CARTHAGINIAN CIVILISATION PROFILE

by Ken Wood [aka Phoenix-TheRealDeal / tonto_real] Email: ken@…. (Arizona, United States of America).

Historical consultants, translators and contributors:
Professor Alejandro Carneiro [aka Piteas] (Classical & Antiquity Greco-Romano-Iberico History Studies) (Spain).
Aviv Sharon [aka Jeru] (Israel).

Contributing concept artists:
Antonio J. Flamas [aka ajflamas] (Spain);
Aviv Sharon [aka Jeru] (Israel);
Jason Bishop [aka Wijitmaker] (Washington, United States of America);
Marco Giannini [aka Kellian] (Italy).

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS

INFANTRY

• Name: Səḫīr Ḥerev <means Celtic 'Gaesata' Mercenary Swordsman.>

• Class: Swordsman.

• Hacker Armament: Celtic Hallstatt 'La Tene' culture period long sword.

• Appearance: See figure 2 in the reference picture below.

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): -

• History: Celts served as mercenaries in Carthaginian armies from the earliest times.

• Garrison: 1.

• Function: The iron of the sword was not of the best quality; the weapons had to be straightened after each good strike.

• Special: -

• Name: Səḫīr Ḥanīt <means: Liby-Phoenician Levy Long-Pikeman>

• Class: Spearman.

• Hacker Armament: Long Pike or Sarissa type spear.

• Appearance: -

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): -

• History: Although the Liby-Phoenician soldiers were not themselves citizens of the city of Carthage, they were levied to the armies of Carthage from those Phoenician colonies of modern-day Tunisia and Libya that had been taken over by the Carthaginians upon the demise of the mother cities in the Levant. Those town and cities were not permitted to hold standing armies of their own, having instead to rely upon Carthage for leadership and defense.

• Garrison: 1.

• Function: -

• Special: -

• Name: Səḫīr Kidōn <means: Iberian Levy Javelinist>

• Class: Javelinist.

• Hacker Armament: Javelin (see below).

• Appearance: -

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): -

• History: Though initially mercenaries hired by the Carthaginians, once the Carthaginian expansion was made into large areas of the Iberian Peninsula, these soldiers became levies imposed by the Carthaginian generals on their "allies".

• Garrison: 1.

• Function: -

• Special: -

• Name: Qaššāt. <means: Mauritanian Levy Archer>

• Class: Archer.

• Hacker Armament: Bow.

• Appearance:

• Garb: No armour. Quiver of arrows.

• Helmet: None.

• Shield: None.

• Figure(s): See reference image below.

• History: The Mauritanians are said to have supplied good archers to the armies of Carthage.

• Garrison: 1.

• Function:
  Movement: Relatively faster than other Archers.

• Special: -

• Name: Qallāʿ Ibušimi <means: Balearic Levy Slinger>

• Class: Slinger.

• Hacker Armament: Three slings and sling bolt pouch; see concept drawing below.

• Appearance:

• Garb: Bare minimum (basic loincloth).

• Helmet: None at any experience level.

• Shield: None.

• Figure(s): Barefoot, nothing on body to restrict movement; see concept drawing below.

• History: The Balearic Slinger regiment was a levy from the islands that had been under control of Carthage from the 6th century BCE. They fired ceramic shot capable of punching through enemy shield and armour and dropping soldiers dead in their tracks. They carried 3 different slings of different lengths which were used to obtain range to target.

• Garrison: 1.

• Function: Rate of Fire: Fast. Movement: Fastest infantry unit in the game (very agile). Attack: Strongest slinger in the game (+1 more than Rhodian Slinger). Accuracy: High.

• Special: -

CAVALRY

• Name: Ḥayyāl Ḥerev Raḫūv <means: Iberian Levy Cavalry Falcata Swordsman>

• Class: Cavalry Swordsman.

• Hacker Armament: The 'Falcata' sword; see concept drawing below.

• Appearance:

• Garb: As depicted in the reference drawing for figure 1 and/or 3.

• Helmet: None for basic unit.

• Shield: Round smallish 'Caetra' shield common to many of the Iberian warriors having a central 'boss', usually of bronze or iron; though the shield was small it was also light and the Iberian units carrying it were very adept in moving it quickly about defensively.

• Figure(s): See concept drawing below.

• Mount: As shown in the reference drawing, figure 1.

• History: Though initially mercenaries hired by the Carthaginians, once the Carthaginian expansion was made into large areas of the Iberian Peninsula, these soldiers became levies imposed by the Carthaginian generals on their "allies".

• Garrison: 2.

• Function: -

• Special: -

• Name: Ḥayyāl Romaḥ Raḫūv <means: Italian Ally Cavalry Spearman>

• Class: Cavalry Spearman.

• Hacker Armament: Spear.

• Appearance: Use the cavalryman figure in the reference drawing below as the basis for the unit.

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): -

• Mount: -

• History: A number of the tribes, especially those of the southern Italian Peninsula, allied with Hannibal Barca during the 2nd Punic War. (The reference drawing is meant to be representative of those.)

• Garrison: 2.

• Function: -

• Special: -

• Name: Ḥayyāl Romaḥ Raḫūv Masili <means: Numidian Ally Cavalry Javelinist>

• Class: Cavalry Javelinist.

• Hacker Armament: Javelin.

• Appearance: -

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): -

• Mount: -

• History: Numidian Cavalry were known to be the fastest, most agile, in the ancient world; the riders rode without bridle or reins, steering their mount with knee pressure and body signals alone. They were the only cavalry that the Romans were unable to adequately deal with.

• Garrison: 2.

• Function: Movement: Fastest cavalry unit in the game.

• Special: -

SUPPORT UNITS

• Name: Aštāh <ASH-tah> <means: Carthaginian Citizeness> ​source

• Class: Female Citizen.

• Appearance:

• Garb: Grecian female dress and hair style was based upon that of the Mauritanians as brought to them via the Phoenicians, thus passing through Carthage.

• Helmet: No helmet per se, may or may not have headgear as depicted in concept drawings below.

• Shield: None.

• Figure(s): -

• History: A no brainer.

• Garrison: 1.

• Function: -

• Special: -

• Name: Kehinit. <keh-HI-nit?> <means: Priestess of Baal Hammon & Tanit> ​source

• Class: Healer.

• Appearance:

• Garb: Use the reference drawing as a basis along with Greek-like dress shown just to the right of the hair-styles (above) in the foregoing reference drawing for the Carthaginian Citizeness.

• Helmet: -

• Shield: None.

• Figure(s): -

• History: Tanit (also spelled TINITH, TINNIT, or TINT), chief goddess of Carthage, equivalent of Astarte. Although she seems to have had some connection with the heavens, she was also a mother goddess, and fertility symbols often accompany representations of her. She was probably the consort of Baal Hammon (or Amon), the chief god of Carthage, and was often given the attribute "face of Baal." Although Tanit did not appear at Carthage before the 5th century BC, she soon eclipsed the more established cult of Baal Hammon and, in the Carthaginian area at least, was frequently listed before him on the monuments. In the worship of Tanit and Baal Hammon, children, probably firstborn, were sacrificed. Ample evidence of the practice has been found west of Carthage in the precinct of Tanit, where a tofet (a sanctuary for the sacrifice of children) was discovered. Tanit was also worshipped on Malta, Sardinia, and in Spain. There is no other reason for giving the Carthaginians a priestess instead of a priest in 0 A.D., although Tanit was the most popular of their two main gods with the people.

• Garrison: 1.

• Function: -

• Special: -

• Name: Mekir. <means: Carthaginian Trader> ​source

• Class: Trader.

• Appearance:

• Garb: See the illustration reference drawing for the Carthaginian Merchantman, unit following; use the individual with the conical hat standing between two spearmen for the basis; mount the Trader upon a horse.

• Helmet: Conical hat.

• Shield: None.

• Figure(s): See reference drawing for Merchantman for typical trader figures standing on beach in front of ship.

• Mount: Horse.

• History: ?

• Garrison: 2.

• Function: -

• Special: -

• Name: Soḥer. <means: Carthaginian Merchantman> ​source

• Class: Merchantman.

• Appearance:

• Shell: The drawing below is the ship that I want modeled for the Carthaginian Merchantman (skinned differently also for the Iberians).

• Helmet: -

• Shield: None.

• Figure(s): -

• History: The entire purpose of the Phoenicians/Carthaginians was to conduct trade and commerce principally upon the sea (though not limited to that as far as Carthage was concerned).

• Garrison: Cannot.

• Function: Movement: Fastest Merchantman in the game.

• Special: -

WAR SHIPS

• Name: Du-Mašōt. (doo mah-SHOAT) <means: Carthaginian Bireme>

• Class: Bireme.

• Appearance:

• Shell: See reference picture below.

• History: The Phoenicians/Carthaginians were the first to develop 'bireme technology' by taking the pentakonter and 'cutting it in half' then stacking two rows of oarsmen tiered atop the other, producing a ship half the length that was more maneouvreable and faster in the water. The ram section at the bow was built to look like a sea monster swimming through the water in order to terrorise superstitious potential competitors. They were also fed tall tales of such denizens in a propaganda effort to mislead and frighten off others who might consider following them into unknown waters.

• Garrison: Cannot.

• Function: Fastest Bireme in the game.

• Special: -

• Name: Tlat-Mašōt. (tlat mah-SHOAT) <means: Carthaginian Trireme>

• Class: Trireme.

• Appearance:

• Shell: -

• History: Triremes (and later Quinqueremes) were a longtime mainstay of the Phoenician/Carthaginian fleet that was the largest maintained on the Mediterranean Sea, also ranging out into the Atlantic as protection for its Merchantmen. The Athenian Greeks were the only ones to build a faster ship of this type.

• Garrison: Cannot.

• Function: Movement: 2nd fastest (after Athenians) of the Triremes.

• Special: -

• Name: Ḥameš-Mašōt. (ha-MESH mah-SHOAT) <means: Carthaginian Quinquereme>

• Class: Quinquereme.

• Appearance:

• Shell: See reference picture below; mount onager atop cabin toward the stern poopdeck.

• History: The Carthaginians were long in the forefront of ship technology, maintaining the largest fleet in the Mediterranean for centuries. Their Quinquereme was also the best on the water and essentially unchallengeable until the Romans built a Quinquereme largely from Carthaginian design (having 'captured' a grounded ship of its type) then later developed the corvus boarding ramp for it.

• Garrison: Cannot.

• Function: Movement: Fastest of the Quinqueremes. Very limited in number (probably through expense).

• Special: -

SIEGE

• Name: Miqlaʿat. <means: Carthaginian Onager>

• Class: Onager.

• Appearance:

• Shell: See reference picture below.

• History: The Carthaginians are known for having had many siege weapons.

• Garrison: 3.

• Function: -

• Special: -

• Name: Balístra. <means: Carthaginian Ballista>

• Class: Ballista.

• Appearance:

• Shell: See reference picture below.

• History: The Carthaginians are known for having had many siege weapons.

• Garrison: 3.

• Function: -

• Special: -

SUPER UNITS

• Name: Mašal. (mah-SHOLL) <means: Carthaginian Sacred Band Officer>

• Class: Super Infantry Unit.

• Hacker Armament: Special spear (looks like a 'standard').

• Ranged Armament: None.

• Appearance: -

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): -

• History: Sacred Band represented the group of Carthaginian Citizens that were especially trained to become the officers over all components of the army.

• Garrison: 1.

• Function: -

• Special: Strong against Siege weapons, all Citizen Soldier units but additionally bonused against Infantry Swordsmen, Cavalry Swordsmen & Cavalry Spearman.

• Name: Pil Malḥamit. (peel mal-ha-MEET?) <means: Carthaginian War Elephant> ​source for "battle/war"

• Class: Super Cavalry Unit.

• Hacker Armament: Ram (Crushing impact tusk attack, effective against structures).

• Ranged Armament: None.

• Appearance:

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): -

• Mount: The elephant.

• History: The North African Forest Elephant, smaller than the Indian elephant and now extinct, was captured and trained by the Carthaginians as a "terror weapon".

• Garrison: 3.

• Function: Hitpoints: High. Movement: Slow.

• Special:

• Strong against siege weapons, all Citizen Soldier units and cavalry units of any kind (except other elephants). Weak against Infantry Spearmen (whom have the normal bonus to their AT against cavalry units).

• "Damage Frenzy".

• "Stench" Aura.

• "Trample Damage" Aura.

HEROES

• Name: Ḥannibaʿal Baraq - Hannibal Barca.

• Class: Hero1.

• Hacker/Ranged Armament: Bow.

• Appearance:

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): -

• Mount: Towered elephant.

• History: ?

• Garrison: 3.

• Function: Attack: High. Range: High. Hitpoints: High.

• Special:

• "Hero" Aura TBD

• Name: Ḥimelqart Baraq - Hamilcar Barca.

• Class: Hero2.

• Hacker/Ranged Armament: Javelin.

• Appearance:

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): -

• Mount: Towered elephant.

• History: ?

• Garrison: 3.

• Function: Attack: High. Range: High. Hitpoints: High.

• Special:

• "Hero" Aura TBD

• Name: Maharbal.

• Class: Hero3.

• Hacker/Ranged Armament: Spear.

• Appearance:

• Garb: -

• Helmet: -

• Shield: -

• Figure(s): See reference picture below.

• Mount: Horse.

• History: Maharbal was Hannibal Barca's "brash young cavalry commander" during the 2nd Punic War. He is credited with turning the wing of the legions at Cannae resulting in defeat in which 30,000 of 50,000 Romans were lost, as well as significant contributions to the winning of many other battles during the 2nd Punic War. He is known for having said, after the battle of Cannae, "Hannibal, you know how to win the victory; just not what to do with it."

• Garrison: 2.

• Function: Attack: High. Range: High. Hitpoints: High.

• Special:

• "Hero" Aura (+20% Cavalry AT)

NEW UNIT TRAITS

• Damage Frenzy: If the unit loses 75% of its hitpoints, it will randomly attack nearby units, friend or foe, other than Priestesses. This effect can only be overcome by restoring the unit's lost health.

• "Stench" Aura: As with Persian camels, cavalry units are spooked by elephants, and prove less effective when in range of them.

• "Trample Damage" Aura: As with Persian elephants, causes passive crush damage to nearby enemy units through trampling.

CIV CENTRE UNITS

• Melee Infantry: Liby-Phoenician Levy Long-Pikeman (Spearman).

• Ranged Infantry: Balearic Levy Slinger (Slinger).

• Cavalry: Numidian Ally Cavalry Javelinist (Cavalry Javelinist).

FORBIDDEN CLASSES

• Infantry Archer.

• Cavalry Archer.

• Ram (War Elephant serves as ram).

STRUCTURE DESCRIPTIONS

VILLAGE

• Name: Merkāz. (mare-CAUSE) <means: Civ Centre>

• Class: Civ Centre.

• History: Carthage!.

• Name: Bet. (Bet) <means: House>

• Class: House.

• History: Housing was generally built of ‘adobe’ or sandstone then plastered with stucco. Flat roofs predominate, few windows, arched doorways in evidence, kind of a blend of Achaemenian and Mediterranean styles with some tiled roofs. In the biggest cities, especially Carthage and such as Utica, housing was in flat-roofed structures rising as high as 6 and 7 stories (two-storied would be sufficient).

• Name: Aḥuzāh. (ah-hoo-ZAH) <means: Carthaginian's Estate>

• Class: Farm Centre.

• History: Although there must have been many small farms as well, when the Carthaginians expanded into the hinterland, most farms and orchardist establishments were created by the wealthy segment of society that became known as the landowners, and the resulting estates were mostly worked by ‘almost enslaved’ Liby-Phoenicians, Numidians, and whomever they could get.

• Name: Šadd. (Shod) <means: Field> ​source

• Class: Field.

• History: ?.

• Name: Rēfet. (REH-fet) <means: Corral>

• Class: Corral.

• History: ?.

• Name: Maḥṣabah. <means: Resource Centre>

• Class: Resource Centre.

• History: ?.

• Name: Mijdil. <means: Wooden Tower> ​source

• Class: Scout Tower.

• History: Possibly used as outposts.

• Name: Jdar. <means: Carthaginian City Wall> ​source

• Class: Wall.

• History: The Carthaginians built what are referred to as “triple walls” to fortify some of their cities; as triple walls aren’t a practical construct for 0 A.D, the construction of the inner wall is to be used. This wall served not only as a defensive structure but had barracks and stables integrated right into it, and raised towers at intervals. Fodder for elephants and horses, and arms were stored onsite. The ground level consisted of housing for elephants, the second level for horses, and the third level as barracks for the troops. In Carthage alone, 200 elephants, a thousand horses and 15,000~30,000 troops could be housed within the city walls. As shown in the reference drawing, there was also a ditch at the base in front of the wall. These walls were typically built of large blocks of sandstone hewn from deposits nearby, and were never breached by invaders.

• Special:

• Footprint: 2x4 base. 3 tile height for walls.

• Name: Mijdil-šaʿar. (SHAW-arr) <means: Carthaginian Gatetower.>

• Class: Wall Gate.

• History: The tower sections constituted a 4th level where they rose up to provide even higher firing level platform than that of the top of the wall run.

• Special:

• Footprint: 4 tile height for tower.

• Garrison: 10.

• Elevation Bonus: +2 RA.

• Auto-Gate: The tower is built at the auto-gate position (occupying 2 of the 4 tiles), and can be locked/unlocked as normal.

TOWN

• Name: Namel. (naw-MEL) <means: Port Centre>

• Class: Port Centre.

• History: The structure is based upon the centre ‘island’ of skidways and sheds (including shops and admiral’s headquarters) of the inner harbour constructed to house the war fleet of the Carthaginian navy at Carthage.

• Name: Maqdaš. (mock-DOSH?) <means: Temple>

• Class: Health Centre.

• History: Quite a few temples and altars were scattered about Carthinginians territory, given up to the worship of various gods in a pantheon that, regrettably, is mostly lost to time and destruction. The structure shown is one found just west of the Bagradas River on a tributary that was dedicated to a pantheon of gods ranging from traditional Phoencicio-Carthaginian to Egyptian and Hellenic. It was actually built of a golden-hued marble (some others from a pink-hued marble also famously quarried in the Carthaginian homeland). Note that Tanit and Baal-Haamon were the were the two principal gods worshipped by a population that was quite religious, therefore their ‘effigies’ should also appear on the façade of the temple or as statuary in front of it, perhaps flanking the entrance.

• Name: Maḥanēt. (maw-haw-NET) <means: Military Centre>

• Class: Military Centre.

• History: Although the Carthaginians incorporated stables and barracks into their city walls, for gameplay purposes we use a Military Centre.

• Name: Šūq. (shouk) <means: Trade Centre>

• Class: Trade Centre.

• History: Trade centres were probably just big sheds or structures surrounding a ‘market’ area or in a wharf area of a port, but it is felt that the Achaemenian concept below will serve the purpose of the game admirably.

CITY

• Name: Ḥamet. (ha-MET?) <means: Blockhouse Fort>

• Class: Fortress.

• History: The Carthaginians built a number of rather ‘monolithic’ blockhouse forts sited at critical locations in North Africa, sometimes also in conjunction with long lengths of wall intended to keep the wilder people of the desert to the south from freely ranging into the ‘civilised’ territories under their direct control.

SPECIAL STRUCTURES

(None)

NEW STRUCTURE TRAITS

See Wall and Wall Gate.

FORBIDDEN STRUCTURES

• Wall Tower (Wall Gate functions as both gate and tower).

CIV BONUSES

• CB1

• Name: Triple Walls.

• History: Carthaginians built triple city walls.

• Effect: Carthaginian walls, gates, and towers have 3x hitpoints of a standard wall.

• CB2

• Name: Roundup.

• History: Not unlike the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa was known as ‘horse country’, capable of producing up to 100,000 new mounts each year. It was also the home of the North African Forest Elephant.

• Effect: Horses or elephants can be captured in the wild and placed in the Corral. Unlike normal corralled animals that generate food, the corralled Horse and Elephant functions similarly to a relic as in AoK. As long as it/they remain(s) in the Corral, the resource cost of training horse-mounted units (cavalry) or War Elephant Super Units is reduced by a fixed amount of –5% per animal corralled appropriate to kind.

TEAM BONUS:

• TB1

• Name: Trademasters.

• History: The Phoenicians @#$% Carthaginians were broadly known as the greatest trading civilisation of the ancient and classical world.

• Effect: +33% trade profit ‘international’ routes.

TECHNOLOGIES

• Infantry: Average, except Balearic slingers strongest in the game.

• Cavalry: Average, except Numidian cavalry javelinists fastest in the game.

• Naval: Strong, also most ships are the fastest in the game.

• Siege: Average, except no land ram, but War Elephant has a sieging capability.

• Economy:

• Farming: Strong, all standard including animal husbandry.

• Mining: Average.

• Lumbering: Average.

• Hunting: Average.

• Land Trade: Strong.

• Naval Trade: Strong.

• Architecture:

• Defences: Average, except Carthaginian Wall strongest in the game.

SPECIAL TECHNOLOGIES

• ST1

• Name: Exploration.

• History: Nobody knew better than the Carthaginians where in the ancient world they were going and going to go; their merchant traders had ‘missions’ to everywhere.

• Effect: All hominid units +2 LOS.

• ST2

• Name: Colonisation.

• History: Carthaginians established many trading centres as colonies and ultimately held dominion over 300 cities and towns in North Africa alone.

• Effect: BT –33% all buildings and structures.

COLLECTION OF PUNIC WORDS

mashal = officer

mëpaqad = another word for 'officer' You can use for the Sacred Band.

halats = soldiers

Balearic slingers = ibushimim (people from Ibiza) because Ebussus, in Ibiza, was the main city of the balearic islands.

qesheth = archer

hets = arrow 

hatsats = arrows

re'shith saasat = Calvary Chief

mynkd= emperator, Great Chief

masilim = numidians

masil=numidian

hayaat = animals (Curiosly, we don´t know the carthaginian name for elephant) but in ancient hebrew was 'Pil'

kahan = priest

hayl = army

mahanët = campament

mal'ak = messenger

barzel = iron

magen = shield

ariwim! = lions! :-)

baal barak = Baal bless you!

Libanun = Phoenicia

hemyt = Walls

hers^{= artisan, worker}

This is sourced from an e-mail from Prof. Carneiro of May 10, 2003.