Carthage

[andersw]

Kothon may need a redesign in the future ...
https://arkeonews.net/a-huge-artifi...-stars-and-used-2500-years-ago-study-reveals/

 

[Rekk]

I'm confused? This article isn't talking about the Carthaginian harbor:

. It was originally believed that the feature was a “Kothon” — an artificial harbor — as it bore similarities to one known from the ancient military port of nearby Carthage, but reanalysis has revealed this assumption to be incorrect.

This is a different water feature that they thought that was an artificial harbour because it was similar to the known artificial harbour in Carthage.

Or are you talking about something else?

 

[Hinin]

I'm confused? This article isn't talking about the Carthaginian harbor:
This is a different water feature that they thought that was an artificial harbour because it was similar to the known artificial harbour in Carthage.

Or are you talking about something else?

I think it was more this part that could be interpreted as meaning that Cothons weren't artificial habors in general.

“Kothon” was a harbor but new excavations have drastically changed its interpretation: It was a sacred pool at the center of a huge religious compound,’ said Professor Lorenzo Nigro.

One problem is that we aren't 100% sure if the "Kothon" word used is meant to qualify the archeological site (like a sort of toponym), or as a general qualifier for all similar sites.

Nonetheless, it is an interesting article. Thanks.

 

[andersw]

I think it was more this part that could be interpreted as meaning that Cothons weren't artificial habors in general.

One problem is that we aren't 100% sure if the "Kothon" word used is meant to qualify the archeological site (like a sort of toponym), or as a general qualifier for all similar sites.

Nonetheless, it is an interesting article. Thanks.

Yes its a bit uncertain if Kothon were harbours, I guess the Phoenician legacy got erased thoroughly by the Romans.
On a side note, I didnt even know they had positions on Sicily.
And .. you're welcome.

 

[pineappledan]

I interpreted it as more just "hey look, Carthage is in the news". I don't interpret this as casting any doubt onto the function or existence of the famed Cothon of Carthage, which was well-attested by contemporary sources and archeological evidence, just that they thought that a basin in Motya was also a cothon, but turned out to be something else.

On a side note, I didnt even know they had positions on Sicily.

Yes, that's basically how the First Punic War got started: As a fight between Rome and Carthage over Sicily. Both had colonies on Sicily, but wanted to control the entire island.