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St. George's Anglican Church, Tunis St. George’s Anglican Church, Tunis Christian Heritage, Carthage Suggested Itinerary and Texts Rt Rev Dr Bill Musk Many of the archeological sites in the Carthage area of Tunis tell or reflect the story of the arrival of the Christian gospel in North Africa and its gradual transformation into “Church”. It is a costly and messy story! This article is designed to enhance your visit to these historic sites by explaining a little of that story. I am grateful to others for their stimulating input and help.1 Any errors or inaccuracies in what follows are mine alone. Your feedback to [email protected] is very welcome! 1 Rev Frank Bernardi has led several pilgrimages to Carthage sites on behalf of St George’s Anglican Church, Tunis and much of what follows in this article is based on his research and presentations. David Cater (Engaging Cultures Travel – Tunisia [+216.24.405.950]; [email protected]; www.engagingcultures.com) is experienced in organizing and leading pilgrimage groups. 1 The itinerary and texts offered in this article are intended to assist you in seeing significant archeological remains and to help you understand something of the history of the development of Christianity in this part of North Africa. Not all the sites of Carthage (not even all the Christian sites) are featured. I hope that those that are featured will whet your appetite. The photos included should help you to identify what you are looking at where!2 The Tophet of Salammbó Start your journey of discovery just south of the Punic port area at the Tophet of Salammbó. The word “Carthage” probably derives from the Phoenician Qart-ḥadašt meaning “New City”, implying that here was a new Tyre. The port and original town was founded by colonists from Tyre in the late 9th century BC. From this port, grain and olive oil was shipped to various Mediterranean destinations, including Rome. Punic ports The Tophet of Salammbó is testimony to the strong influence of Phoenician religion on its newest, African foundation. The supreme divine couple of that belief system was 2 All photos in this presentation, courtesy of Hilary Musk. 2 found in Baal Hammon and Tanit. “Tophet” is a term derived from the Bible, where it means “place of burning” and references a site near Jerusalem in which Canaanites sacrificed children to the god Molech (e.g. Jeremiah 7:31). The word is now used as a general term for all such sacred sites. The Tophet of Salammbó, when excavated, was found to be packed with carefully interred urns (more than 20,000!), often accompanied by rich grave goods and always marked with grave stelae dedicated to Baal Hammon and Tanit, the city’s patron deities. The majority of the urns date from the 4th to the 2nd centuries BC. Baal Hammon … … and Tanit The graves were exclusively those of young children. All this suggested a children’s graveyard, possibly of stillborn children? “Tophet”, however, has historically referred to an open area of sacrifice, and Roman sources indicate that here the Carthaginians sacrificed the children of their elite in times of trouble. The gods needed appeasing with appropriate victims. So the question remains: is the Tophet of Salammbó a site of former human sacrifice to the Carthaginian gods or a children’s graveyard – or both? Either way, this is a pretty weighty site and you might like to spend a few moments reflecting on the costliness of pagan belief and practice. Such (Punic) pagan belief and practice marks the underbelly or spiritual background to the arrival in North Africa of the Christian gospel during Roman times. 3 Acropolis Now, ascend to the top of Byrsa hill. From that ancient acropolis, much of Carthage is laid out in front of you. Standing on the remains of the Library at the Acropolis, Byrsa Hill Your vantage point at the top of Byrsa hill is provided by the long-standing grounds around l’Acropolium (previously the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Louis), a Gothic extravaganza built by the French in 1884. There is space to gather a large group on the site of a former Roman Library, looking over its edge to a lower-level, Punic residential rd quarter that dates from the time of Hannibal (around the 3 century BC). Behind you, towards l’Acropolium – in fact much of it providing the enclosed courtyard to the modern-day museum – was the site of the Forum. A forum (Latin meaning “place outdoors”) was a public square or marketplace in a Roman city or town that was reserved primarily for the vending of goods. It could also function as a place for debates or for public trials. Carthage lies just across the waters from Italy. From the time of General Scipio onwards, the Romans developed a hate/love relationship with Carthage. At first the new colonisers hated Carthage and boasted in their historical annals of how thoroughly they destroyed the city (in 146BC). They made Utica the capital of their African province until one century later (46BC) when Julius Caesar refounded Carthage. The city then grew to be the second largest of the Empire after Rome. Of course, it was in Roman times that Christianity began to spread and become established. During the 2nd century, Christianity gained a following in North Africa. At various periods, and under various Roman emperors and other officials, Christianity was seen as destabilising the Roman status quo and so Christians came in for arrest and torture and execution. 4 The Scillitan Martyrs were a group of twelve North African Christians who were executed for their beliefs on 17th July, 180.3 The martyrs take their name from Scilla (or Scillium), a town in Tunisia. The Martyrs’ trial and execution took place in Carthage under the Pro-consul Vigellius Saturninus, whom Tertullian identifies as the first persecutor of Christians in Africa. Their murder was one of the last acts of persecution under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who himself died in the same year. The Acta of the Scillitan Martyrs are considered to be the earliest documents of the church of Africa and also the earliest specimen of Christian Latin. Pause for thought Standing near the Forum on the acropolis, read the following dramatic account of some of the questioning of some of the Scillitan Martyrs at their trial. When Praesens, for the second time, and Claudianus were the consuls, on the seventeenth day of July, at Carthage, there were set in the judgment-hall Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Secunda and Vestia. Proconsul Saturninus: Ye can win the indulgence of our lord the Emperor, if ye return to a sound mind. Speratus: We have never done ill, we have not lent ourselves to wrong, we have never spoken ill, but when ill-treated we have given thanks; because we pay heed to OUR EMPEROR. Proconsul Saturninus: We too are religious, and our religion is simple, and we swear by the genius of our lord the Emperor, and pray for his welfare, as ye also ought to do. Speratus: If thou wilt peaceably lend me thine ears, I can tell thee the mystery of simplicity. Proconsul Saturninus: I will not lend mine ears to thee, when thou beginnest to speak evil things of our sacred rites; but rather swear thou by the genius of our lord the Emperor. Speratus: The empire of this world I know not; but rather I serve that God, whom no man hath seen, nor with these eyes can see. I have committed no theft; but if I have bought anything I pay the tax; because I know my Lord, the King of kings and Emperor of all nations. Proconsul Saturninus, to all: Cease to be of this persuasion. Speratus: It is an ill persuasion to do murder, to speak false witness. 3 Commodus was emperor at this time (AD180-192). 5 Proconsul Saturninus: Be not partakers of this folly. Cittinus: We have none other to fear, save only our Lord God, who is in heaven. Donata: Honour to Caesar as Caesar: but fear to God. Vestia: I am a Christian. Secunda: What I am, that I wish to be. Proconsul to Speratus: Dost thou persist in being a Christian? Speratus: I am a Christian. And with him they all agreed. Proconsul Saturninus: Will ye have a space to consider? Speratus: In a matter so straightforward there is no considering. Proconsul Saturninus: What are the things in your chest? Speratus: Books and epistles of Paul, a just man. Proconsul Saturninus: Have a delay of thirty days and bethink yourselves. Speratus: I am a Christian. And with him they all agreed. Proconsul Saturninus reading out the decree from the tablet: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Donata, Vestia, Secunda and the rest having confessed that they live according to the Christian rite, since after opportunity offered them of returning to the custom of the Romans they have obstinately persisted, it is determined that they be put to the sword. Speratus: We give thanks to God. Nartzalus: To-day we are martyrs in heaven; thanks be to God. Saturninus the proconsul ordered it to be declared by the herald: Speratus, Nartzalus, Cittinus, Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata and Secunda, I have ordered to be executed. All: Thanks be to God. And so they all together were crowned with martyrdom; and they reign with the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen. 6 Amphitheatre Descend the hill’s western side from the acropolis to the Roman amphitheatre. In the arena of Carthage amphitheatre This amphitheatre was once one of the largest in the Roman Empire (slightly larger than El Jem) with a capacity for seating 36,000 spectators.
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