Travel guide

The phoenician-punic, roman and vandalic age
from 900 B.C.E. to 534 A.C.E.
The first stage of the Phoenician colonization of Sardinia coincides with the
pre-colonial phase (900–800 B.C.E.), which was followed by the
establishment of colonies along its south-western coast, notably Nora
(which has returned the most ancient Semitic inscription on the Island),
Sulki (currently, Sant’Antioco), Tharros (Cabras), and Carales (Cagliari). In
order to ensure the protection of their colonies, the Phoenicians began
with the construction of the first inland fortresses (e.g. Monte Sirai near
Carbonia), which were later enhanced by the Carthaginians as soon as,
starting from 500 B.C.E., the African town achieved a leading role among
the western colonies. The Carthaginian control over Sardinia, until their
cession to the Romans during the second Punic war, was limited to the
coast and to the main routes, which carried the goods exchanged with the
inner, undefeated Barbagian populations. Outside the towns, which were
arranged as seaport-markets surrounded by an irregular network of
houses, workshops, blacksmith workshops and urban sanctuaries, were
the necropoleis and the tophet, sites devoted to the sacrifice and burial of
On the left:
A suggestive
view of Nora
On the right:
The Roman
Amphitheatre
of Cagliari
children and small animals. The workshops were the place of transit for
imported artefacts, both Italic and Oriental; whereas in blacksmith
workshops glasses, jewels, pottery (of special relevance the votive masks
displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari) as well as
sculptures in metal and stone, amongst which the steles, were made. The
location, output and overall lifestyle of the Punic towns did not undergo
45