Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information.

Archaeological Site of Carthage

Archaeological Site of Carthage

Carthage was founded in the 9th century B.C. on the Gulf of Tunis. From the 6th century onwards, it developed into a great trading empire covering much of the Mediterranean and was home to a brilliant civilization. In the course of the long Punic wars, Carthage occupied territories belonging to Rome, which finally destroyed its rival in 146 B.C. A second – Roman – Carthage was then established on the ruins of the first.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Site archéologique de Carthage

Fondée dès le IXe siècle av. J.-C. sur le golfe de Tunis, Carthage établit à partir du VIe siècle un empire commercial s'étendant à une grande partie du monde méditerranéen et fut le siège d'une brillante civilisation. Au cours des longues guerres puniques, elle occupa des territoires de Rome, mais celle-ci la détruisit finalement en 146 av. J.-C. Une seconde Carthage, romaine celle-là, fut alors fondée sur ses ruines.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

موقع قرطاج الأثري

تأسست قرطاج في القرن التاسع قبل الميلاد عند خليج تونس ثم تحولت ابتداء من القرن السادس الى امبراطورية تجارية شغلت جزءاً كبيراً من منطقة البحر المتوسط وشكلت مركزاً تجارياً لحضارة ساطعة. كما انها احتلت اراضي من روما خلال الحروب البونيقية، لكن هذه الأخيرة قضت عليها نهائياً عام 146 قبل الميلاد فقامت على أنقاضها قرطاج ثانية رومانية.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

迦太基遗址

迦太基毗邻突尼斯湾,始建于公元前9世纪。自公元6世纪起,迦太基逐步发展成为一个强大的贸易帝国,也创造了一段辉煌的文明。其领土曾扩展到地中海大部分地区。在漫长的布匿战争中,迦太基占领了罗马的领土,但最终于公元前146年被罗马打败。第二个罗马迦太基城建立在古迦太基的废墟之上。

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Руины Карфагена

Карфаген был основан в IX в. до н.э. в Тунисском заливе. Начиная с VI в. до н.э. он превратился в центр мощной торговой империи, охватывающей большую часть Средиземноморья, и стал местом развития блестящей цивилизации. В ходе продолжительных пунических войн Карфаген захватил территории, принадлежащие Древнему Риму, который, однако, в 146 до н.э. смог победить своего противника и разрушил его столицу. Второй, древнеримский, Карфаген был создан на руинах первого.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Sitio arqueológico de Cartago

Fundada en el siglo IX a.C. en el golfo de Túnez, Cartago fue la sede de una brillante civilización que impuso su hegemonía comercial en una gran parte del Mediterráneo desde el siglo VI a.C. Durante las guerras púnicas los cartagineses llegaron a ocupar territorios pertenecientes a Roma, pero ésta se alzó con la victoria y arrasó la ciudad de Cartago el año 146 a.C. Una segunda Cartago romana fue construida sobre las ruinas de la primera.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

カルタゴ遺跡

source: NFUAJ

Archeologische stad Carthago

Carthago werd gesticht in de 9e eeuw voor Christus aan de Golf van Tunis. Vanaf de 6e eeuw ontwikkelde het zich tot een groot handelsimperium – met een briljante beschaving – dat een groot deel van de Middellandse Zee omvatte. In de loop van de lange Punische oorlogen bezette Carthago gebieden die Rome toebehoorden. Rome won uiteindelijk, verwoestte Carthago in 146 na Christus en stichtte een tweede – Romeins – Carthago op de ruïnes van de eerste. Het nieuwe Carthago heeft in wezen de faciliteiten behouden die de antieke stad karakteriseren: zo is er een stedelijk netwerk, is er een ontmoetingsplaats (forum), en zijn er recreatiemogelijkheden (theater en baden), godsdienstige plekken (tempels) en woongebieden.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

Founded by the Phoenicians, Carthage is an extensive archaeological site, located on a hill dominating the Gulf of Tunis and the surrounding plain.  Metropolis of Punic civilization in Africa and capital of the province of Africa in Roman times, Carthage has played a central role in Antiquity as a great commercial empire. During the lengthy Punic wars, Carthage occupied the territories that belonged to Rome, which then destroyed its rival in 146 AD.  The town was rebuilt by the Romans on the ruins of the ancient city.

Exceptional place of mixing, diffusion and blossoming of several cultures that succeeded one another (Phoenico-Punic, Roman, Paleochristian and Arab), this metropolis and its ports have encouraged wide-scale exchanges in the Mediterranean. Founded at the end of the 9th century BC by Elyssa-Dido and having sheltered the mythical love of Dido and Aeneas, Carthage produced a warrior and strategy genius in the person of Hannibal, the navigator-explorer Hannon, and a famous agronomist, Magon. Carthage has always nourished universal imagination through its historic and literary renown.

The property comprises the vestiges of Punic, Roman, Vandal, Paleochristian and Arab presence. The major known components of the site of Carthage are the acropolis of Byrsa, the Punic ports, the Punic tophet, the necropolises, theatre, amphitheatre, circus, residential area, basilicas, the Antonin baths, Malaga cisterns and the archaeological reserve.

Criterion (ii): Phoenician foundation linked to Tyre and Roman refoundation on the orders of Julius Cesar, Carthage was also the capital of a Vandal kingdom and the Byzantine province of Africa. Its antique ports bear witness to commercial and cultural exchanges over more than ten centuries. The tophet, sacred place dedicated to Baal, contains numerous stelae where numerous cultural influences are in evidence.  Outstanding place of blossoming and diffusion of several cultures that succeeded one another (Phoenico-Punic, Roman, Paleochristian and Arab); Carthage has exercised considerable influence on the development of the arts, architecture and town planning in the Mediterranean.

Criterion (iii): The site of Carthage bears exceptional testimony to the Phoenico-Punic civilization being at the time the central hub in the western basin of the Mediterranean. It was also one of the most brilliant centres of Afro-Roman civilization.

Criterion (vi): The historic and literary renown of Carthage has always nourished the universal imagination. The site of Carthage is notably associated with the home of the legendary princess of Tyre, Elyssa-Dido, founder of the town, sung about by Virgil in the Aeneid; with the great navigator-explorer, Hannon, with Hannibal, one of the greatest military strategists of history, with writers such as Apulée, founder of Latin-African literature, with the martyr of Saint Cyprien and with Saint Augustin who trained and made several visits there.

Integrity (2009)

Although its integrity has been partially altered by uncontrolled urban sprawl during the first half of the 20th century, the site of Carthage has essentially retained the elements that characterise the antique town: urban network, meeting place (forum), recreation (theatre), leisure (baths), worship (temples), residential area, etc. The conservation of the site guarantees the maintenance of the intact character of the structures.  However, it continues to face strong urban pressure that has, for the most part, been contained thanks to the national listing of the Carthage-Sidi Bou-Said Park.

Authenticity (2009)

Restoration and maintenance work carried out over the years is in accordance with the standards of international charters and has not damaged the authenticity of the monuments and remains of the site of Carthage. The site benefits from a maintenance protocol.

Protection and management requirements (2009)

The site of Carthage benefits from the listing of a large number of its remains as historic monuments (since 1885). Its protection is also guaranteed by Decree 85-1246 of 7 October 1985 concerning the listing of the Carthage-Sidi Bou-Said site, Law 35-1994 concerning the protection of archaeological and historic heritage and of traditional arts, and by the Order of 16 September 1996 for the creation of the cultural site of Carthage. A conservation unit attached to the National Heritage Institute is responsible for the safeguarding and management of the site. The management of the property is currently integrated into the urban development plan of the town. A Protection and Presentation Plan, presently under preparation, shall ensure the management of the site.

top