The Carthaginians Read online

  5. From M. H. Fantar, Carthage: La cité punique, p. 31, by permission of the author and publisher.

  6. From Hannibal ad Portas, p. 217, by permission of the Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe, and Theiss Verlag.

  7. Public domain image from Wikipedia Commons, at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quartier_Punique.JPG, retrieved 14/10/2009.

  8. Public domain image from Wikipedia Commons at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carthage-1958PortsPuniques.jpg, retrieved 3/10/2009.

  9. From M. H. Fantar, Carthage: La cité punique, p. 43, by permission of the author and publisher.

  10. Public domain image from Wikipedia Commons, at: http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Carthage-1922-PortsPuniques.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carthage-1922-PortsPuniques.jpg&usg=__iVS0nYYJWVO60XpepUgF4dmt5sI=&h=1797&w=2400&sz=357&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=z_JOiB5MkF0OeM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCarthage%2B1922%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:enUS:official%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1, retrieved 3/10/2009.

  11. From M. H. Fantar, Carthage: La cité punique, p. 46, by permission of the author and publisher.

  12. From Hannibal ad Portas, pp. 284–5 no. 61: by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia, and Theiss Verlag.

  13. From Hannibal ad Portas, p. 337 no. 5: by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia, and Theiss Verlag.

  14. From Hannibal ad Portas, p. 233 no. 4: by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia, and Theiss Verlag.

  15. From M. H. Fantar, Carthage: La cité punique, p. 62, by permission of the author and publisher.

  16. From Hannibal ad Portas, p. 271 no. 10: by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia, and Theiss Verlag.

  17. From M. H. Fantar, Carthage: La cité punique, p. 102, by permission of the author and publisher.

  18. From Hannibal ad Portas, p. 291 no. 86: by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia, and Theiss Verlag.

  19. From Hannibal ad Portas, p. 237 no. 20: by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia, and Theiss Verlag.

  20. Reproduced by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia.

  21. From Hannibal ad Portas, p. 259 no. 7: by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia, and Theiss Verlag.

  22. From Hannibal ad Portas, p. 286 no. 64: by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia, and Theiss Verlag.

  23. From Hannibal ad Portas, pp. 285 no. 63: by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia, and Theiss Verlag.

  24. Coin-images reproduced by permission of Dr Stephen Mulligan, Sydney, and prepared by Noble Numismatics Ltd., Sydney.

  25. From M. H. Fantar, Carthage: La cité punique, p. 111, by permission of the author and publisher.

  26. Reproduced by permission of the Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunisia.

  CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE

  All dates are bc unless marked otherwise

  Foundations

  1103

  traditional date for foundation of Gades

  1101

  traditional date for foundation of Utica

  813

  Timaeus’ foundation-date for Carthage (and Rome) and story of Elissa-Dido

  753

  foundation of Rome (most widely accepted date)

  Expansion of Carthage

  c. 640

  Colaeus of Samos trades with Tartessus

  c. 600

  Phocaean Greeks found Massalia

  c. 580

  Pentathlus unsuccessfully tries to found a Greek city in western Sicily

  550–500

  Carthage imposes dominance over much of Sardinia and over western Sicily

  c. 540

  Phocaean refugees settle at Alalia in Cyprus

  c. 540–530

  career of Mazeus or ‘Malchus’

  c. 535

  Carthaginian and Etruscan fleet defeated by Phocaeans off Alalia; Phocaeans abandon Alalia

  The Magonid family in power

  c. 530

  Mago achieves dominance in Carthage’s affairs

  c. 530–396

  ascendancy of Mago’s sons and descendants, the Magonids

  c. 525

  Carthaginians control island of Ebusus

  c. 515

  Dorieus of Sparta’s colony near Lepcis Magna expelled

  c. 510

  Dorieus killed in western Sicily

  c. 510–500

  Hasdrubal the Magonid killed in Sardinia

  c. 509

  Carthage’s first treaty with Rome

  c. 500–450

  Atlantic voyage of Hanno, recorded in his Periplus, and Himilco’s voyage to north-western Europe

  c. 500

  Thefarie Velianas’ shrine to Astarte-Uni at Pyrgi, Etruria

  c. 485

  Carthaginians at war with Acragas and Syracuse in Sicily

  480

  Battle of Himera and death of Hamilcar the Magonid

  480–410

  Carthage at peace with Sicilian Greeks

  after 480

  progressive subjugation of Libyans

  474

  Syracuse defeats Etruscans at sea off Cumae, Campania

  415–413

  Athenian expedition against Syracuse

  War and peace with the Sicilian Greeks

  409–405

  Carthaginian campaigns against Sicilian Greeks

  406

  Sack of Acragas by Hannibal son of Gisco and his colleague Himilco

  405

  rise to power of Dionysius I at Syracuse; peace with Carthage

  398–396

  Dionysius’ new war with Carthage

  398

  Syracusans sack Motya

  396

  plague epidemic at Carthage; suicide of Himilco; end of Magonid dominance

  Carthage institutes cult of Demeter and Kore (Persephone) to atone for impieties in Sicily Great Libyan Revolt, put down by Mago

  393–392

  Sicilian campaigns of Mago, ended by new peace with Syracuse

  390s/380s

  creation of the court of One Hundred and Four

  383–(?)381

  Mago’s second war with Syracuse

  379/378

  Carthage re-establishes town of Hipponium in southern Italy

  370s–360s

  plague again rages at Carthage; revolts by Libyans and Sardinians, eventually crushed

  368

  Dionysius I launches new war with Carthage, but dies; war flickers out

  c. 368

  Carthaginian senate bans study of Greek (temporarily)

  367–357

  rule of Dionysius II at Syracuse

  360s–350s

  ascendancy of Hanno the Great at Carthage

  c. 350

  conspiracy and fall of Hanno the Great

  357–344

  wars, coups and anarchy in Greek Sicily

  348

  Carthage’s second treaty with Rome

  Carthage against Timoleon and Agathocles

  345

  new Carthaginian intervention in Greek Sicily

  343

  Timoleon arrives in Sicily. Suicide of Mago after setback outside Syracuse

  341

  May/June: battle of the river Crimisus and end of Carthage’s war in Sicily Gisco son of Hanno the Great recalled from exile

  341–320s

  ascendancy of Gisco

  334

  Alexander the Great captures Tyre, threatens Carthage with future attack

  325

  Carthage mediates in Sicilian Greek quarrels

  319

  Carthage mediates in Syracusan civil strife, first opposing but then supporting Agathocles

  317

  Agathocles takes power at Syracuse

  315–314

  Carthaginian general
Hamilcar mediates in fresh inter-Greek conflicts

  312

  Agathocles attacks Carthaginian territory in western Sicily

  311

  new general, Hamilcar son of Gisco, occupies much of eastern Sicily; besieges Syracuse

  310

  (14 August) Agathocles’ invasion fleet sails to Cape Bon; he wins victories in Libya; many or most Libyans revolt from Carthage

  309

  Hamilcar’s second attack on Syracuse defeated; he is captured and killed; Carthage’s Sicilian Greek allies break away. Agathocles dominates Libya but cannot take Carthage

  308

  Bomilcar’s failed coup in Carthage Agathocles, reinforced by Ophellas’ army from Cyrene, captures Hippacra and Utica; returns on his own to Sicily. Plundering campaigns by his son and lieutenants across Libya and into Numidia; Carthaginians defeat the invaders

  307

  Agathocles returns to Africa, but is defeated; abandons his sons and soldiers to return to Syracuse; collapse of the Greek invasion. Libyans subdued

  306

  peace between Carthage and Agathocles restores old status quo

  supposed date of supposed ‘Philinus-treaty’ with Rome

  War with Pyrrhus and the First Punic War

  289

  death of Agathocles; fresh upheavals among Sicilian Greeks

  288

  Mamertine mercenaries seize Messana

  c. 280

  Hicetas, tyrant of Syracuse, invades Carthaginian Sicily

  280/279

  Carthaginian land and sea forces besiege Syracuse; Syracusans appeal for help to Pyrrhus in Italy

  278–276

  Pyrrhus’ campaigns against the Carthaginians

  276

  Pyrrhus returns to Italy

  275/274

  Hiero becomes effective leader of Syracuse

  273/272

  Hiero makes peace with Carthage

  272

  Tarentum surrenders to Rome; Rome now effective ruler of Italian peninsula

  264

  escalating crisis over Mamertines of Messana; outbreak of war between Carthage and Rome

  264–241

  First Punic War

  260

  Rome’s first grand fleet defeats Carthaginians off Mylae, Sicily

  256–255

  failed Roman invasion of North Africa under Regulus

  249

  Roman naval defeats off Drepana and Camarina (last Carthaginian victories in the war)

  247

  Hamilcar Barca appointed general in Sicily Hanno the Great captures Theveste in Numidia

  241

  (10 March) Roman naval victory off Aegates Islands; peace treaty ends First Punic War

  The dominance of the Barcids

  late 241–early 237

  Great revolt (Truceless War) of mercenaries and Libyans in North Africa

  238/237

  Hamilcar Barca becomes dominant at Carthage

  237–228

  Hamilcar’s campaigns in southern Spain create new Carthaginian province

  228–221

  his son-in-law and successor Hasdrubal dominates Carthaginian affairs from Spain

  227/226

  Hasdrubal founds Spanish Carthage (‘New Carthage’ to Romans)

  221

  Hannibal, son of Hamilcar, becomes chief general and leader of Carthage

  219

  Hannibal besieges and after 7 months sacks Saguntum in eastern Spain

  The Second Punic War

  218

  Hannibal marches over the Alps into Italy; victory at river Trebia, northern Italy (December)

  218–211

  elder Scipio brothers’ campaigns in Spain against Carthaginians

  c. 218–210

  construction of Carthage’s artificial ports south of the agora (suggested dating)

  217

  (22 June) Hannibal’s victory at Lake Trasimene, Etruria

  217–216

  Hannibal’s operations against Fabius the Delayer and his military successors

  216

  (2 August) victory of Cannae, Apulia; Capua defects to Carthage

  216–212

  much though not all of southern Italy defects from Rome

  215

  Hannibal’s alliance with Philip V of Macedon

  214

  Carthage’s alliance with Syracuse

  213

  Marcellus opens siege of Syracuse

  212

  Tarentum defects to Hannibal Romans open siege of Capua Syracuse captured and plundered by Marcellus

  211

  destruction of the elder Scipios in southern Spain Hannibal’s march on Rome; surrender of Capua to Romans

  209

  younger Scipio (later Africanus) captures Spanish Carthage; Fabius the Delayer recaptures Tarentum

  208–206

  Scipio defeats Carthaginians in Spain and conquers Carthaginian province

  207

  Hasdrubal, brother of Hannibal, marches into northern Italy; (21 June) defeated and killed at river Metaurus

  207–203

  Hannibal confined to far south of Italy

  204–203

  Scipio invades North Africa, defeats Carthaginians and their Numidian ally Syphax; Carthage makes

  peace with Rome. Hannibal recalled from Italy with his army

  202

  peace denounced or ignored by Carthage and Hannibal; (19 October?) battle of Zama; Carthage, urged by Hannibal, seeks fresh terms

  201

  second peace treaty with Rome: end of Carthage as a great power. Masinissa king of all Numidia

  Carthage’s last half-century

  200–196

  Rome’s second war with Philip V, crippling Macedon as a great power

  197(?)–193

  Carthage in dispute (over territory?) with Masinissa of Numidia

  196

  Hannibal as sufete enacts financial and political reforms

  195

  Hannibal forced into exile by his political enemies, with Roman connivance

  192–188

  Antiochus III, the Great King of the east, defeated in war with Rome. Rome becomes dominant power from the Atlantic to the Euphrates

  182

  supposed dispute between Carthage and Numidia over territory

  174–172 mid-160s

  third(?) dispute with Numidia over territory Masinissa seizes Emporia; Rome adjudicates in his favour

  150s

  factional politics at Carthage embittered by Masinissa’s encroachments

  153 or 152

  Masinissa seizes all Carthage’s western Libyan lands

  150

  Masinissa attacks more Carthaginian territory; Carthaginian offensive against him ends in disaster Carthage threatened with Roman armed intervention; fails to appease Rome

  The Third Punic War and the destruction of Carthage

  150–149

  (winter) Rome declares war on Carthage. Carthage offers total submission to Roman wishes

  149

  (spring) consuls land at Utica and demand that Carthaginians abandon their city Carthage declares war on Rome; siege of the city begins

  Masinissa dies, aged over 90; Scipio Aemilianus settles Numidia’s affairs

  149–148

  Carthaginians in the city hold out, supported by field army at Nepheris and by much of Libya

  147

  Scipio Aemilianus, now consul, reinvigorates the siege; improvised Carthaginian fleet defeated outside the ports

  147–146

  (winter) Scipio destroys field army at Nepheris; Libya capitulates

  146, spring

  Scipio’s troops break into Carthage; Byrsa capitulates; Carthage burned. Remaining Carthaginian lands become Roman province of ‘Africa’

  Carthage under the Romans

  122

  abortive effort to found a Roman colony on site of Carthage

  112–105


  Rome at war with Numidia under Masinissa’s grandson Jugurtha

  46

  Julius Caesar annexes Numidia as province of ‘Africa Nova’ Caesar refounds Carthage with Roman colonists

  AD 160–240

  Tertullian: Carthaginian, Roman and Christian writer