A Diary of a Roman Ambassador on His Journey to Ancient Carthage

 

Today, l woke up with a letter from the Senato of Rome. I have been served for this country many many years as an ambassador. Now once again, they demand my services at Carthage. As an Ambassador, what l usually do is that; to make a research about the country that l am going to. Hence, l will be able to have an image in my mind about the country's foundation and environment. Carthage is quite intriguing for us; as a vigorous state reign over on seas. Therefore, l got on my way to library for gaining a substantive knowledge in a broadest level. l come across with their foundation myth, after a scrutinized a book named “Virgils Poem, The Aeneid”. Carthage founded by Queen Dido(Elissa). According to book, after the collapse of Troy, people who survived in war; looks for a n e w l a nds t o apt l y settlement. Their leader Aeneas encounter with Tyrian princess Dido and fall in love each other. After sometime later her cruel and autocratic brother Pygmalion kills her husband. After learning that she was being held responsible for the death of her husband run aways. Dido is portrayed as an educated and enterprising women in the book. The city of Carthage was created and blessed by it is experience and leadership.After more reading about the Carthaginian 12 history. l felt more comfortable during on our journey to Carthage with our Roman ship. 

Our glorious legions won the first war which we called “punic war” and there is another one on the road in a foreseeable future. The first treaty allowed long-range concessions to Rome in Sardinia, Sicily, and Africa, but forbidden the ships from passing through traditionally fertile regions of central and southern Tunisia. My mission is to go to Carthage and make a negotiations with their executives. We are aimed retaining to provide a consolidation and demand to accept legitimacy of Roman domination in these territories. We are going to forced them to cede Sicily to Rome and pay a war indemnity. 3 4

Couple miles before we anchor the port, Carthaginian officers welcomed us at sea. The guide who will be show me around and be my host in this negotiation get in to our boat. When we are about the entering the city, my adviser told me that original name of the capital Carthage means (Qart Hadasth) “new city” 5 Carthage’s harbor is might be to most fascinating con-structure that l have been seen until today. With large quays running to either side, full of merchant warehouses. They maintaining their entity by trading just like their ancestors which were the Phoenicians. It is nothing else but an international trade hub. A huge military No-Go area beyond it is shielded by colossal walls. The center of Carthage, there is a military port. I believe that, military port, which is connected to commercial port, has a design that is quite rare to match with. My guide telling me that, the naval port, with it is large outer ring and piers lined up around the artificial island in the center, allows 220 ships to dock at the same time.Their ships setting 6 sail to navigate the Mediterranean Sea from here.

There is no doubt that they has brave seafarers. I heard their amazing story’s during the first Punic war. My host, also tells me that Carthaginian sailers explored the whole coast between Egypt and Spain and even sailed into the stormy Atlantic Ocean to the edge of the world we know. 7 8

Indeed, Carthaginians has own everything in their naval fleets. Therefore, by the help of mercantilization activities; they sustained a prosperous city. On the other hand, we were vanquished them in the Punic war which occurred in lands. Our Roman Legions easily proved themselves superior to Carthaginian mercenaries by conquering almost all of the Sicily. Our soldiers are strong, relentless and disciplined. Romans soldiers are not mercenaries, they are born as a soldiers. People has been witnessed to Roman Republic's how in a short amount of time pervaded outside of their borders. The one can be easily verdicts that it is the war tactics, legions, troops skills etc. reason why leads to these victories. Moreover, it is indication that our army should not be underestimated. 9

The richness of the city is not merely based on to it is part of the strategic location on the North African shores, from which sea traffic between itself and Sicilian colony can be regulated, but also the expertise of the citizens in agriculture, as well. The Carthaginians cultivated vines, fruit trees, vegetables and olive trees in a ring of gardens irrigation water by shallow canals, and then spread their production to grain fields beyond the city walls. As Carthage began to flourish, the fertility of the soil and their skills in agriculture expanded the prosperity of the city through trade with the interior as well as maritime trade abroad. 10

When we landed in to the city. First thing that l draw my attention is that a huge metropolitan city. Residents of the city, nurtured by an African an Mediterranean traditions, demonstrates the signals of a powerful civilizing force in the world. Ordinary people’s houses and shops dominate the wider lower part of the city. The upper portion of the town was on a hill, surrounded by a fortification wall. At the far back was the holly space which was surrounded by walls and in the way that locals defined as “Trophet". It was almost at the edge of the city's political center. Furthermore, There were villas that constituted the Carthaginian elite. 11

I noticed that religion plays a prominent part in the society. During my visitation period l had time to observe the function of this holly territory. Sanctuary's are open to public all the time and it has a very profound value from the eyes of citizens. Among this huge stones(Trophet) a portrayed of the human figures is caught my attention, l supposed some sort of people take a vow here. Unfortunately, l could not be able to watch their ceremony live. Due to, they would not let me a permission to joined. Moreover, at night screams were being heard from palace. Looks like, this barbarians even sacrificing their children for their worships. 12 13

On the other hand, Carthaginians has their unique sanctuary. The beliefs of the local people shaping by just like revolve around the Pantheon at Rome. And this places covered with full of symbols, pictures of the gods that they worshipping to. Moreover, they have a three major prominent figures that enshrine:

“EL”is the creator of the universe and leader of the gods. “ASTARTE” wife of the El and goddess of the skies, war, ruler of the seas and love. Their son “BALL"sometimes the storm god and other times he looks after to vegetations and health.We Romans as well, believing to ancient myths. 14 We worshipping to spirits that which is governed our households. Furthermore, we have deity who is main attribution in agricultural in nature, for instance “ROBIGO”, if we don not make sacrifice to him he might ruin our crops. 15

Since a couple weeks l have been in to Carthage palace. During this time period, l found some similarities and differences compare to our Roman governors. According to my observations; The aristocrat class in Rome, maintain their hierarchy in the society by landowning. In Carthage, long distance traders hold the political power in their hands.“Suffetes”,means judges which are elected by the people every year. They also chair the talks in the Carthaginian senate.In other words, this people plays a crucial role 16 in political acts. The Roman aristocracy consist of “patricians" which are the descendants of adviser of Romulus the forefather of the country. When they making a decision about future of the country, deliberation is fundamental. The other citizens called “plebeians”. They have no right in senate to share their ideas.The Roman Senate, holds a very important place in the eyes of Romans citizens. The one can easily see at our monuments the stamped on SPQR -Senatus Populusque Romanus (the Roman Senate and People). 17

God's know how many days later, my mission in this country will be over. Finally, l will turn back to cradle of civilizations which means Republic of Rome.

 

FURKAN SIZANLI

 

References:

¹ The Unesco Courier.: Carthage must not be Destroyed. (1970). Paris, France: UNESCO.

² Dido. (n.d.). Retrieved December 03, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dido

³ Mulligan, B. (2015). Historical Context and Hannibal. In Cornelius Nepos, Life of Hannibal: Latin Text, Notes, Maps, Illustrations and Vocabulary (pp. 21-42). Open Book. Retrieved December 2, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt17w8gvz.9

⁴ Bagnal, N. The Punic Wars. Thomas Dune s, Hardcover(2005), 2016.

⁵ Carthage. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Carthage-ancient-city-Tunisia

⁶ David L. Stone. (2014). Africa in the Roman Empire: Connectivity, the Economy, and Artificial Port Structures. American Journal of Archaeology, 118(4), 565-600. doi:10.3764/aja.118.4.0565— Bagnal, N. The Punic Wars. Thomas Dune s, Hardcover(2005), 2016.

⁷ Hunt, P. (2009). The Locus of Carthage: Compounding Geographical Logic. The African Archaeological Review, 26(2), 137-154. doi:10.2307/40645436

⁸ Tignor, R. L. (2008). Worlds together, worlds apart: A history of the world from the beginnings of humankind to the present (2nd ed.). New York: W.W. Norton.

⁹  David Abulafia, “Carthage Must Be Destroyed, 400 BC-146 BC”. in The Great Sea

¹⁰ Mark, J. (2020, November 26). Animal Husbandry. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https:// www.ancient.eu/Animal_Husbandry/

¹¹ Cartwright, M. (2020, November 30). Carthaginian Religion. Retrieved December 02,2020, from https://www.ancient.eu/Carthaginian_Religion

 ¹²Cartwright, M. (2020, November 30). Carthaginian Religion. Retrieved December  02,2020, from https://www.ancient.eu/Carthaginian_Religion

¹³ Aubet, M.E The Phoenicians and the West Cambridge University Press, 2001.

¹⁴ Terra X - Große Völker 2 - Die Karthager

¹⁵ Mathew Bunson. Encyclopedia of Roman Empire third edition, Facts On File press. 2002

 16 (n.d.). Retrieved December 03, 2020, from http://www.theancientworld.net/civ/carthage.html

 17 Joseph, Drew. The Roman Civilization (Chapter 6). Introduction to World Civilizations, Anadolu 17 University Press, 2017.

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