Discovery of the Ancient Carthage

Following a dispute over succession, the father of the Tyre Princess fled to the Levant. In 814 B.C., A Numidian prince granted her the town of Qart Hadasht, aka Carthago in Rome. Under the Hannibal dynasty, its trading dominated the western Mediterranean.

The kingdom of Tyre Princess was destroyed during the prolonged and brutal Punic Wars in 146 B.C. The ancient Roman Empire resettled in the second century. Carthage retained its power under the Byzantine regime, till another utter destruction in 692 A.D.

How to explore the ancient Carthage in Tunis?

(1) Carthage National Museum

It is located in the Byrsa Hill. Founded in 1875, the site used to be the city center of Carthage. It displayed items mainly from the Punic and Roman era, such as the marble carvings which depicted animals and human sculptures. Have a glimpse of this famous civilization.

(2) Acropolium of Carthage

Remember how Constantine attributed his victory to the Christian God? Built between 1884 and 1890, this Roman Catholic Church is located on the peak of Byrsa Hill. Instead of worship as Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul, it hosts public events and music concerts.

(3) Roman Amphitheater

It was constructed in the 1st century, and rebuilt by the dictator Julius Caesar. With a capacity of 36,00, it was once the largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire. While gladiator fights and animal hunting no longer exists, summer festivals still take place here.

(4) Villas Romaines de Carthage

Although it was destroyed in 146, the “villa de la volière”, which means aviary villa, is well-preserved. Witness the interior design of Ancient Rome, including bedrooms, courtyards and terraces. UNESCO has discovered many relics during the restoration.

(5) Thermes de Constantin

Our last stop is the biggest Roman Bath in Africa. The thermal complex was built along the shore at least 300m long. UNESCO started to study the site in 1972, and estimated there used to be an 8-stories architecture. Imagine how the ancestors enjoyed the breeze along.

(6) Mosquee Malik Ibn Anas

A symbol of secularism in this modern society. The millennium construction by Ayad Sriha was situated in the center of the Carthage archeological site, Covering 3 hectares approximately. With 55m height, the minaret is the most prominent building. Prayer room can accommodate more than 1,000 Muslims.

The experience of Carthage was not only on my mind, but also on my skin, with sunburn.