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Article: ROAD TO RUINS
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- May 30, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Once the richest seaport in the world, little trace of Tunisia's
ancient city of Carthage now remains. But as Frank Partridge
discovers, there are still plenty of historic marvels to be found
close by
You need a fertile imagination to get the best out of Carthage.
While the Romans may have done a lot for us, they certainly did no
favours to the most beautiful and richest seaport of the ancient
world. During the Punic Wars in 149BC, the Roman senator Cato sent
out the order: Delenda est Carthago. In other words, mere victory
was not enough: Carthage must be destroyed.
Rome's North African forces obeyed it to the letter. After
pounding away at the walls for three years, they took the city ...