Zeugitania, Carthage Coins and History. The Punic War

In approximately 814 BC, Carthage was founded by Phoenician settlers from the city of Tyre, bringing with them the city-god Melqart. Traditionally, the city was founded by Dido (or Elissa) (Dido fled from Tyre after her younger brother killed her husband to become the ruler), and a number of foundation myths have survived through Greek and Roman literature. (See Byrsa for one example.)

In 509 BC a treaty was signed between Carthage and Rome indicating a division of influence and commercial activities. It is the first known source that indicated Carthage had gained control over Sicily and Sardinia. By the beginning of the 5th century BC, Carthage was the commercial center of the region, a position it would retain until overthrown by the Roman Republic.

The city had conquered the territory of the old Phoenician colonies, such as Hadrumetum, Utica and Kerkouane, and the Libyan tribes, spreading its control along the North African coast from modern Morocco to the borders of Egypt. Its influence had also spread into the Mediterranean, with control over Sardinia, Malta, the Balearic Islands and the western half of Sicily.

Colonies had also been established in Iberia. Tanit was a Carthaginian lunar goddess. A consort of Baal, she was the Patron of Carthage. She may have been related to the Phoenician goddess Astarte (Ishtar). She is also a Berber goddess.Her sign, a symbol found on many ancient stonecarvings, appears primitively as a trapezium closed by a horizontal line at the top and surmounted in the middle by a circle (the horizontal arm was often terminated either by two short upright lines at right angles to it or by hooks.) Later, the trapezium was frequently replaced by an isosceles triangle.

About the featured coin: Zeugitania, Carthage. Circa 300-264 BC. Æ 20mm. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears / Horse's head right; pellet before. This unique coin was mounted in a fine 18K gold custom frame. Pedant total weight: 12.86 grams

History of the Central Mediterranean 814 B.C. - 146 B.C.

The Central Mediterranean, like most of the Mediterranean basin, underwent many migrations of peoples into the region. Two migrations which occurred during the first millennium B.C. were the Greeks, who came as a result of over-population at home, and the Phoenicians who came for trade and as a result of political turmoil at home.  

The Greeks arrived in large numbers, and quickly established strong positions in southern Italy and Sicily. Eventually the most powerful of these colonized cities was Syracusa. The Phoenicians sent considerably fewer persons, at first establishing not colonies but trading outposts. About 814 B.C. political turmoil in the Phoenician city of Tyre led to the establishment of Kirjath-Hadeschath, or in European tongue, Carthage (New Town).  

The Greek expansion in the Central Mediterranean continued until 536 B.C. when the Carthaginians combined forces with the Eturscans (an Italic peoples). From this time the Greeks concentrated their efforts on the island of Sicily. By increasing their strength on Sicily, the Greeks forced many of the Phoenician settlements to look to Carthage for protection. During this same time the land of Phoenicia was conquered. As a result, the Phoenicians in the Central/Western Mediterranean became known as Punic.  

In 480 B.C. the Greeks dealt the Carthaginians a crippling defeat at Himera, on the north coast of Sicily. This defeat brought down the Carthaginian Kings, established a Republic, and for the next 100 years Carthage focused on expanding her dominions in Africa (modern Tunisia).  

The year 410 B.C. began a 250 year long struggle for survival for Carthage with first the Greeks and then the Romans. The Sicil city of Segesta, asked for help against its mortal Greek enemy of Selinius. Carthage, in a lightning fast campaign sacked both Selinius, and the large Greek city of Agrigento. But the Carthaginians failed in their attempt to siege Syrcausa. Shortly after this time, Dionysius of Scyracusa, called upon many craftsmen, and invented numerous new weapons of war, including the catapult. Dionysius then broke his peace treaty with Carthage and sacked the important city of Moyta. For the next 100+ years the Carthaginians battled the Syracusians. Then Phyrrus of Epirus arrived on the battle scene. Phyrrus attempted to rescue the Greeks of southern Italy from Rome. Carthage and Rome allied and eventually defeated Phyrrus. Although Rome and Carthage had signed three previous treaties, in 264 B.C. Rome decided that, with the Roman conquest of southern Italy, the Carthaginians in Sicily were now too close for comfort. Thus began what was to be known as the First Punic War.  

The Romans, a land power managed to capture a Carthaginian warship. The Carthaginians had been masters of the sea for over 500 years. But the secrets the warship yielded, along with Roman ingenuity, led to several important Roman naval victories. After 24 years of war, Rome was at the point of breaking. They had already had one army wiped out attempting to invade Africa. Furthermore, a Carthaginian general by the name of Hamilcar Barca continued to conduct successful campaigns from his mountain fortress of Erice in north-west Sicily. But, in 241 B.C., within sight of Hamilcar's fortress, the Carthaginians lost yet another naval battle. Carthage decided it was no longer economically-viable to continue the war, and she surrendered.  

The terms of the First Punic war were harsh. Harsher still was when Rome, while Carthage was suppressing a revolt, seized Sardinia and demanded additional moneys. Realizing that Rome would not be satisfied until she had all of the Mediterranean, Hamilcar Barca brought his young son, Hannibal with him on a campaign to conquer Spain.  

Within a few years Hamilcar had built a powerful empire in Spain. Hamilcar died, and his son, Hannibal attacked the Greek city of Sagentum in eastern Spain. Although the city was south of the borders agreed upon by Rome and Carthage, the Romans declared war. Hannibal then crossed the Alps, and began a 16 year war which ended in defeat again for Carthage.  

The closing chapter came in 149 B.C. when the Romans demanded three things of the now weakened Carthaginian state. First, she must turn over all her generals. Which Carthage did. Second, they must turn over all tier weapons. Which Carthage did, to the tune of 2,000 catapults, and 100,000 sets of armor. Third, the Carthaginians must leave the city, and be settled inland. Not wanting to accept this third point, the Carthaginians held out for three years against a Roman siege. In the end, the city was destroyed.