XV. On Recent Excavations at Carthage, and the Antiquities discovered there by the Rev. Nathan Davis

Augustus Wollaston Franks

doi:10.1017/S0261340900001387

XV. On Recent Excavations at Carthage, and the Antiquities discovered there by the Rev. Nathan Davis

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 January 2012

Augustus Wollaston Franks

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Among the various sites memorable from the greatness of the cities which once occupied them, there are few that equal in interest or surpass in historical associations that of Carthage. The myths respecting the foundation of that city, and the fate of its unhappy queen Dido, have received from the creative fancy of the poet such a semblance of truth as to make them assume a place in our recollections with the actual events of history. The extraordinary rise of Carthage and its equally extraordinary fall, the utter destruction of its records, the obscurity in which its language and art are enveloped, all concur to excite in us an interest and a curiosity in regard to everything connected with it, which is hardly awakened by the history, real or fabulous, of any other city of Pagan antiquity.

Type: Research Article
Information: Archaeologia , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , 1860 , pp. 202 - 236

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261340900001387 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1860

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References

^{page 203 note a} Ausonius, Ordo Nobilium Urbium. II. Constantinopolis et Carthago.

Constantinopoli adsurgit Carthago priori,

Non toto cessura gradu: quia tertia dici

Fastidit, non ausa locum sperare secundurm,

Qui fuit ambarum.

^{page 205 note a} Belidor, Architect. Hydraul. torn. ii. p. 36, pl. i.; Shaw, Travels in Barbary and the Levant, vol. i. p. 165; Estrup, Linece Topogr. Carihag. Tyrice (Miscell. Hafn. ii. part i. 1821); Chateaubriand, Itineraire, tom. ii. p. 208 (1836); Ritter, Erdkunde, vol. i. p. 914,1822; Sir Grenville Temple, Excursions in the Mediterranean, vol. i. ch. iv. 1835; Mannert, Geogr. der Griechen und Römer, Africa, part ii. oh. ix. p. 264, 1826; Heinrich Barth, Wanderungen durch die Kustenländer des Mittelmeeres, vol. i. p. 80, 1849. The several plans of some of the above writers are represented in the work of Dureau de la Malle, Reckerches sur la Topographie de Carthage. See also Smith's Dictionary of Ancient Geography, under Carthago.

^{page 205 note b} Recherches sur l'Emplacement de Carthage, &c., par C. T. Falbe. Fol. Paris, 1833.

^{page 205 note c} Recherches sur la Topographie de Carthage, par M. Dureau de la Malle. 8vo. Paris, 1835.

^{page 205 note d} Punica, viii. 96.

^{page 206 note a} Their opinion seems to have been generally received; yet a recent traveller, the Eev, J. W. Blakesley, though not disposed to question the position of the Cothon, which he looks upon as a dry dock, still considers the principal port to have been on the north-west side of the peninsula, founding his opinion in some measure on the significance of the Arab name El Mersa (the port). He also seems disposed to place the original Byrsa of the Phoenician colony and the temple of Æsculapius on the hill surmounted by the Turkish fort Burj-Jedid.—See “Four Months in Algeria, with a Visit to Carthage,” by the Rev. J. W. Blakesley. 8vo. Camb. 1859.

^{page 207 note a} Humbert, Notice sur quatre cippes sepulcraux et deux fragmens découverts en 1817 sur le solde l' ancienne Carthage. The Hague, 1821. See also Gesenius, Scripturæ Linguæque Phæniciæ Monumenta, p. 162 (Carthaginienses i.—iv,).

^{page 207 note b} See also Falbe, Recherches, &c. pl. v. No. 3. Gesenhis, p. 176 (Carthaginiensis v.).

^{page 207 note c} Miscellanea Phœnicia (1828), p. 9, tab, i. fig. 2. Gesenius, p, 177 (Carthaginiensia vi.).

^{page 207 note d} Hamaker, Miscell. Phœn,, p. 11, tab. i. No. 3. Gesenius, p. 178 (Carthaginiensis vii.).

^{page 207 note e} Münter, Acta Soc. Reg. Dan., 1824. Hamaker, Miscell. Phoen., p. l. tab. i. No. 1. Gesenius, p. 178 (Carthaginiensis viii.).

^{page 207 note f} Falbe, Recherches, &c. pl. v. No. 5. Gesenius, p. 180 (Carthaginiensis ix.).

^{page 207 note g} Engraved in Gesenius, tab. 47, Nos, lxxxi. lxxxii. (Carthaginienses xi. xii.)

^{page 207 note h} PI. 8 (14° Carthaginoise).

^{page 207 note i} Judas, Etude, &c. pl. 9 (15^e Carthaginoise).

^{page 208 note a} Published by De Saulcy, Annali del Institute) di Corrispondenza Archeologica, vol. xix. tav. G.

^{page 208 note b} Toison d'or de la Langue Phenicienne, par l'Abbé F. Bourgade. Fol. Paris, 1852. Mémoire sur deux Inscriptions Puniques decouvertes dans l' Ile du Port Cothon a Carthage, par l'Abbé J. J. L. Bargés. Fol. Paris, 1849.

^{page 208 note c} I have omitted from the enumeration one published by Gesenius (Carthaginiensis x.), of which the history seems doubtful.

^{page 208 note d} One of them is of white marble; it resembles in form a quadrangular tile, and the inscription is in a single line on the edges.

^{page 208 note e} The two exceptions to this are the marble tablet just mentioned, and a cylindrical shaft of stone, 18 inches high, with small niches at intervals upon it.

^{page 208 note f} Apparently near the ruins marked in Falbe's map No. 58.

^{page 209 note a} The exceptions are those numbered by Gesenius, viii. ix. xi., and Judas 15, which all appear to be sepulchral.

^{page 210 note a} Revue Archéologique, 1846, tom. iii. p. 632.

^{page 210 note b} The correction with regard to the nun is confirmed by Mr. Davis's inscriptions.

^{page 210 note c} Revue Archéologique, 1846, torn. iii. p. 630.

^{page 210 note d} Mémoire sur quelques inscriptions Puniques. Nouv. Journ. Asiat. torn. i. p. 15 (1828).

^{page 210 note e} De inscr. Melitensi. Copenh. 1828.

^{page 211 note a} It should be stated that on one of the tablets sent to England by Mr. Davis, the first six words of the formula are wanting, the whole inscription reading, “The vow of Aris;” but, as above it is a representation of Tanith, it evidently belongs to the same category as the others. It will also be observed that in tablet No. 1 a letter ע is inserted between פ and נ, probably by a blunder of the sculptor, who seems to have commenced writing לעב.

^{page 211 note b} This is, no doubt, the same as the Hamilcat of the inscriptions, which would answer to the ‘Аμίλκας of the Greeks, the form ‘Аμίλκαρ occurring in Appian only. The derivation from Melcarth suggested by Gesenius seems doubtful.

^{page 212 note a} Recherches sur les Inscriptions Votives Phéniciennes et Puniques, in Annali del Inst. di Corr. Archseol. xvii. (1845) p. 68.

^{page 213 note a} 2 Samuel, xviii. 18.

^{page 213 note b} One of the inscriptions is in the Public Library at Malta, the other at Paris. Engraved in Gesenius, tab. 6, and numerous other works.

^{page 214 note a} Gosenius, tab. 9, No. v.

^{page 214 note b} Pausanias, iii. c. xvi. 6.

^{page 214 note c} Pausanias, vii. c. vi 4.

^{page 214 note d} cap. xxvii.

^{page 214 note e} Clem. Alex. Protrept. v.

^{page 214 note f} Strabo, xi. 14, 16. Most editions of Strabo read here Аναίτιδος, but, as the greater part of the MSS. read Τανάιδος the latter reading seems preferable, and it agrees better with the Phoenician form, Tanith.

^{page 214 note g} τής ‘Аνέας ίερόν Strabo, xvi. 1, 4.

^{page 214 note h} Strabo, xi. 8, 4.

^{page 215 note a} ∑ελήνην ονσαν είτε ‘Аθηνάνείτε ‘Ενυώ Plut. Sylla, ix. 6.

^{page 215 note b} Sir Gardner Wilkinson, notes to Eawlinson's Herodotus, vol. ii. p. 537.

^{page 215 note c} Arundale and Bonomi, Gallery of Antiquities selected from the British Museum, with descriptions by S. Birch, p. 12.

^{page 215 note d} The title Pen-Baal seems similar in form to the Hebrew name Penuel (לאזנפ), Face of God. It agrees very well with the passage from Apuleius, “Deorum Dearumque facies uniformis.”

^{page 215 note e} Metamorph. lib. xi. 238.

^{page 216 note a} St. Ambrose says, “Quern Ccelestem Afri, Mitram Persae, plerique Venerem colunt pro diversitate nominis, non pro numinis varietate.” Epist. 1, xviii. 30. See also Herodian, lib. v.

^{page 216 note b} “Omnium deorum suorum sedibus vallatum.” Liber de promissis et prsedictionibus, part iii. c. xxxviii. 44; ascribed to S. Prosper of Aquitaine, and printed with his works.

^{page 216 note c} Liber de prom, et prsedict., part iii. c. xxxviii. The writer seems to have been present at the consecration.

^{page 216 note d} Victor Vitensis, De Persec. Vandal, lib. i. c. iii.

^{page 216 note e} Mirab. Ausc. No. xcvi. Some editions read “Alcisthenes.” See also Athenseus, lib. xii. c. 58, who adds that it was described by Polemo in a treatise on the sacred garments at Carthage.

^{page 217 note a} Hist. Aug. Script. Triginta Tyranni; de Celso.

^{page 217 note b} Act v. sc. 2, 67.

^{page 217 note c} Strabo, xv. 3, 15.

^{page 217 note d} De Diis Syris, synt. ii. c. viii.

^{page 217 note e} Religion der Karthager, p. 8.

^{page 217 note f} Damascius, Vita Isidori; in Photii Bibliotheca, cod. 242.

^{page 217 note g} Nonnus, Dionysiaca xl. Bacchus, addressing Hercules-Astrochiton, or the Sun, says (1. 392)—

and further on (1. 401),

^{page 217 note h} Polybius, iii. 11; Corn. Nepos, Hannibal, cap. 2.

^{page 218 note a} Silius Italicus, Punica, lib. i. 80.

^{page 218 note b} Appian, viii. 127.

^{page 218 note c} Vita Flaminini, c. i. He tells us that the statue of Flamininus stood παρά τόν μέγαν ‘Аπόλλωνα έκ Καρχηδάνας άντικρύ ταύ ίππαδράμου.

^{page 218 note d} S. Augustin. de consensu Evang. lib. i. o. xxiii. 36.

^{page 218 note e} Acta Proconsularia S. Cypriani, c. ii.

^{page 218 note f} Strabo, ix. 2, 29.

^{page 219 note a} One of these (fig. 4) is not unlike the representation of Baal as worshipped at Emesa.

^{page 219 note b} On the worship of conical stones, see Münter, Der Tempel der himmlischen Göttin zu Paphos, 1824; Lajard, Mémoire sur le Gulte de Venus, Acad. des Inscrip. 1833; Aterman, The Stone-worship of the Ancients, 1838.

^{page 219 note c} De Dea Syria, 45.

^{page 220 note a} Annali del Inst. di Corr. Arch. vol. xix. p. 192, tav. I.

^{page 220 note b} Donaldson, Architectura Numismatica, fig. 35.

^{page 221 note a} Judas, Etude de la Langue Phenicienne, pl. xxvii.

^{page 221 note b} Dureau de la Malle, Topographie de Carthage, p. 36.

^{page 221 note c} Recherches sur l' Emplacement de Carth. p. 12.

^{page 222 note a} Bullet, del Inst. di Corrisp. Archwol. 1837, p. 47.

^{page 222 note b} Bullet, del Inst. di Corrisp. Archceol. 1853, p. 60, Engraved in Eevue Archéol. torn. is. pl. 184, p. 88

^{page 222 note c} Bullet, del Inst. di Corrisp. Archseol. 1838, p. 76.

^{page 223 note a} An engraving may also be found in the Illustrated London News, Jan. 6, 1849, where the pavement ia misdescribed as being from Athens.

^{page 223 note b} Specimens of Ancient Sculpture published by the Dilettante Society, vol. i. pl. lv. lvi.

^{page 223 note c} Lysons, Reliquise Britannico-Romanse, vol. i. pt. 3, pl. v.

^{page 223 note d} An engraving of this pavement may be found in Eevue Archéologique, vol vii. pl. 143.

^{page 225 note a} Mosaics of a similar date, with inscriptions, do not appear to be uncommon in North Africa. See Rénier, Inscriptions Romaines de l' Algérie, Nos. 3700, 3701, 4057, 4058. Amé, Carrelages émaillés, p. 15.

^{page 226 note a} They greatly resemble the patterns on a mosaic from Cirencester, engraved in Lysons’ Keliquioe Britannico-Romanaa, vol. ii. pt. i. pl. v.

^{page 226 note b} These three fragments are very good in design, being ornamented with hexagons formed by interlacing wreaths alternately orange and green, and inclosing small circles; the border is plaited.

^{page 228 note a} Published by Lambecius, Bibl. Vinci, lib. iv. Appendix; also by Kollar, Analecta Vind. torn. i. p. 946; and in Grsevius, Thes. Ant. Eom. torn. viii. p. 96. Another Roman Calendar with illustrations, but imperfect, was published by Buchenus.

^{page 229 note a} Monumenti Inediti, torn. ii. pi. xxiv. Panofka, Bilder Antikes Lebens, taf. xvii. 6.

^{page 229 note b} Castanets may have been employed in the feasts of Ccelestis, for Lucian tells us that at Hierapolis they worshipped Jupiter in silence; but when the rites of Juno began, they danced with castanets.—De Dea Syria.

^{page 231 note a} Proceedings, Vol. IV. p. 295.

^{page 231 note b} Montfaucon, Ant. Expl. Sup. tom. i. c. iv.

^{page 231 note c} Montfaucon, Ant. Expl. Sup. torn. i. pi. iii.

^{page 231 note d} Proceedings, Vol. IV. p. 294.

^{page 231 note e} Illustrations of the Site of Ancient Corinium, by Prof. Buckman and C. H. Newmarch, Lond. 1850. Arch. Journ. vi. p. 328. Gentleman's Magazine, January 1850.

^{page 232 note a} Lysons' Eeliquise Britannico-Romana?, vol. iii. pl. xv. xxii.

^{page 233 note a} Moniteur Universel, 14 Mai, 1859. Revue Archeologique, tom. xvi. p. 170. Journal des Savants, August, September, and November, 1859, January, 1660.

^{page 233 note b} Journal des Savants, Sept. 1859, pl. i.

^{page 234 note a} The Plan is copied from that published by M. Beulé, Journal des Savants, Nov. 1859, pi. ii. fig 1.

^{page 234 note b} Lib. viii. c 95.

^{page 234 note c} Rel. lib. xxxij. Eel. 2.

^{page 234 note d} Engraved in Journal des Savants, Nov. 1859, pi. ii. fig. 3–5.

^{page 236 note a} Journal des Savants, Nov. 1859, pl. ii. fig. 6.

^{page 236 note b} Mon. Vet. ad Donatist. Hist., appended to Optatus, de Schism. Donatist. ed. Dupin. 1702, p. 163.

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XV. On Recent Excavations at Carthage, and the Antiquities discovered there by the Rev. Nathan Davis

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