ABSTRACT
The Carthaginians are often visualised as a nation of seafaring traders, interested only in the bottom line. This supposed obsession is more a feature of modern stereotyping than ancient. True, ancient writers from Herodotus on often mention their trading behaviour, techniques and markets, as already shown. Greeks and Romans often and admiringly stressed Carthage’s wealth: the Syracusan leader Hermocrates in 415 described her (according to Thucydides) as richer than all other cities, and two hundred and sixty- ve years later, in Polybius’ time, the universal view remained that she was the wealthiest city in the world. Cicero makes the entirely specious claim that it was Carthage’s passion for trade, and by implication moneymaking, that eventually brought her down. Nonetheless, ancient sources focus more often on other prime features of the city’s life – warfare and politics especially.36
