Mosaic, ancient roman cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia
Unknown (Roman artist active 3rd Century CE); Detail view of a monkey in the peristilium (courtyard) of Villa of the Aviary, Carthage, Tunisia; mosaic; ca. 200-300 CE. Carthage was founded in the 9th century B.C. on the Gulf of Tunis. From the 6th century onwards, it developed into a great trading empire covering much of the Mediterranean and was home to a brilliant civilization. In the course of the long Punic wars, Carthage occupied territories belonging to Rome, which finally destroyed its rival in 146 B.C. A second – Roman – Carthage was then established on the ruins of the first; rebuilt by Vandals, ruined by Arabs in 698.