Images

A red-figure vase possibly depicting Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri), the hero twins of Greek mythology. 420-400 BCE, Lucanian. (Museo Provinciale Archeologico 'S. Castromediano,' Lecce, Italy)

Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri), Capitoline Hill, Rome. Restored in the 16th century using fragments found at the Temple of the Dioscuri in the Forum.

A bronze ram from the prow of a Carthaginian warship. Found off the Aegadian Islands (near Sicily) and dating to the First Punic War (264 and 241 BCE). A Punic inscription dedicates the ram to the Phoenician and Punic god Baal.

An artist's impression of how the naval harbour of Carthage may have looked.

An artist's impression of a Balearic slinger. The islanders were renowned in the ancient world for their accuracy and were employed in the Carthaginian army during the Punic Wars.

A Carthaginian hoplite from the Sacred Band, the army corps composed of Carthaginian citizens. Taken from a coin of Syracuse, 4th century BCE.

A Punic gilded bronze cuirass from Ksour Essaf, 3rd-2nd century BCE. (Bardo National Museum, Tunisia)

The remains of a Roman house at Utica (Tunisia), once capital of the Roman province of Africa.

A floor mosaic from Roman Utica (modern Tunisia) depicting a hunt in marshlands, 200-225 CE. (British Museum, London)

An artist's impression of how a troop of Carthaginian mercenaries may have appeared in battle formation.