Steve's Genealogy Blog

Built in about 157-161 AD, the Antonine Imperial Baths in Carthage, Tunisia were the largest public baths in Rome’s African provinces and the third largest public baths in the Roman world. The baths themselves were on the upper level, but the lower levels (the hypocaust) contained furnaces that warmed the floors and walls above. After the Islamic Conquest of Carthage in the seventh century AD, the baths fell into disuse and the main floor collapsed. Much of the stone was removed and used as building material for other structures.

The Hypocaust

SOURCE:  The Hypocaust (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Arches in the Hypocaust – 1

SOURCE:  Arches in the Hypocaust – 1 (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

View to the Sea in the Hypocaust

SOURCE:  View to the Sea in the Hypocaust (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Arches in the Hypocaust – 2

SOURCE:  Arches in the Hypocaust – 2 (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

The Antonine Imperial Baths were built during the reign of the Emperors Hadrien and Antonin (145-162 AD) and were used up until the sixth century AD. The baths served hygienic purposes, but the opulent surroundings provided space for social interactions. The baths included pools with water of different temperatures. The caldarium was heated from below and the frigidarium was unheated.

View from the Baths to the Sea – 1

SOURCE:  View from the Baths to the Sea – 1 (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

View from the Baths to the Sea – 2

SOURCE:  View from the Baths to the Sea – 1 (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Columns

SOURCE:  Columns (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Arch and Column

SOURCE:  Arch and Column (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

The first floor of the National Museum of Carthage includes several sculptures and many artifacts of ancient Carthage. The museum also holds a mosaic entitled “Pots of Roses in a Rose Garden”, but this mosaic is not actually from Carthage but rather from Sidi Ghrib, an archeological site located 30 km from Tunis. Traveling then to the Antonine Baths, the route passes ancient Phoenician graves, some of the few visible remains of the city before the Romans. Finally, just before reaching the Antonine Baths, the route follows a Roman Road, made of stone.

First Floor of the National Museum of Carthage

SOURCE:  First Floor of the National Museum of Carthage (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Pots of Roses in a Rose Garden

SOURCE:  Pots of Roses in a Rose Garden (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Phoenician Graves

SOURCE:  Phoenician Graves (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Roman Road to the Antonine Baths

SOURCE:  Roman Road to the Antonine Baths (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

The National Museum of Carthage holds art and artifacts from ancient Carthage and nearby communities. On the second floor are several pieces of sculpture including Silenus and Maenad, Silenus Supported by Four Satyrs (reconstructed from numerous fragments but still missing two of the satyrs), the Head of Gaius Caesar (grandson, adopted son, and presumptive heir to Augustus Caesar; he died in Lycea at age 24 after being wounded in Armenia), and the Colossal Head of a Princess Antoine.

Silenus and Maenad

SOURCE:  Silenus and Maenad (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Silenus Supported by Four Satyrs

SOURCE:  Silenus Supported by Four Satyrs (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Head of Gaius Caesar

SOURCE:  Head of Gaius Caesar (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Colossal Head of a Princess Antoine

SOURCE:  Colossal Head of a Princess Antoine (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

The Bursa Hill was once in the center of ancient Carthage, overlooking the sea. On the top of Bursa Hill stands the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Louis. Also on the hill is the National Museum of Carthage, housing artifacts from the ancient city. From Bursa Hill, one can see ruins in the foreground and the modern city in the background. A map of Carthage shows the relative location of the sights I saw in Carthage, in particular the Antonine Baths (No. 2), the Amphitheater (No. 7), and Bursa Hill with the Cathedral, Museum, and Punic Quarter (No. 9). Also on the hill is the National Museum of Carthage, housing artifacts from the ancient city and a model of the Punic Quarter of Bursa.

Saint Louis Cathedral

SOURCE:  Saint Louis Cathedral (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

A View to Modern Carthage

SOURCE:  A View to Modern Carthage (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Map of Carthage

SOURCE:  Map of Carthage (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Model of the Punic Quarter of Bursa

SOURCE:  Model of the Punic Quarter of Bursa (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

Carthage was founded in the ninth century BC by Phoenicians from Tyre and grew to a prosperous empire around the Mediterranean .  Conflicts with Rome and Syracuse resulted in the Punic Wars, during the second of which Hannibal from Carthage famously crossed the Alps with elephants .  After the Third Punic War (149 to 146 BC), Rome completely destroyed Carthage, but rebuilt the city which became one of the greatest cities of the Roman Empire .  Late in the seventh century, Muslim conquered Carthage and destroyed it once again.

Of the ruins of Carthage, the Roman Amphitheater is one of the best preserved .  Unfortunately, the archeological significance of the site was reduced by repeated plundering of the metal holding the stones together and the subsequent undocumented restoration of part of the amphitheater.

The Roman Amphitheater in Carthage

SOURCE:  The Roman Amphitheater in Carthage (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Lower Level of the Roman Amphitheater in Carthage

SOURCE:  Lower Level of the Roman Amphitheater in Carthage (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Detail of Wall in the Roman Amphitheater in Carthage

SOURCE: Â Detail of Wall in the Roman Amphitheater in Carthage (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Gated Recesses in the Roman Amphitheater in Carthage

SOURCE: Â Gated Recesses in the Roman Amphitheater in Carthage (Carthage, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 07 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko