The Ruins of Ancient Carthage, Tunisia | Sights & Attractions of Carthage Tunisia

Carthage was an ancient city founded by the Phoenicians in 814 BC. It is located on the coast of North Africa, now Tunisia. It was a significant trading hub and one of the wealthiest cities in the classical world. The city was protected by a wall that stretched over 40 kilometres, was 10 meters thick, and up to 13 meters high. The wall was built to defend the city against enemy attacks. 20,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry, and 300 elephants were responsible for defending Carthage. During the Magonid (Hannibal) dynasty, Carthage became the leading commercial power in the western Mediterranean. The city's success led to conflicts with the Greeks and then the Romans. Rome responded with force when Carthage invaded Sicily, resulting in a series of wars known as the Punic Wars. In 146 BC, Rome destroyed Carthage during the Third Punic War. Julius Caesar rebuilt the city from 49 to 44 BC. Under Byzantine rule, Carthage remained the dominant city in North Africa until the Arab invasion in 698 CE, utterly destroying the city. Today, the ancient ruins of Carthage are located on the edge of Tunis and remain an essential tourist attraction and archaeological site.