof North Africa, Sardinia, Corsica,
Sicily, and the Iberian Peninsula.
(03:26):
The city also became the secondlargest in the ancient Mediterranean,
only behind Alexandria, thecapital of Ptolemaic Egypt.
Keith (03:36):
A visit to this archaeological area reveals some spectacular main sites.
There's so much to see and studyhere that there are still ruins
that haven't been studied, andno one knows what they are yet.
Driving through the area on the mainroads, you'll pass columns reaching up
to the sky and stone structures thathave not even been fully unearthed.
Carthage is currently seeing arevitalization of archaeological
(03:59):
efforts by the Tunisian Ministry ofCulture and the European Union that
is aiming to restore several of thenumerous sites of the ancient city.
This effort is also aiming to renovate theCarthage National Museum, and the museum
is expected to reopen in June of 2026.
So if you're listening to this episodeafter that time, make sure to make
(04:19):
the museum part of your travel plans.
It is rumored that it isgoing to be outstanding.
A 20 minute drive away from the presentday city of Tunis, From the peak of
Bursa Hill, which overlooks the Punicport that was responsible for the
growing of the city's power, you canexplore the ancient Acropolis, which
is the upper, fortified height ofthe ancient city, the aforementioned
(04:41):
museum, and also several wonderfullymaintained Carthaginian houses.
Abigail (04:47):
Starting from this complex on the top of the hill, you can descend
into the ancient city to explore thecrescent shaped port that was home
to the famous Carthaginian fleet.
While today, it's only used by fishingboats, it was the nucleus of the most
powerful navy in the ancient world.
A small walking path runs aroundthe rim, where you can try to
(05:09):
visualize how awe inspiring itmust have been for our ancestors.
Keith (05:14):
Down the street is the Tophet of Solammbo, which is thought to
be an ancient graveyard, and couldhave even been the burial ground
for animals and children thatwere used in ritual sacrifices.
While the sacrifice rumor may be true,it's more likely that this was a rumor
spread by Greek and Roman rivals.
Roughly 20, 000 urns buried understone slabs have been found here,
(05:37):
marking it as one of the largestcemeteries from the Phoenician period.
Abigail (05:41):
Also in the city, Odeon Hill is an archaeological site that holds
numerous ruins, including the theater, theOdeon, and the park of the Roman villas.
And I realize we should explain, an Odeonis the name for ancient Greek and Roman
buildings built for activities such assinging, shows, and poetry competitions.
(06:05):
So, the park includes the Villa ofthe Aviary, the best preserved Roman
villa within the site of Carthage.
Another, the House of Horses, containsa mosaic of more than 50 circus
horses bordered by hunting scenes.
While most of the rest of the Romanvillas are not in the best shape,
you can see that the neighborhood hadorthogonal streets with successive
(06:29):
tiers of houses and streetsbuilt into the side of the hill.
Keith (06:34):
In size, the Theater of Carthage is the second largest Roman theater
in Africa behind the one in Utica.
The theater is the stuff of legendsand can even be explored today.
It extends over an area equivalentto four city blocks and is probably
from the time of Augustus Caesar.
The author Tertullian, who is aprolific early Christian author
(06:54):
from Carthage, mentions the famoustheater in his writing, describing
the richness of decoration, thesplendor of the marble, the parquet
floor, and the beautiful pillars.
You can actually watcharchaeologists restore structures
here and refurbish mosaics.
Abigail (07:11):
The city also boasts what's considered to be the
largest Roman odeon as well.
adjacent to the theater andtaking up a space of three city
blocks, it has a seating capacityof up to 20, 000 spectators
Keith (07:26):
Down by the ocean and adjacent to Tunisia's presidential palace, the
Baths of Antoninus are the largest setof Roman baths built on the African
continent, and actually one of the threelargest built by the entire Roman Empire.
Built during the reign of EmperorAntoninus Pius, they are considered
to be one of the most importantlandmarks in all of Tunisia.
(07:48):
Used for centuries, they were still activewell into the Arab period of the city.
Remarkably well preserved walls,tunnels, and porticos make
up this archaeological site.
The source of the water for these bathsis one of the longest Roman aqueducts,
the 82 mile long Zaghouan aqueduct.
(08:08):
This feat of ancient engineering broughtwater from a nearby mountain range all
the way to the cisterns of La Malga.
These are the largest cisterns survivingfrom the ancient world and held
roughly 14 million gallons of water.
Abigail (08:23):
The circus of Carthage hasn't been well researched, but
was Rome's second largest circus.
One that rivaled the Circus Maximus.
Built on top of a formernecropolis sometime around 238 A.
D., it remained in use for centuries.
Measuring 1, 550 feet long by 100 feetwide, there was seating for 45, 000
(08:49):
spectators who could watch the exciting,and sometimes deadly, chariot races.
The best description of the circusis based on a mosaic found in the
Bardo National Museum in Tunis,which I'll talk about later.
It's the only mosaic to show boththe interior and exterior facade.
Keith (09:08):
The city was a fantastic melting pot of cultures due
to the centralized trade.
Greeks, Phoenicians, Italians,Iberians, Nubians, and Libyans from
North Africa all met, traded goods,traded ideas, religion, and culture.
And as a result, created a city thatwas truly unique in the ancient world.
(09:30):
Carthage boasted a sophisticated dockharbour that had as many as 200 docks.
This, along with an extremelywealthy population, supported a
sprawling metropolis of temples,markets, and estates within the city.
From roughly 650 B.
C.
to 146 B.
C., Carthage grew from a small colonyto the capital of a sprawling empire.
(09:53):
As this colony grew in size andpower during the 7th century B.
C., It began to assert its independencefrom its nearby mother city, Tyre,
which is actually one of the oldestcontinually inhabited cities in the world.
Even as the independence of the citygrew, Carthage continued to show
allegiance by sending an annual embassyto Tyre's Temple of Melqart, which
(10:17):
was Tyre's patron deity at the time.
Abigail (10:20):
After Tyre was conquered by the Babylonians in the early 6th
century, The Phoenician colonies inthe western Mediterranean turned to
the increasingly powerful Carthage forprotection and support against the Greeks.
Other ancient Phoenician colonies, suchas Utica and Gades in Hispania, which
(10:41):
is also known as modern day Spain,became bound to Carthage by treaties,
thus expanding Carthage's reach.
Keith (10:49):
A note to remember throughout this episode, we'll both often use the
word Punic to describe Carthage and theevents surrounding this ancient city.
Punic is often used as a synonym forCarthaginian, so don't be thrown off.
When I first learned about ancientCarthage and studied it, it seemed
like the authors were describingsomething else, but Carthage and
(11:09):
Carthaginian events, people, andculture are often referred to as Punic.
So even though Carthage had extensivecontact with Greeks and Libyans, the
Carthaginians retained the Punic language,which was a dialect related to Hebrew.
This language would long outlastthe Carthaginian Empire all
the way into the 5th century A.
(11:29):
D.
with some linguistic historiansclaiming that it may have even
lasted as long as the 9th century.
Abigail (11:37):
As the city became more and more powerful through its unrivaled
navy, it started to become clearthat they treated their allies
very differently than Rome did.
Roman allies, at the time, participated inmutual defensive organizations under the
direct leadership of Rome and graduallyintegrated the people into Roman society,
(11:58):
granting rights and even citizenship.
Carthage approached thearrangement much differently.
Carthage preferred to extract taxesfrom its loose confederation of
subjects and the subjects allies.
These taxes were used to financeCarthage's powerful navy and
to buy mercenary soldiers.
(12:18):
We both think that it's importantto understand the history of the
city in order to also understand howimportant the archaeological site is
and why UNESCO chose it for listingunder the World Heritage Sites.
So let's cover some of the mainevents of the Punic Empire.
Keith (12:35):
As mentioned before, 814 BC is the traditional founding date for the city,
although as we mentioned, Queen Dido issaid to have founded the city in 825.
Over the next 300 years the city grewin power and in importance due to the
focus placed on trade and consequentlythe navy that protected that trade.
(12:55):
This growth led Carthage to eventuallyfight Greece for dominance in Sicily.
Which is one of the regionsof modern day Italy.
From 580 BC to 306 BC, Carthage foughtbattle after battle against other
cultures and nations to expand its reach.
Some of these battles are famousenough to be studied today, such as
the Battle of Alalisa off the coastof Corsica and the Battle of Himera.
(13:20):
The naval and military action duringthis time led to the first treaty between
Rome and Carthage, the expansion of theCarthaginian Empire into the Iberian
Peninsula, the control of Sicily byCarthage, and the further expansion
of Carthage deeper into North Africa.
Abigail (13:36):
In 264 BC, the Mamertines, who were a small mercenary band of Italian
origin, held the city of Messina in Italywhere they used it as a raiding base.
When their city was besieged by a nearbycity of Syracuse in 265 BC, they called
for help from a nearby Carthaginian navy.
(13:58):
After several escalations where allieswere increasingly called, Carthage and
Rome were brought into direct conflict.
This war was fought between the twosuperpowers for over 22 years and
was known as the First Punic War.
Keith (14:14):
During this war, the two ancient superpowers fought to establish control
over the very important strategicislands of Corsica and Sicily.
This war resulted in Carthageceding Sicily and the Lipari
Islands, but also forced Carthageto pay reparations to Rome.
During this time, one of the mostfamous Carthaginians was born
(14:35):
to Hamilcar Barca, one of theCarthaginian generals in 247 BC.
This child's name was Hannibal, who wouldbe one of the most powerful enemies of the
Roman Empire and would eventually singlehandedly spark the Second Punic War.
Abigail (14:51):
As Carthage was further expanding into modern day Spain in 237 BC, an
agreement was made between Rome andCarthage not to cross the Ebro River.
Ignoring this, a young Hannibaltakes control of Carthage's armies
in Spain and crosses the Ebro to sackthe city of Saguntum, a Roman ally.
(15:13):
And this sparks the Second Punic War.
In 218 BC, Hannibal left Spainin his famous trek to cross the
Pyrenees and Alps to avoid theRoman navy with 30, 000 troops, 15,
000 horses, and 37 war elephants.
Taking only 16 days to crossthe mountains, he launched an
(15:35):
attack on Rome from the north.
Keith (15:37):
Winning three battles in succession, Hannibal advanced on Rome
itself, but couldn't take the city dueto lack of supplies and reinforcements.
In 216, Hannibal wins the incrediblyfamous Battle of Cannae, which becomes the
worst defeat in Roman Empire's history.
The war continues to be fought by twoempires throughout Northern Africa, the
(15:59):
Iberian Peninsula, the MediterraneanIslands, and even in Italy by 2 0 5 bc
the Carthaginians were driven out ofthe Iberian Peninsula and the famous
Roman General Scipio Africanus sailedto North Africa with the armies.
This leads to Carthage recallingHannibal from Italy to defend
the city against Scipio.
(16:21):
Scipio defeated Hannibal at theBattle of Zama and ended the Second
Punic War in which Carthage wasdefeated for a second time by Rome.
Hannibal then flees to Hadrumentum and apeace treaty is signed by both empires.
Abigail (16:36):
In 195 BC, Hannibal was in danger of being handed over to the Romans, so
he fled further to the Salucid court ofAntiochus III and became his advisor.
In 183 BC, Titus Quintus Faminus, forgivemy pronunciation, the Roman general who
(16:57):
defeated Macedon, demanded that Hannibalshould be surrendered to the Roman hands.
King Prusias gives into thesedemands, causing the great Hannibal
to commit suicide in the village ofLibyssa in order to escape captivity.
Keith (17:13):
Forty five years later, a Carthaginian army attacks Numidia,
breaking the Second Punic War peacetreaty, which sparks a third Punic
War between Rome and Carthage.
A year after, Rome sends an armyof 80, 000 infantry and 40, 000
cavalry to attack and siege Carthage.
For two years, the city holds out in thissiege until Scipio Africanus the Younger
(17:37):
takes control of the siege and orders theconstruction of a mole, which is kind of a
massive wall, across the Carthage harbor,thus blocking aid by the Punic Navy.
The siege is eventually successful.
And in 146 BC, the city of Carthageis utterly destroyed, and its lands
become the new Roman province of Africa.
(17:59):
Scipio Africanus the Younger, completelyenslaves its entire population, and
Carthage effectively ceases to bean empire for the rest of history.
Abigail (18:09):
Between the years of 49 and 44 BC, Julius Caesar would establish
Carthage as a Roman colony, and hissuccessor, Augustus Caesar, would
continue to support its development.
After a few decades, Carthage would becomeone of Rome's most important colonies.
By the first century A.
(18:30):
D., it had grown to become thesecond largest city in the western
half of the Roman Empire, with apeak population of half a million.
The city continued to grow in importancefor the Roman Empire, and eventually
became the capital of the Romanprovince of Africa, which was a major
breadbasket for the entire empire.
(18:51):
The wealth that flowed through thecity caused major construction,
including the famous amphitheater.
Keith (18:58):
In 397, Carthage became the center of early Christianity, and the
city developed the Bursa Hill area withluxurious dwellings including the Villa
des Voliers, which is the Villa of theAviary, a circular monument called Rotonde
sur Podium Carre, which was excavatednearby during the UNESCO campaign,
and this monument can be visited today
Abigail (19:20):
in 4 39, the city was conquered by the Vandals and thus
served as the capital of the Vandalkingdom for more than a century.
It was reconquered by the EasternRoman Empire in 5 34 and went
back to serving as an importantEastern Roman regional Center.
For the next 165 years, the city wasthe capital of Byzantine North Africa
Keith (19:44):
In 6 98, the city was sacked and destroyed once again in a scorched
earth policy by the Umayyad Arab forces.
This was to prevent it frombeing reconquered and used as a
fortress by the Byzantine Empire.
The city walls were torn down,the water supply cut off,
agricultural lands were ravaged,and the harbors were made unusable.
(20:07):
This marked the permanent endto Roman rule in the region.
There is evidence, however, thatpeople continued to live in the city,
and even that the Roman baths werestill functioning and in good shape.
Abigail (20:19):
Throughout the 700s, Carthage was used as a source of building
materials for nearby Kairouan and Tunis.
The city was garrisoned by Muslim forcesuntil it was captured by Crusaders
during the 8th Crusade in 1270.
After the withdrawal of Crusaders,the Hafsids decided to destroy the
(20:39):
remaining fortress at Carthage to preventany future use by a foreign power.
Keith (20:45):
The ruins of Carthage were rediscovered at the end of the 19th
century and Odeon Hill was excavatedfrom 1900 to 1901, with the amphitheater
then being excavated in 1904.
Excavations and archaeology hascontinued to this day on this
incredibly important ancient site.
So as one of the most importantancient sites around the Mediterranean,
(21:07):
I'm sure that Carthage is on themust see list for many travelers.
Let's talk about how to get there, andsome tips and tricks while visiting.
And of course, let's talk about the food.
So Abigail, what did you find out?
Abigail (21:21):
Sure, so let's get you there.
If you're flying into Tunisia from anothercountry, you'll want to fly into the
Tunis Carthage airport and take the metroline, a bus, or taxi to Carthage, which
should only take you about 15 minutesor so, they're very close together.
Once you get to the archaeologicalsite, you can purchase a ticket that
(21:42):
will get you into all of the sites.
Or, you can try to find informationon buying a ticket in advance online
through the official governmentwebsite to avoid waiting in long lines.
Tickets are inexpensive, but you couldconsider booking a tour or getting
a personal guide who speaks yournative language and knows the history
(22:02):
because there are no informationalplaques or signs at the sites.
And the primary language isArabic, so you might otherwise find
yourself staring at buildings ormonuments, not actually knowing the
context or what you're looking at.
Also, the different sites are spreadout, so expect to do a lot of walking.
And if you have a disability, this isn't asite where you're necessarily going to be
(22:27):
accommodated if you have physical needs.
Keith (22:30):
Alright, that's good stuff.
So what seems like thebest time of year to visit?
Abigail (22:34):
Per usual, I encourage you to use the weather as your guide.
That often helps Keith and I.
While it's in the mid 50s Fahrenheitin January, which is comfortable,
it can get up to the mid 80s insummer, which are hot and dry.
The winters seem to bemore mild and rainy.
However, I should note that this is a sitethat gets a lot of visitors, so that might
(22:56):
change your tune in terms of when you wantto go, because you may encounter crowds.
Carthage gets 242, 500 visitors annually.
Keith (23:07):
So obviously Carthage is probably the destination for many visitors.
Do people seem to just visit thearchaeological site of Carthage?
Or do they do otherthings while in the area?
Abigail (23:17):
I mean, the site is large, so it's not like you'll
be in and out in an hour.
However, some sites you can couple includethe Bardo Museum, which is in Tunis, and
houses Islamic art, among other treasures.
People often visit the Medina ofTunis as well in the same trip,
which is also a UNESCO site.
(23:38):
In terms of where you can stay,there are a lot of nice hotels
to budget friendly hostels.
Also, some things to note, this countryhas some of the most interesting laws
I've noted so far in my research.
Example number one, it's illegal totake photos of embassies, governmental,
and military sites or buildings.
(23:59):
So don't just aimlessly takephotos of pretty buildings or you
might find yourself in hot water.
Also, if you're like me and you seekout antiques, make sure you obtain
permission or any necessary permitbefore trying to take it home.
I guess they have a lot of issueswith antiquities trafficking,
which is the illegal sellingof culturally important items.
(24:22):
So this is like selling stolenartifacts from tombs, etc.
You likely won't even know that's whatyou're purchasing, so just be smart.
If the price is too good to betrue, that might be a red flag.
Keith (24:35):
Yikes, that kind of thing bothers me.
These antiquities belong in museums,or even better, at the original
site in which they were found.
Okay, everyone knows that Itravel first for the culture,
but then second for the food.
What can we look forwardto for cuisine in the area?
Abigail (24:51):
I was getting to that.
So, the food tends to be spicy.
Keith (24:55):
Ooh, I dig spicy.
Abigail (24:57):
I know you do.
An example of a popular condimentor marinade / sauce, if you will, is
harissa, which is a mix of garlic,chili peppers, and other spices
that's frequently used in dishes.
Couscous is a staple as well, and this isboiled durum wheat, which is on UNESCO's
list of intangible cultural heritage.
(25:20):
It's frequently served at gatheringsfrom holidays to funerals.
Meats like lamb or whole fishwith the head and tail included,
with french fries are popular too.
Keith (25:30):
Okay, that stuff sounds wonderful, and as usual, I'm sure we
could put an entire episode togetherabout the food in this region.
Alright, what about other legends besidesthe all important legend of Queen Dido?
Did you find any other?
Abigail (25:44):
Two legends.
So the first is around djinns.
There's a story frequently toldto children by their parents when
they're being naughty and loud.
According to legend, whistling at nightwill summon djinns, which are spirits,
who supposedly are real creatures thatare kind of residing in a world outside of
(26:05):
ours, but have the ability to harm humans.
I guess they bring bad juju.
It kind of reminds me of thestory of La Llorona, something
to scare children into behaving.
So don't make your parents whistle, kids.
The second is super interesting.
There are legends floatingaround about hidden treasure.
(26:26):
There are writings that go as far backas 68 AD claiming there are valuables and
gold coins underneath Tunis and Carthage.
It's believed that shortly before thecity was destroyed, the Carthaginians
took all of their worldly possessions andburied them in a tunnel under the city.
This sounds plausible to me, andhas been done throughout history.
Keith (26:49):
Wow.
So that's a legend worth listening to.
I mean, the Carthaginians knew thatthe city was about to be taken,
so I'm guessing they would haveample reason to do such a thing.
Any leads on this yet?
Abigail (27:00):
I mean, in terms of proof, when the harbor of Tunis was being
built, the Carthaginians Engineers foundtraces of a tunnel, but no treasure.
However, they didn't go very deep becauseI'm guessing it wasn't very safe to.
Maybe there will be a gold hunting orprospecting show about this in the future.
Very intriguing.
Alright, now I want to transition totalk about some of the issues that this
(27:24):
site faces in terms of preservation andkeeping its UNESCO World Heritage status.
Carthage has been at risk ofbeing taken off the list over the
years for a couple of reasons.
The first being due tobeing located on the coast.
The rising sea levels and coastalerosion leave the site in danger
(27:44):
of damage from future flooding.
There has been talk of adding seawalls toprotect the ruins, but I don't see that
there's been any movement on actuallygetting that construction started.
Also, there was major controversywhen the government knocked down
homes overnight without alertingresidents, because some homes and
buildings were constructed withoutpermission on land that specialists
(28:09):
deemed to have historical importance.
The government has been battlingin court with locals who
are claiming discrimination.
I just can't imagine coming home oneday to find my house wasn't there.
That's a tough situation.
I hope that they're able to find a happymedium between keeping foot traffic to a
minimum to protect the site, while alsorespecting local residents so we can all
(28:33):
continue to enjoy this incredible place.
Thank you for listening tothe Global Treasures Podcast.
If you would like to support the show, youcan subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can also check us outon YouTube and Tik TOK.
Keith (28:49):
Also, tell your friends about us.
If you know people who love historyand love to travel, share this
podcast with them so that they canlearn some new history or maybe even
get some ideas for thier next trip.
Abigail (29:02):
Join us next time when we traveled to Poland to learn the dark
history of the Auschwitz Birkenau Naziconcentration and extermination camp.
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