Citizendia

This article is about the ancient city of Utica in Tunisia. For other places with this name, see Utica.
The ruins of Utica
The ruins of Utica

Utica is an ancient city northwest of Carthage near the outflow of the Medjerda River into the Mediterranean Sea, traditionally considered to be the first colony founded by the Phoenicians in North Africa. Carthage (Καρχηδών Karkhēdōn, Carthago from the Phoenician קרת חדשת phn-Latn Qart-ḥadašt meaning new town) refers The Medjerda River (نهر مجردا (also known as the Wadi Majardah Wadi Medjerha Oued Majardah and Bagradas is a river in Algeria and Tunisia. [1] Today, Utica no longer exists, and its remains are located not on the coast where it once lay, but further inland because the Medjerda River caused the silting over of its original port. [2]

Contents

Utica's beginnings

Utica was founded as a port located on the trade route leading to the Straits of Gibraltar and the Atlantic, thus facilitating Phoenician trade in the Mediterranean. Phoenicia ( Phoenician: Phoenician nunsvg|12px|נ]]Phoenician nun [3] The actual founding date of Utica is controversial. Several classical authors date its foundation around 1100 BC. The archaeological evidence, however, suggests a foundation no earlier than the eighth century BC. Although Carthage was later founded about 40 km. from Utica, records suggest “that until 540 BC Utica was still maintaining political and economic autonomy in relation to its powerful Carthaginian neighbor”. [4] By the fourth century BC, Utica came under Punic control but continued to exist as a privileged ally of Carthage. [5]

Mercenary War

This relationship between Carthage and Utica began to disintegrate after the First Punic War, with the outbreak of rebellion among mercenaries who had not received compensation for their service to Carthage. The Mercenary War ( c[[ 40 BC]] — also called the Libyan War and the Truceless War by Polybius — was an uprising of Mercenary The First Punic War ( 264 to 241 BC) was the first of three major wars fought between Carthage and the Roman Republic. Originally, Utica refused to participate in this rebellion, so that the Libyan forces led by Spendius and Matho laid siege to Utica and nearby Hippocritae. [6] The Carthaginian generals Hanno and Hamilcar then came to Utica's defense, managing to raise the siege, but "the severest blow of all… was the defection of Hippacritae and Utica, the only two cities in Libya which had…bravely faced the present war…indeed they never had on any occasion given the least sign of hostility to Carthage. Hamilcar ( Punic -Phoenician ḥmlqrt, Canaanite Hebrew אחי-מלקרת meaning brother of Melqart, a Tyrian god) was Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab ” [7] Eventually, the forces of Carthage proved victorious, forcing Utica and Hippacritae to surrender after a short siege. [8]

Third Punic War

Utica again defied Carthage in the Third Punic War, when it surrendered to Rome shortly before the breakout of war in 150 BC. The Third Punic War ( 149 BC to 146 BC) was the third and last of the Punic Wars fought between the former Phoenician colony of Carthage After its victory, Rome rewarded Utica by granting it an expanse of territory stretching from Carthage to Hippo. Hippo Regius is the ancient name of the modern city of Annaba (formerly Bône Algeria. [9] As a result of the war, Roman created a new province of Africa, and Utica became its capital, which meant that the governor's residence was there along with a small garrison. See also History of North Africa Carthage and the Berbers See also Carthage Phoenician traders arrived on the North African coast Over the following decades Utica also attracted Roman citizens who settled there to do business. [10]

Roman Civil War

During the Roman Civil War between the supporters of Pompeius and Caesar, the remaining Pompeians, including Cato the Younger, fled to Utica after being defeated at the Battle of Thapsus in 46 BC. The Roman civil war of 49 BC sometimes called Caesar's Civil War, is one of the last conflicts within the Roman Republic. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation Marcus Porcius Catō Uticensis (95 BC&ndash46 BC known as Cato the Younger ( Cato Minor) to distinguish him from his great-grandfather ( Cato the Elder The Battle of Thapsus took place on April 6 46 BC near Thapsus (modern Ras Dimas, Tunisia) Caesar pursued them to Utica, meeting no resistance from the inhabitants. Cato, who was the leader of the Pompeians, ensured the escape of his fellow senators and anyone else who desired to leave, then committed suicide, unwilling to accept the clemency of Caesar. [11] Displaying their fondness for Cato, “the people of Utica. . . called Cato their saviour and benefactor…And this they continued to do even when word was brought that Caesar was approaching. They decked his body in splendid fashion, gave it an illustrious escort, and buried it near the sea, where a statue of him now stands, sword in hand”. [12] After his death, Cato was given the name of Uticensis, due to the place of his death as well as to his public glorification and burial by the citizens of Utica. [13]

Roman status

Utica obtained the formal status of a municipium in 36 BC and its inhabitants became members of the tribe of Quirina. A municipium (pl municipia) belonged to the second highest class of Roman cities being [14] During the reign of Augustus, however, the seat of provincial government was moved by the Emperor Augustus to Carthage. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was "Although Utica did not lose its status as one of the foremost cities in the province. When Hadrian was emperor, Utica requested to become a full Roman colony, but this request was not granted until Septimius Severus, a native, took the throne. Publius Aelius Hadrianus (January 24 76 &ndash July 10 138 as emperor Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, and Divus Hadrianus after Lucius Septimius Severus (or rarely Severus I) ( April 11 145 - February 4 211) was a Roman general and Roman Emperor "[15]

The fall of Utica

In AD 439, the Vandals captured Utica, in AD 534 the Byzantines captured it once more, and the Arabs were responsible for its ultimate destruction around AD 700. "Excavations at the site have yielded two Punic cemeteries and Roman ruins, including baths and a villa with mosaics". [16]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Moscati, Sabatino. The World of the Phoenicians. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Publishers, 1968.
  2. ^ “Utica (Utique) Tunisia. " The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Stillwell, Richard, Macdonald, William L. and McAllister, Marian Holland. Princeton, N. J: Princeton University Press, 1976. 5 May 2007. <http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006%3Aid%3Dutica>
  3. ^ Aubet, Maria Eugenia. The Phoenicians and the West, Politics, Colonies, and Trade. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
  4. ^ Aubet, Maria Eugenia. The Phoenicians and the West, Politics, Colonies, and Trade. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
  5. ^ Walbank, F. W. , Astin, A. E. , Frederiksen, M. W. , Ogilvie R. M. and Drummond, A. , eds. The Rise of Rome to 220 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Vol. VII of The Cambridge Ancient History.
  6. ^ Polybius. “The Histories. ” Book 1. Loeb Classical Library. Vol I. 2 May 2007. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Polybius/1*.html>
  7. ^ Polybius. “The Histories. ” Book 1. Loeb Classical Library. Vol I. 2 May 2007. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Polybius/1*.html>
  8. ^ Walbank, F. W. , Astin, A. E. , Frederiksen, M. W. , Ogilvie R. M. and Drummond, A. , eds. The Rise of Rome to 220 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Vol. VII of The Cambridge Ancient History.
  9. ^ Walbank, F. W. , Astin, A. E. , Frederiksen, M. W. , and Ogilvie R. M. , eds. Rome and the Mediterranean to 133 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Vol. VIII of The Cambridge Ancient History.
  10. ^ “Utica (Utique) Tunisia. " The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Stillwell, Richard, Macdonald, William L. and McAllister, Marian Holland. Princeton, N. J: Princeton University Press, 1976. 5 May 2007. <http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006%3Aid%3Dutica>
  11. ^ Walbank, F. W. , Astin, A. E. , Frederiksen, M. W. , and Ogilvie R. M. , eds. Rome and the Mediterranean to 133 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Vol. VIII of The Cambridge Ancient History.
  12. ^ Plutarch. “The Parallel Lives. ” Loeb Classical Library. Vol VIII. 2 May 2007. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Cato_Minor*.html>
  13. ^ Cassius Dio. “Roman History. ” Book 43. Loeb Classical Library. Vol IV 2 May 2007. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/43*.html>
  14. ^ "Utica (Utique) Tunisia. " The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Stillwell, Richard, Macdonald, William L. and McAllister, Marian Holland. Princeton, N. J: Princeton University Press, 1976. 5 May 2007. <http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006%3Aid%3Dutica>
  15. ^ Bunson, Matthew. “Utica. ” Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. New York: Facts on File, Inc. , 1994.
  16. ^ "Utica, Ancient City, N Africa. " Columbia Encyclopedia. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Northwestern University Library. 1 May 2007. <http://web.ebscohost.com.turing.library.northwestern.edu/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=8&sid=275d98f6-98aa-4c9b-8592-907b38a2c47c%40sessionmgr8>.

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