Punic Ports in Carthage - Sept 2014

Punic Ports, Carthage, Tunisia - Sept 2014

We live in Carthage.  UNESCO writes about Carthage on their website.  "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."

The Punic Ports are near our home, just a block and a half away.  It is an area where the world's oldest dry docks exists.   It was arranged so that it was located on the sea, the military could see out, but any boats going by could not see in.  They hid hundreds of war vessels in this port.  Here is a photo of what it may have looked like.

The inner circle was where the military had their fleet.
The outer entrance/exit area was where the regular
fishermen had their boats.  So basically, the military
hid behind the regular folks.
(Photo looklex.com)

This is what the Port was like years ago, early in this
century, before a housing boom.

We live just a block away, we can see the Punic Ports clearly from our rooftop deck.

We had already wandered over to the Punic Ports in August a couple of times in the evening while talking a stroll.  But this time we went with some school folks and a great guide, Fawzi.  It makes a world of difference going with him, then you realize what you are looking at!

Just a block away from our home, down on the Punic Ports.

Looking across the water at the Punic Ports.

A marine museum near the entrance to the Ports.
This is obviously a whale skeleton.

In the distance on the hill is an old Russian Orthodox church.

Kitties kitties and more kitties!

A model of what they believed the military had built in
the middle of the Port to hide their ships.

I see coffee tables everywhere!  :)
The house in the distance is one that I would love to get
my hands on!  What potential!  Our guide said it is one
of the oldest houses in the area.

Our group.  It was a hot and sunny day.

This is the best example of the ancient dry dock.
Obviously, the wood was added recently, but the stone work
is mainly original.  Oldest dry docks in the world!
We are looking back across this port, right near out house.