Podcast Summary: The Ancients – "How to Survive in Carthage"

Release Date: August 10, 2025
Host: Tristan Hughes
Guest: Dr. Eve MacDonald, University of Cardiff

Introduction

In the episode titled "How to Survive in Carthage," hosted by Tristan Hughes of The Ancients, listeners are transported back to the bustling days of Ancient Carthage. Joined by Dr. Eve MacDonald, a historian from the University of Cardiff, the discussion delves deep into the daily life, society, economy, and cultural intricacies of one of antiquity's most formidable city-states. This comprehensive exploration offers a vivid portrayal of Carthage beyond its famed military exploits, focusing instead on the lived experiences of its citizens.

Arriving in Carthage: A Glimpse of the Ancient Metropolis

[07:49]
Tristan: "I think we really have to think about Carthage in the century before it was destroyed... the third century BC is probably our best documented physical Carthage."

Walking through the streets of Carthage circa 210 BC, one would witness a magnificent cosmopolitan port city overlooking the Bay of Tunis in North Africa. The city was a hub for traders from across the Mediterranean, boasting impressive sea walls, monumental gates, and towering apartment blocks. The Bursa Hill, serving as the center of life, housed significant structures like the Temple of Eshmoun, where the Senate convened.

City Layout and Architecture

[08:32]
Tristan: "Carthage had big sea walls with sea-facing walls and monumental gates. Behind those walls... the oldest part of the city would have stood up quite high behind the walls."

Carthage was characterized by its dense urban layout, encapsulated within 17 km of city walls that included extensive agricultural lands known as the Megara. The architecture featured Opus Africanum, a masonry technique enabling the construction of multi-story buildings, allowing the city to maximize its limited urban space. Streets were organized with large, multi-story houses featuring internal courtyards and exits facing the bustling streets below.

Trade and Economy: Imports and Exports

[21:16]
Tristan: "We definitely know that fish is involved... the Roman fish sauce that they're so famous for, the Garum, I'm almost certain that must have come from the Iberian Peninsula..."

Carthage's economy thrived on extensive trade networks. Key exports included fish and fish products like Garum, a fermented fish sauce highly prized by the Romans. Other significant exports were sheepskins from Sardinia, metals such as silver and iron from the rich reserves of the Iberian Peninsula, and agricultural products like olive oil and grains. Imports were diverse, ranging from Rhodian wine to exotic goods from distant lands.

Multiculturalism and Language in Carthage

[14:22]
Tristan: "We know that most Carthaginians spoke Greek if they were educated... The official language of the city was Punic..."

Carthage was a melting pot of cultures and languages. While Punic served as the official language, facilitating local administration and religious practices, Greek acted as the lingua franca among the educated elite, enabling communication across diverse communities. The city's population included Phoenicians, Amazigh (Numidian) people, Greeks, Iberians, and others, each contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Carthage.

Social Hierarchy and Citizenship

[35:40]
Tristan: "Being a Carthaginian citizen was not your ethnicity. It was your relationship to the city."

Carthaginian society was inclusive, with citizenship granted based on one's relationship to the city rather than ethnic origin. Evidence from DNA studies indicates a diverse population with no single dominant ethnicity. Citizenship could be acquired through various means, including military service, intermarriage, or long-term residence. This inclusivity fostered a vibrant and dynamic urban environment where multiple cultures coexisted harmoniously.

Daily Life and Diet: Porridge and Fish

[31:05]
Tristan: "Punic porridge turns up in a couple of different places. Plautus... calls them porridge eaters... It was a savory porridge that used barley and lots of cheese and salt."

The daily diet of Carthaginians was centered around grains, pulses, vegetables, and fish, with meat consumption being relatively rare due to its high cost. A staple was Punic porridge, a nutritious dish made from barley, cheese, and salt, providing essential proteins and carbohydrates. Fish, abundant due to the city's maritime prowess, was a significant component of the diet, ensuring that even common citizens had access to protein-rich meals.

Religion and Sacrifices: Worship at the Tophet

[50:53]
Tristan: "We have evidence certainly for the sacrifice or dedication of children... dedicated to the gods Baal and Tanit."

Religious practices in Carthage were deeply ingrained in daily life, with the Tophet serving as a sacred precinct for animal and human sacrifices. The site has been the subject of much debate among scholars, with evidence pointing towards the dedication of children to deities such as Baal and Tanit. While some argue it was a site for infant mortality dedications, the prevailing view supports ritualized child sacrifices. Inscriptions and archaeological findings, including urns and steles, indicate that these acts were public and commemorative, reflecting the city's complex religious landscape.

Art and Symbolism: The Sign of Tanit

[45:49]
Tristan: "We know from the existing visual culture... the sign of Tanit... very close to the Egyptian ankh symbol."

Carthaginian art was a blend of various cultural influences, prominently featuring symbols like the Sign of Tanit—a triangle topped with a circle and extending arms, resembling the Egyptian ankh. Mosaics were prevalent, as seen in sites like Kerkuan, showcasing vibrant floors that reflected the city's artistic sophistication. The incorporation of Egyptian motifs and local Deities illustrated Carthage's interconnectedness with neighboring civilizations and its unique cultural identity.

Crime and Punishment: Judicial Practices

[65:11]
Tristan: "There were sitting magistrates... sufites... connected to judges."

Carthage had a structured judicial system overseen by sufites, magistrates elected annually from the senatorial class. These officials presided over the marketplace and public spaces, ensuring societal order. Legal regulations, as documented by sources like Aristotle’s works, indicated rules such as prohibiting judges from consuming alcohol and restricting certain behaviors. Crimes were dealt with through trials, and severe offenses like treason were punished by crucifixion, a practice possibly borrowed by the Romans from Carthaginian customs.

Music and Culture: The Soundscape of Carthage

[69:14]
Tristan: "Music would have been a really important part of the culture... figurines from graves in Ibiza, which was a Phoenician city, musical figurines."

Music played a vital role in Carthaginian society, intertwining with both daily life and religious rituals. Musical instruments, likely influenced by Phoenician traditions, were commonplace in public ceremonies and private gatherings. Archaeological finds, such as musical figurines from Ibiza, suggest that music was an integral aspect of cultural expression and social interaction in Carthage.

Conclusion and Upcoming Events

[71:08]
Dr. Eve MacDonald: "My book is 'Carthage: A New History of an Ancient Empire.'"

As the episode wraps up, Dr. Eve MacDonald promotes her forthcoming book, providing listeners with a deeper dive into Carthage’s history. Additionally, hosts announce a live special episode at the London Podcast Festival on September 5th, inviting fans to engage directly and ask questions about Carthage.

Notable Quotes

• Tristan: “What we have is very much the substructures only. But we can make these assumptions from places like Kerkuan and that they were mosaic floored and they had, you know, painted walls...” ([45:49])

• Dr. Eve MacDonald: “It's a little enigmatic because... there's so much which is mysterious we don't know too much about.” ([35:40])

• Tristan: “We don't think we have anything like ancient Carthaginian restaurants or similar places.” ([29:31])

Key Takeaways

• Carthage was a densely populated, multicultural city-state with a robust economy based on extensive trade networks.

• Language and multiculturalism were hallmarks of Carthaginian society, facilitating diverse interactions and economic activities.

• Religious practices were central to Carthaginian life, with sites like the Tophet playing a significant role in societal rituals and beliefs.

• Art and music reflected the city's cultural diversity and its connections with neighboring civilizations, particularly Egypt and the broader Phoenician world.

• Judicial systems in Carthage were well-structured, with elected magistrates overseeing law and order, indicative of an organized societal framework.

Further Engagement

Listeners intrigued by the deep dive into Carthage's daily life and societal structures are encouraged to attend the live show on September 5th at King's Place in London. Additionally, Dr. Eve MacDonald’s book promises an expansive exploration of Carthage's rise and fall, integrating the latest archaeological and genetic research to paint a comprehensive picture of this ancient empire.

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