Exploring the Vestiges of Ancient Carthage: A Tour Through Tunisia's Antiquated Metropolis Remains
In the heart of North Africa, on a promontory overlooking the Gulf of Tunis, the city of Carthage was established in the ninth century B.C.E. According to Carthaginian oral history, the city's first queen was an exiled princess named Dido, who fled from Tyre (modern-day southern Lebanon) to escape her brother Pygmalion. Known as Elissa in Phoenician, Dido is celebrated as a strong and resourceful leader who founded the city of Carthage.
Dido, also known by her nickname, is a figure shrouded in legend. Her story is most famously told in Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid, where she falls tragically in love with the Trojan hero Aeneas, but after he leaves to fulfill his destiny of founding Rome, she commits suicide out of despair.
The name Dido likely originated as a nickname, with Elissa being her Phoenician royal name, meaning "wandering." Although her exact historical existence is debated, her myth profoundly influenced later literature and culture, symbolizing Carthage’s origins and its eventual hostile rivalry with Rome.
In the Aeneid, Dido's death sparks animosity between Carthage and the Trojans, foreshadowing the later Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome. The Punic Wars, a series of conflicts between the Roman and Carthaginian Empires, took place from 264-146 B.C.E., with Carthage being overtaken by the Romans during the Third Punic War in 146 B.C.E.
In its heyday, Carthage was the seat of the Carthaginians, who had a powerful North African empire. At its peak, the Carthaginian Empire stretched throughout much of North Africa, Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, and the Iberian Peninsula. The city, in the third century B.C.E., was the second-largest metropolis in the Mediterranean after Alexandria.
Some of the best-preserved ruins of ancient Carthage can be found on Byrsa Hill, including several residences and the Tophet of Salammbo, a cemetery. The Tophet of Salammbo may contain the remains of children used as ritual sacrifices, although this could be a piece of Roman propaganda.
After the fall of Carthage, some Roman construction projects were initiated on the site, such as the Baths of Antoninus and Circus of Carthage. However, the Third Punic War resulted in the Roman Empire’s complete defeat of the Carthaginian Empire, leading to the city's looting and many of its inhabitants being taken into slavery.
Today, the ruins of ancient Carthage have been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List. The legacy of Dido, the legendary founder-queen of Carthage, continues to inspire, as her story blends elements of love, loss, and the founding of a great city central to ancient Mediterranean history.
[1] Virgil, Aeneid, Book 4. [2] Livy, Ab Urbe Condita, Book 1. [3] Polybius, The Histories, Book 3. [5] Appian, The Punic Wars, Book 1.
As a testament to Dido's enduring influence, modern home-and-garden styles often incorporate art inspired by her legendary stature, symbolizing resilience and resourcefulness in today's lifestyle. In the heart of Carthage, remnants of her former palace, adorned with Phoenician art, serve as a reminder of the ancient city's grandeur and its empress, Dido, who once ruled over a powerful empire.
