Archive for the ‘Ancient Mediterranean’ Category
By: The Scribe on June, 2011
Although many ancient cities have been destroyed by time, the ruins of ancient Carthage are still visible. The city was dominated by a large necropolis or burial ground. One area of this necropolis is known as the Tophet, a massive child cemetery where the remains of approximately 20,000 urns have been unearthed. The remains inside were charred and often belonged to newborn babies although remains belonging to children as old as two.
A number of theories have arisen about how the children came to be buried in the Tophet. Worship of the god Ba’al Hammon and the goddess Tanit called for child sacrifice and it is the remains of those sacrifices that are found buried in the Tophet. Other theories are that the infants had died naturally of causes such as disease.
But if the babies in the Tophet had been sacrificed to Tanit and Ba’al Hammon, where did they come from? Were the Carthaginians sacrificing their own children? And how many children were sacrificed at one time?
If historical accounts are to be believed, the babies that were sacrificed were often the children of servants or were purchased by affluent Carthaginians rather than offering their own children to the flames. Some circumstances called for special sacrifices, however, and in cases such as famine, war or other disasters, Carthaginians may have been forced by the priests to offer their own children up in sacrifice. One story states that in 310 BCE, up to 500 children were killed and their bodies were then placed into a sacrificial fire pit. The urns were used to store the remains which were gathered up after the ceremony was complete.
A number of historians wrote about the child sacrifice that was practiced in Carthage. Noted historians and philosophers such as Orosious, Philo and Plutarch mentioned that child sacrifice was performed at the Tophet (a name which actually means “roasting place”).
However, some individuals believe that since the authors of these reports were Roman for the most part that it may have been an attempt to slander the Carthaginians and turn public opinion against them. The Carthaginian military commander Hannibal vowed to destroy Rome and travelled across the Alps accompanied by his army and a number of elephants in an attempt to take the city itself. He occupied much of Italy for approximately fifteen years before being defeated by the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus. Rome and Carthage fought in a series of Punic Wars which ultimately led to the fall of Carthage in 146 BCE.
Whether you believe that the Tophet was a scene of numerous child sacrifices or you believe that the area was a graveyard for children the facts remain the same. The area, which was estimated to be as large as an acre and a half by the fourth century BCE, was home to the remains of more than twenty thousand infants and children. It is no wonder, then, that visitors to the area still find the Tophet to be a spooky and unnerving tourism destination.
By: The Scribe on March, 2011
Many people are familiar with the story of Hannibal the Great. He was a Carthaginian who
was famous for crossing the Alps with elephants and soldiers in tow. To make such a massive trek really requires dedication. For Hannibal, his desire to overthrow Rome was so strong that he was not about to let a little thing like a mountain range stand in his way- but why? Part of his hatred lay in where he was from, and part came from who his father was.
Hannibal was from Carthage, a city-state that was located outside of where Tunis, Tunisia now stands. Over time, Carthage took control of some of the most economically powerful colonies in the area. The city-state became quite powerful as a result. Rome didn’t really enjoy having any rivals for power in the area and, in 509 BCE, signed a treaty with Carthage that divided both the political influence and the commercial activity in the area. Despite this division of power, Carthage managed to become the center of commerce in the Western Mediterranean region.
Rome let this stand until 24 BCE, when the First Punic War broke out. Although it was not strictly between Carthage and Rome, they were some of the major players in the conflict. Enter Hamilcar Barca, a general who led Carthaginian troops in later portions of the war. Hamilcar Barca was Hannibal’s father. By the time he got involved, the war had already been going on for some time. Hamilcar was a fairly brutal man. He punished any of the mercenaries that had rebelled by murdering, drowning or sending them away.
Hamilcar trained Hannibal to be his successor and instilled in him a deep suspicion of, and hatred for, Rome. Hannibal saw himself as taking up his father’s fight against Rome. There were many stories that came out of Carthage about how Hannibal had been groomed to take up the fight. Some state that he swore to the God Baal that he would continue to fight against Rome. It was said that the Carthaginians were willing to sacrifice their own nobly born sons in order to keep Rome from taking the city.
The Second Punic War began in 218 BCE, and involved Hannibal’s long, overland trek through the Alps with his troops and elephants. Although it is commonly known as a fight between Carthage and Rome, other parties were involved as well. Carthage, Syracuse, Macedon and other peoples who were located in the western Mediterranean were all involved in the conflict.
Hannibal managed to seize and hold control over a large portion of Italy for years but, in the end, Hannibal was defeated. The Battle of Zama took place in 202 BCE between forces led by Hannibal and Scipio. The elephants that Hannibal had brought so far turned out to be of little use in the battle. In the end, Hannibal’s troops were encircled and annihilated by the Roman troops. This forced Carthage to sue for peace and ultimately led to the destruction of Carthage itself.
By: The Scribe on February, 2011
Many people have heard of the Trojan War or, at the very least, the Trojan horse. But the war and the horse are both myths and there are many people who think that the city was a myth as well. While there may have been no Helen, no jealous Greek gods or goddesses and no large wheeled wooden equine, the fact is that the city itself was very real indeed.
Historians certainly thought that the city was a myth. After all, there were no ruins, no digs that had unearthed proof of the city’s existence. Homer’s Troy seemed like nothing more than the fictional setting for a tale of betrayal, revenge and godly intervention. It seemed doomed to exist only in books and, later, in movies and television shows.
One archaeologist found what he thought may have been the site of this ancient city. In 1865, Frank Calvert purchased a field near Hisarlik in Turkey. The area was located near Mount Ida in an area southeast of the Dardanelles. Calvert began to excavate the area using a series of trenches. He was later joined by a German archaeologist by the name of Heinrich Schliemann. Their digging and excavation revealed not one city, but several which had been built in succession.
A total of nine different cities ranging from the third millennium BCE up until the first century BCE were discovered on the same site. The last city to have been built on the site was actually not called Troy. Instead the city, which was built during the time of the Emperor Augustus was named Ilium. It actually remained in existence until Constantinople was established and it began to decline during the Byzantine era.
The city began as a mercantile city. It was able to dominate trade in the area since it controlled access to the Dardanelles, a narrow strait that was once known as Hellespont. It connected the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Many ships travelled through this strait and so being able to control access to the area meant that Troy was very powerful indeed.
One incarnation of the city was destroyed by an earthquake around 1300BCE. When the area occupied by this city (named Troy VI) was excavated, only one artifact (an arrowhead) was unearthed and there were no bodies discovered. Another incarnation of the city actually was destroyed by war. It was dated to the mid to late 13th century BCE. 
Even as late as the founding of Ilium the city was known as an important trade city. This city was not destroyed. Instead, it declined gradually as Constantinople became established as the Roman Empire’s eastern capital. Ruins can still be viewed today although this area is not considered to be the Troy of Homeric legend.
Individuals who are interested in viewing the ancient and fabled ruins are able to do so by travelling to Truva, a Turkish city located near the Troia archaeological site. In 1998, the Troia site became a UNESCO World Heritage site.
By: The Scribe on January, 2011
Although many ancient cities have been destroyed by time, the ruins of ancient Carthage are still visible. The city was dominated by a large necropolis or burial ground. One area of this necropolis is known as the Tophet, a massive child cemetery where the remains of approximately 20,000 urns have been unearthed. The remains inside were charred and often belonged to newborn babies although remains belonging to children as old as two.
A number of theories have arisen about how the children came to be buried in the Tophet. Worship of the god Ba’al Hammon and the goddess Tanit called for child sacrifice and it is the remains of those sacrifices that are found buried in the Tophet. Other theories are that the infants had died naturally of causes such as disease.
But if the babies in the Tophet had been sacrificed to Tanit and Ba’al Hammon, where did they come from? Were the Carthaginians sacrificing their own children? And how many children were sacrificed at one time?
If historical accounts are to be believed, the babies that were sacrificed were often the children of servants or were purchased by affluent Carthaginians rather than offering their own children to the flames. Some circumstances called for special sacrifices, however, and in cases such as famine, war or other disasters, Carthaginians may have been forced by the priests to offer their own children up in sacrifice. One story states that in 310 BCE, up to 500 children were killed and their bodies were then placed into a sacrificial fire pit. The urns were used to store the remains which were gathered up after the ceremony was complete.
A number of historians wrote about the child sacrifice that was practiced in Carthage. Noted historians and philosophers such as Orosious, Philo and Plutarch mentioned that child sacrifice was performed at the Tophet (a name which actually means “roasting place”).
However, some individuals believe that since the authors of these reports were Roman for
the most part that it may have been an attempt to slander the Carthaginians and turn public opinion against them. The Carthaginian military commander Hannibal vowed to destroy Rome and travelled across the Alps accompanied by his army and a number of elephants in an attempt to take the city itself. He occupied much of Italy for approximately fifteen years before being defeated by the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus. Rome and Carthage fought in a series of Punic Wars which ultimately led to the fall of Carthage in 146 BCE.
Whether you believe that the Tophet was a scene of numerous child sacrifices or you believe that the area was a graveyard for children the facts remain the same. The area, which was estimated to be as large as an acre and a half by the fourth century BCE, was home to the remains of more than twenty thousand infants and children. It is no wonder, then, that visitors to the area still find the Tophet to be a spooky and unnerving tourism destination.
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