New research from Harvard University challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of the ancient Carthaginians. According to a study led by renowned geneticist David Reich, the people of Carthage—one of the most powerful cities of the ancient Mediterranean—were genetically more similar to Greeks than to Phoenicians.
In a report published in Nature and highlighted by The Economist, the research team analyzed DNA from 17 skeletons unearthed in Carthage (modern-day Tunisia), along with 86 others from Carthaginian settlements across North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain. They also included 25 individuals buried at Achziv and Beirut, major Phoenician sites near Tyre in present-day Lebanon.
A Greek Connection Hidden in DNA
Although Carthage was founded in the 9th century BCE as a Phoenician trading post and colony of Tyre—a major Semitic port city—the genetic data paints a more complex picture. While Carthage developed its own empire and distinct Semitic culture, the study reveals that its population did not share strong genetic ties with the Phoenicians as previously assumed.
Instead, Reich and his team discovered a unique genetic profile they classified as “Carthaginian,” composed predominantly of Greek, North African, and Sicilian ancestry, with only minimal Phoenician genetic input.
Surprising Insights into Ancient Carthage
The Carthaginian Empire shown in grey before the outbreak of the First Punic War.
The presence of North African and Sicilian DNA is understandable, given Carthage's extensive colonies in those regions. However, the significant Greek genetic influence came as a surprise, particularly since Greeks and Carthaginians were often rivals, especially during their overlapping efforts to colonize Sicily. Their frequent military clashes in that region would suggest separation rather than intermingling.
Even more intriguing is the relative lack of genetic material from Spain and Sardinia, despite both regions having hosted major Carthaginian colonies. This raises the question: did Carthaginian settlers intentionally avoid mixing with local populations, perhaps due to cultural or social biases? The study doesn’t offer a definitive answer, leaving this as one of the enduring mysteries.
From Hannibal to Roman Ruins
Carthage produced some of the most notable figures of the ancient world, including Hannibal, widely regarded as one of history’s greatest military commanders. In 218 BCE, during the Second Punic War, he famously led his army—including African war elephants—across the Alps to invade Roman territory. For 15 years, he ravaged Roman lands but ultimately failed to capture the city itself, retreating to North Africa.
Carthage was eventually destroyed by Rome in 146 BCE at the end of the Punic Wars. However, the Romans later rebuilt the city, transforming it into a major hub of the Roman Empire. It remained a key center until its second destruction during the Muslim conquest in 698 CE.
This groundbreaking genetic study not only reshapes our understanding of Carthaginian heritage but also highlights the intricate web of cultural and genetic exchange in the ancient Mediterranean—where even enemies left a lasting imprint on one another.
