Ancient Carthage: The Foundation Part I

Reasons of Foundation

Carthage was founded by Dido, a Phoenician Queen from Tyre, on the 9th century BC in North Africa. It was created to facilitate trade in between Mediterranean Phoenician cities.

---

Government

Two suffets were elected every year and selected from the wealthiest and most influential families. Suffets were non-royal magistrates granted control over a city-state, they exercised judicial and executive power, but not military as the administration chose the Generals. the Treasury and Foreign Affairs were supervised by the Council of Elders.

---

Religion

Carthage derived its religious beliefs from the Phoenicians. Their main god and goddess were Baal Hammon and Tanit. She was the goddess of War, a virginal mother and nurse while he was the god of weather, vegetative fertility and The King of Gods.
Carthage also embraced other religions from bordering civilizations; Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt and the Etruscan civilization.

---

City Design

Rock dwellings were at the origin of Carthaginian architecture. All constructions were built of limestone and mud-bricks.
Carthage’s main port contained two linked harbors one for military and another one for commercial ships. The circular one can harbor up to 220 warships while the rectangular harbor was considered the most powerful Mediterranean trade center.
The city was divided into four equally sized residential areas with the same layout. Carthage also had a large Necropolis, marketplaces, towers, a theater and a prestigious council house.

---

Culture of Carthage

Carthaginian art was inspired by Egyptian motifs, Phoenician gods, Etruscan patterns and Greek fashion. They were able to transform precious metals and materials into decorative object such as figurines of female goddesses, various kinds of jewelry necklaces…
Phoenicians are also known for Tyrian, the luxurious purple, for navigating by the stars, inventing glass...

---

Part II and III are in the making, follow my blog for updates.

Thanks for reading,

@youssef0202