Carthage Administration Inscription

The inscription was discovered in 1964 during excavations led by Ammar Mahjoubi, about 100 m (330 ft) west of the TGM station in Carthage, and 300 m (980 ft) from the potters' quarter located in the current archaeological park of the Antonine Baths. It was mixed upon its discovery with rubble from a late Roman construction, "in a layer of embankments covering a 4th-century AD mosaic pavement", and has therefore not been found in situ.

Close up of the inscription

1. ptḥ wpʿl ʾyt hḥṣ z lmqm šʿr hḥdš ʾš kn bḥ[mt drm ʿm qrtḥdšt bšt]
2. špṭm špṭ wʾdnbʿl ʿtr ʾdnbʿl bn ʾšmnḥlṣ bn b[...... w...... bn bdml]
3. qrt bn ḥnʾ wḥbrnm ṭnʾm ʿl mmlkt z ʿbdmlqrt [bn ...... bn ... bʿl ḥrš]
4. bdmlqrt bn bʿlḥnʾ bn bdmlqrt pls yhwʾln ʾḥ̊ [bdmlqrt ḥṣb wʿml by kl]
5. sḥrt nst hmksʾm ʾš bʿmq qrt šql mḥtt wʾš ʾẙ[ ksp wʾy ḥrṣ lm wʾp]
6. ʾš lm nsk ḥrṣ wmʾnnm wbt tnrm wpʿl sdlm ʾhdy ẘ[ʾm ymḥ ʾš ʾyt hspr z]
7. wʿnš hmḥšbm ʾš ln ʾyt hʾdm hʾ ksp ʾlp|lp ʿl mnm̊ [ X bmḥr hspr].[1]

Dupont-Sommer distinguishes four parts in the inscription: the first concerns the evocation of the works that took place in the Punic city. The second is the enumeration of the conductors of these municipal works. In the third sentence are cited various trades involved in the work undertaken. Finally, the listing ends with a threat against anyone who would harm the listing.[1]

Model of the merchant port of Carthage, development probably dating from the second half of the 3rd century BC. J.-C.

View of the plain of Carthage and the area of the Punic ports from the hill of Byrsa, with the Bou Kournine in the distance.