TUNISIA: Carthage

Carthage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was founded by the Phoenicians in the middle of the 9th century BC. 

From 650 B.C. to 146 B.C., Carthage was the most powerful trading and commercial city in the Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classical world. 

It had a sophisticated 200-dock harbour, a wealthy population and was  a sprawling metropolis of temples, markets and estates. 

The city was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean 

It is now a residential suburb of the city of Tunis. 

Carthage was what we would today call a "super power". This was because of its prime location on a promontory allowing it to have vast control over trading ports in the Mediterranean and various North African land routes.

Carthage was the center of the Phoenician trade network. 

BUT, there was rivalry between Carthage and Rome. Eventually it erupted in the three Punic Wars between the Romans and Phoenicians, fought over 100 years on land and sea.

Eventually, Rome won. 

In 149 B.C., about 2,000 years ago, Carthage was literally razed to the ground by the Roman Republic. 

Carthaginians were murdered or sold into slavery. The Romans wanted to ensure that the Carthaginians never rose again to challenge them.

The Romans then built a new Carthage on the ruins. 

Since the Romans sacked the city and destroyed most of its libraries and archives, very little is known about the Carthaginian people. (This is my sister Marie, she is Canadian and not one of the ancient Carthaginians or Romans.) 

ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE

The Roman Amphitheatre was probably built at the end of the 1st century AD. 

The amphitheatre is believed to have been able to hold about 35,000 spectators and was once a major Roman stadium. 

It is one of 3 amphitheatres in Africa constructed on flat land instead of being built into a hill.   

Here, gladiators, animals and Christian met their demise. 

ROMAN THEATRE

The Roman theatre was built on the slope of a hill to the north of the acropolis in the early 1st century AD.

The theatre was completely destroyed by the Vandals in the 5th century. (The "Vandals"... hmmmm... that must have been another class I slept through in school. Apparently they were quite destructive.)

The theatre was partially rebuilt in the 18th Century and has a capacity of more than 5,000 people. 

Currently it hosts concerts with major names from the Arab, Tunisian and Western worlds. 

(John, Marie and I did not perform there.)

ROMAN SPA/BATHS

Originally built from 145 to 165 AD, these were the largest baths in North Africa and the 3rd largest in the Roman world.

The layout: An octagonal caldarium (hot room) was flanked by smaller saunas and led to a small tepidarium (warm room), which allowed access to the huge 22m-by-42m frigidarium (cold room) at the centre with eight colossal pillars. Beyond this was a 17.5m-by-13.5m seaside swimming pool, but there is no trace of the pool today. 

To either side of the frigidarium were palaestras (gymnasiums), where people could partake in naked wrestling and other sports.

The baths were destroyed by the Vandals (again!) in 439 AD, and then the stone was reused by the Arabs during the construction of Tunis. 

Water to the baths was supplied by the Zaghouan aqueduct. 

ROMAN ZAGHOUAN AQUEDUCT:

The Zaghouan Aqueduct or Aqueduct of Carthage is an ancient Roman aqueduct, which supplied the city of Carthage with water. 

From its source in Zaghouan it flows a total of 132 km, making it among the longest aqueducts in the Roman Empire.

I think the Romans and their accomplishments were truly amazing.

But maybe like John, you are still pondering the naked wrestling?