The Tophet of Carthage

The Tophet of Carthage, located in the immediate vicinity of the Punic ports, is a sacred enclosure in which the Punics made sacrifices in honor of the protective deities of Carthage, Baâl Hammon and Tanit.

For a long time the idea prevailed, today disputed by certain specialists, that the sacrificed were children immolated in acts of redemption or grace. And the site has actually delivered, in its deepest, oldest strata, urns containing the ashes of children.

In the upper layers of this “funerarium”, the containers (urns or mini stone sarcophagi) contain animal bones.

The site consists of a tunnel housing the offerings still buried in the ground, a garden where are exposed cippus and steles in sandstone or limestone which surmounted these offerings, as well as an altar where the ritual was supposed to take place. of sacrifice.

Situation:
Tunis/Carthage

To See:

– the Malga cisterns
– the amphitheater
– the circus
– the Damous Carita basilica
– the Antonine baths
– theater
– the so-called Odéon district

Opening time:
– From 16/09 to 31/05: 08.30 – 17.00
– From 01/06 to 15/09: 08:00 – 18:00

Ramadan schedule:
08.00 – 17.00

Entrance fees:
12 dinars

Remarks:
Group ticket. Open all week.

Amenities:
– Bathroom
– Shop
– Cafeteria