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Carthage in Tunisia - archaeological site and World Heritage Site

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Carthage is an archaeological site in Tunisia, and a neighbourhood outside the capital Tunis. Today you can see the remains of what was once a powerful Phoenician empire in ancient times - before the Romans decided to raze the city to the ground - and later became a site of the Roman Empire.

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The archaeological site of Carthage

According to tradition, the Phoenicians founded the city of Carthage in 814 BC, although they probably used the site even earlier. The city grew into a powerful trading centre of the Phoenician Empire, along with other Phoenician cities such as Hadrumetum, Kerkuan, Leptis Magna and Utica.

Karthago i Tunisien

The success story lasted for over 600 years before the city was violently destroyed, and the ruins can still be seen today, just outside Tunisia's capital Tunis. Note that you only see the ground floor of the buildings, which were once much higher and more powerful.

Karthago i Tunisien

Carthage is located in northern Tunisia, just north of the capital Tunis, near the charming little blue and white town of Sidi Bou Said.

The rise and fall of Carthage - a dramatic story

After its creation, Carthage quickly became a commercial empire and political centre. From the beginning, the area was under the control of the Phoenician city of Tyros in present-day Lebanon, but soon Carthage became independent, with several subordinate Phoenician cities.

Karthago i Tunisien

The city was in constant conflict with its neighbours, partly with the Greeks in Sicily, but above all with the powerful Romans. During the long Punic wars, Carthage occupied territories belonging to Rome, but the Romans retaliated with vigour.

Incidentally, I believe that Carthage should be destroyed.

Cato the Elder

Marcus Porcius Cato, often called Cato the Elder (234-149 BC) was a Roman statesman known for his opposition to Carthage. He is said to have ended all his Senate speeches with the words 'Ceterum/Praeterea censeo Carthaginem esse delendam' (By the way, I think Carthage should be destroyed) regardless of what else he was talking about.

It was partly due to Cato the Elder that the Romans again declared war on Carthage in 149 BC, during the Third Punic War. The city was completely destroyed and the population was sold into slavery. The Romans then took over the city themselves. However, Cato himself did not live to see the final disintegration, as he died in the same year as the war broke out.

Karthago i Tunisien

A Unesco World Heritage Site

The archaeological site of Carthage has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The site tells the story of several cultures and played a central role in antiquity, making it an important cultural and historical site for humanity.

Karthago i Tunisien

Visiting Carthage

If you're visiting Tunisia's capital Tunis, it's well worth taking a trip to Carthage, which is just outside the capital. Although this was a very powerful city in ancient times, the area is not too large and half a day can be enough to wander around the various ruins.

Karthago i Tunisien

We spent most of our time at the Baths of Antoninus. Although only ruins remain, it is clear that this was once a very large bathhouse, in fact the largest outside of Rome. A drawing shows how the different rooms were once arranged, with hot and cold rooms, pools and exercise rooms. At that time, the building was much higher, and what you see today are the lower rooms, where mainly the servants were located.

Karthago i Tunisien

In addition to the bathhouse, there are several other interesting ruins on the site. For example, you can see the remains of an amphitheatre, a theatre, a cemetery, a tower and a residential area. Also nearby are an archaeological museum and The Acropolium, also known as Saint Louis Cathedral.

Film from Carthage

Here you can also watch a film from Carthage, edited by Peter.

The hotel Golden Tulip Carthage Tunis

Not too far from Carthage is a hotel with an appropriate style for those who like ancient Phoenician ruins. We had lunch here, and took the opportunity to check out the cool pool area. The lunch, which was a buffet, tasted really good by the way.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Not far from Carthage is the charming little blue-and-white town. Sidi Bou Said, which you won't want to miss. It is also interesting to discover the capital Tunis with its bazaars and old medina, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For those who want to enjoy the sun and swimming, there are also places like Hammamet, Sousse and Monastir.

All our top tips for Tunisia. Click on the image!

Have you visited Carthage?

Have you visited the archaeological site of Carthage in Tunisia? Do you like historical sights?

Facts about Carthage

  • Country: Tunisia
  • Location: The site is located in northern Tunisia, just north of the capital Tunis.
  • Name: Carthage or Carthage. In French: Carthage. In English: Carthage.

History of Carthage

  • 814 BC: Carthage was founded. Initially, the area was subordinate to the Phoenician city of Tyre.
  • 650 BC: The city became independent, and established a hegemony (leadership position) over other Phoenician settlements in the Mediterranean.
  • 200th century BC: The city's powerful reign lasted until this period. At its peak, it had political influence over most of the western Mediterranean. For much of the time, it was at odds with the Greeks in Sicily and the Roman Republic, leading to the Greco-Punic and Punic wars. The city also had to deal with the Berbers, the indigenous people of the area.
  • 146 BC: After the third and final Punic War, Carthage was destroyed and occupied by Roman forces. Almost all the other Phoenician states that had previously been subject to the city fell into Roman hands.

Buildings in Carthage

Some of the main ruins that can be seen from the ancient city are:

  • Antoninus bathhouse, from 145-165, is considered the largest in North Africa.
  • The harbour is located on a canal and has been rebuilt by the Romans.
  • Amphitheatres which is largely destroyed.
  • The Tophet cemetery is a cave-like religious shrine dedicated to the god Baal-Hammon.
  • Theatres which has been restored.
  • Byrsakullen with towers and ruins of residential buildings.
  • Column building shows the ruins of a building of unknown origin, perhaps the Gargilius bathhouse.

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