Carthage is mostly a residential suburb in the town of Tunis. It is most popular among tourists for its historical ruins – from a once-rich city whose origins date as far back as 814 BC.
Tourists visiting here also make it a point to visit the National Archaeological Museum in Carthage – Tunisia.
Location
The National Archaeological Museum in Carthage – Tunisia is located atop a hill, Byrsa, right in the center of the ancient city. It is within close proximity to the Saint Louis of Carthage Cathedral.
Getting There
To reach the National Archaeological Museum in Carthage – Tunisia, you can take a train from Tunis heading towards Carthage Museum-Acropolium-Carthage Archaeological Park.
From here, you can walk towards the museum.
What to See and Do
The National Archaeological Museum in Carthage – Tunisia is a major archaeological museum in the country and as such, you will find a vast collection of artifacts unearthed during archaeological expeditions, primarily in the ancient city of Carthage for this particular museum.
Relics in the museum consist of items that originate from the Roman Era as well as the Punic Era.
Among the Punic Collections that you can find inside the museum are various ceramics, some of which were believed to have been used during the 3rd Punic War.
There are also amulets of Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris; sarcophagi unearthed from the necropolis, the most notable of which are those of a priest’s and priestess’; glass masks symbolizing various deities plus remnants of columns, pillars and other structures.
From the Roman Collection, there are sculptures, busts, mosaics, bas reliefs, and Roman funerary statues.
There are also bullets and swords, catapults made of stone on display plus the skeletal remains of who is believed to be a Roman fighter, on display at the museum.
Brief History
The National Archaeological Museum in Carthage – Tunisia was established in the year 1875 under the supervision of Cardinal Charles Martial Lavigerie. It was formerly known as Museum Lavigerie.
The items on display here are from the excavations conducted mostly by archaeologists from Europe, most notable of which is Alfred Louis Delattre, a French archaeologist.
The museum first opened its doors to the public in the year 1963.
Cost
The cost to visit the National Archaeological Museum in Carthage – Tunisia is 5.20 TD per person.
Other Information
The National Archaeological Museum in Carthage – Tunisia is open daily, from 8:30 in the morning up to 5:30 in the afternoon. During summers, the museum stays open until 7 in the evening.
