#utica

[unteriors]

Waverly Place, Utica, New York.

[whencyclopedia]

Phoenicia Rising

Phoenicia was a vibrant ancient civilization that thrived along the Mediterranean coast, spanning what is now Syria, Lebanon, and northern Israel. This maritime powerhouse was renowned for its remarkable ships, adorned with horses' heads in honor of their sea god, Yamm. The cities of Tyre and Sidon were the pillars of Phoenician power, while Gebal/Byblos and Baalbek served as significant spiritual centers.

Key Facts

Location: Modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and northern Israel.

Major Cities: Tyre, Sidon, Gebal/Byblos, and Baalbek.

Timeframe: Emerged c. 3200 BCE; flourished from c. 1500-332 BCE.

Economic Strength: Skilled in ship-building, glass-making, dye production, and luxury goods manufacturing.

Historical Context

Phoenicia began to take shape around 3200 BCE, with its city-states firmly established by 2750 BCE. By 1500 BCE, Phoenicia had become a major hub for maritime trade and manufacturing, famous for its expertise in crafting ships and luxury goods.

Historical Significance

Phoenicia's legacy is marked by its significant contributions to maritime trade and manufacturing. The Phoenicians were crucial in spreading goods and ideas across the Mediterranean, leaving a lasting impact on the development of Western civilization. Their achievements in ship-building and trade paved the way for future empires, showcasing their enduring influence on history.

Learn More: Phoenicia

[finding-wplace]

Missing her other half, Utica, Ohio, United States

[route22ny]

The Round House hot dog stand (1924), Whitesboro Street, Utica, New York.

1987 photo by John Margolies

[alberto-balsalm]

[theknucklehead]

The scene with Shere Khan and Kaa honestly isn't that different from Skinner and the Superintendent.

[theartsofrust]

[inspofromancientworld]

The Siege of Utica

By Harrias - CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=164527406

Between 204-201 BCE, Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio attempted to gain control of Utica in a bid to defeat the Carthaginian Empire during the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome. General Scipio had just recently pushed the Carthaginians out of Iberia in 205 BCE and had been sent to Sicily with the intent to invade Carthage in North Africa after he returned to Rome after his time as consul. He used his time in Rome to open negotiations with the Numidian leaders west of Carthaginian territory.

There was a great deal of debate within the Roman Senate to determine whether Scipio's plan was a good idea for the Roman Republic with Hannibal making his way through Italy with his own Carthaginian army, and whether Scipio was the best person for the job or if it was the best use of his talent. A form of compromise was reached, though one in which Scipio received most of what he wanted. He was given Sicily as his consular province, which would give him a shorter and more direct supply line, though he was only given the command of the two legions already based in Sicily without further military support beyond calling for volunteers and he could not conscript anyone to the army, which was a usual practice for the time.

In June or July 204 BCE, Scipio left Sicily with about 400 transport ships with 40 galleys to escort them. After three days, they reached at Cape Farina, 20 km north of Utica, a large Carthaginian port. Locals fled the Romans, leaving their homes to be pillaged. Eight thousand people were sent back to Sicily as slaves. In response to the refuges, Carthage sent out 500 cavalry as a scouting party, which was defeated. Masinissa, one of the Numidian kings, send either 200 or 2,000 men to join the Romans, the sources differ on exactly how many.

Wanting to have a more stable base of operation with a stable harbor against the expected bad weather during winter, Scipio laid siege to Utica, which was a major port at the time, though now it is 8 km inland because of the silt deposited by the River Bagradas, now known as the Medjerda River. The Romans had brought with them a good supply of siege engines, or devices to break through fortifications, both mobile and immobile, that could be built in place out of the parts brought with them from Sicily. Scipio expected an easy victory after a fierce attack by land and sea, but Utica expected Carthage would relieve them even though the Carthaginian navy had yet to make an attempt to gain control of the sea from Rome. While Utica held out, Roman soldiers pillage more and more land around Utica, sending back the spoils to Sicily in the ships that brought them supplies.

A Carthaginian army under Hasdrabal Gisco, a Carthaginian general who'd fought in Iberia, and Syphax, a king of Western Numidia, set up a fortified camp 11 km south of Utica with about 33,000 men under Hasdrubal Gisco and 60,000 men under Syphax, who had his camp 2 km away from Hasdrubal Gisco, though modern historians find that these numbers are 'infeasibly large', though it is generally agreed that the Romans were 'considerably outnumbered, in particular in terms of cavalry' by this joint army. The Romans pulled back to near Castra Cornelia, modern day Ghar el-Melh, about 3 km east of Utica. The camps remained through the winter, exchanging emissaries, seeking to 'either end the war or to facilitate a Roman withdrawal from Africa took place'.

In early spring 203 BCE, the Roman army and navy started 'conspicuously reassembling and testing their siege equipment, mounting some engines on ships' with others rebuilding the land-based siege equipment. Scipio addressed his troops, saying he would 'storm the defences of Utica'. He also had the naval ships 'carry out demonstrations off Utica, while he briefed his senior officers that in fact they were going to launch night attacks at the enemy camps' after having used the winter emissary trips during the winter to learn the layouts of the camps and ways to reach them. The night attack consisted of two columns, with the second one led by Gaius Laelius, Scipio's second-in-command. They were able to reach their target without problems because of their preparation. Laelius attacked Syphax's camp, focusing on setting as many fires as possible since Syphax's troops lived in reed hut housing. This caused the camp to descend into chaos, with many of the Numidians thinking that it was just an accidental fire in the barracks. Scipio's column then attacked, keeping them from reaching Hasdrabal Gisco's camp. He then stormed Hasdrabal's camp, also setting fire to it, which spread rapidly between closely spaced barracks. The Carthaginians were caught unawares and ended up rushing about in the dark 'without armour or weapons, either trying to escape the famels or fight the fire'. The Romans took advantage of this, dealing out a great number of casualties. It's recorded that Hasdrubal was only able to escape with 2,500 men and losses or survivors among Syphax's men isn't recorded.

When the news of this defeat reached Carthage, there was panic and a renewed call for peace or even calling Hannibal back. Eventually, the decision was made to continue fighting against Scipio and the Romans. Syphax joined Hasdrubal with whatever troops he had left. Hasdrabul raised an army from local troops to reinforce Utica's survivors. They established a camp on a flat area near the Bagradas River known as the Great Plains, near modern day Souk el Kremis, 120 km from Utica.

Scipio marched most of his army to meet the Carthaginians at this new location. While we don't know the numbers, we know his force was outnumbered by them. The two armies skirmished for days before entering into a full battle. When the Romans charged, those Carthaginians who'd been involved in the 'debacle at Utica turned and fled; morale had not recovered', leaving the new recruits to face the 'well-drilled Roman legions'. These new recruits were surrounded and wiped out. 'Hasdrubal fled to Carthage, where he was demoted and exiled' while Syphax fled to the west, perused by Romans who defeated him at Cirta. After this, the Romans returned west more slowly, 'devastating the countryside and capturing and sacking many towns'. They set up a garrison in Tunis, which was 24km from the city of Carthage and had been abandoned by the Carthaginians, cutting off Carthage from its hinterland.

During the winter of 204/3 BCE, Carthage had increased the number of galleys they had and they felt they were ready to challenge the Romans at sea. They knew that many of the Roman's ships had been shifted into siege mode rather than sea-battle mode, so, while the Roman army was largely at Tunis, they set out by sea for Utica, intending to wipe out the Roman fleet. Roman scouts noticed the movement and Scipio understood this was a threat to the fleet, so he sent messengers to alert the Roman navy, with some accounts saying he went himself with the orders to raise the alarm. The legions followed at a rapid march. The Carthaginian ships took until the next morning to travel the 56 km between Carthage and Utica, possibly pausing to run drills. Regardless, the Romans had 'lashed the whole of their fleet into one unit, with several ranks of transports in front of the specialist war galleys' by the time they arrived, with 1,000 soldiers supplied with javelins on the foremost row of transports. Carthage began their attack just after sunrise, but the Romans being prepared for them frustrated them since they expected to be able to scatter the Romans easily. By the end of the day, the Carthaginians had only managed to capture, cut loose, and two 60 transport vessels, about a rank of the Roman ships, but the Carthaginians abandoned the fight and their captives to return to Carthage.

After this, Scipio and Carthage entered peace negotiations, which included recalling Hannibal from Italy. The Roman Senate ratified the draft treaty, but Carthage repudiated it, placing Hannibal in charge of another army in Italy. The Roman soldiers returned to Castra Cornelia and Tunis to resupply. Carthage tried again for peace and Scipio, not wanting to be replaced given the difficulties in defeating Carthage, so he entered into negotiations again. This time, the Romans were much harder on Carthage, taking all their overseas territories and some of those within Africa, requiring a payment of 10,000 talents, or about 269,000 kg, of silver be paid over 50 years, hostages be surrendered, and elimination of all war elephants and all but 10 warships, and they were prohibited from waging war outside of Africa at all and only could within Africa if Rome explicitly gave permission. Hannibal, aware of the situation in Carthage, advised accepting the treaty even though some senior Carthaginian officials wanted to reject the treaty. The treaty was ratified in 201 BCE.