Man Foulards in Roman Carthage

Just above the artist quarter in Punic Carthage, which was destroyed by the Romans, I came across an impressive marble bust in one of the Roman villas.

This Roman guy’s sense of style was definitely cool!

His entire torso is nude, as he sports a large foulard draped around his shoulders, hangin infront and descending slightly more in the back.

Lately on the runways of fashion weeks around the world, there is much draping as layer is added upon layer, a trend that was very common among the Romans.

For more reading on Roman dress, go to Roman Blockbusters, Byzantium & Barbarians.

The additional photos that follow the bust were taken at the thermal bathes just below the Roman Villas.

Stroll through the ancient Roman bathes here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Tunics in Tunisia

When the Romans destroyed ancient Carthage, they rebuilt the city and populated the land.

In the area of ancient Carthage, just above where the destroyed Punic artist quarter, the Romans constructed beautiful villas that ascend up the hill, terraced one on top of the other.

As I was walking through one such villa, I came across some floor mosaics, which narrate the story of how Roman men dressed in North Africa during the time of Roman Carthage.

Notice the colorful details on each Tunic. The patterns follow a geometric symmetry with lots of borders, cuffs, and breast pieces.

The photos that follow the mosaics are from the surrounding Roman villas. Enjoy the romantic walk through the villas here!

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Hannibal, the Glory of Carthage

While the name Hannibal may ring familiar to some, most individuals have no idea of his origins or greatness.

Like his father Hamlicar Barca, Hannibal (248–183BC) was one of the most talented military commanders of antiquity that fought against the supremacy of the Roman Empire.

Hannibal was from Carthage and, thus, a Carthaginian. According to the Romans, he was Punic; to the Greeks, he was Phoenician—a member of the People, of Purple!

Hannibal’s father had conquered most of Iberia (or Spain)—hence, the city Cartagena.

Hannibal inherited the army after the death of his father and continued the Carthaginian expansion.

Eventually he led a campaign of elephants from Cartagena over the Alps and into Italy, where he defeated the Romans several times.

In the end, Rome attacked Carthage, waging three wars, and finally defeated and destroyed Carthage in 146 BC.

It was amazing to walk on the ancient Carthaginian stones where Hannibal most likely walked in the Quarter of Magon, the Punic residential area of artists near the sea. View the entire city here.

If you would like to read more about how Phoenician styles have also appeared on the runways today, go to Phoenicians the People of Purple.

For more information on the menswear of Carthage, or what I call “Punic fashion,” go to Carthage, of Phoenicians and Punics.

Photo Hannibal, Public Domain.

Roman Mosaics, Floors that Talk

From the winding streets of the old souq, I took an equally meandering taxi ride across the city to the Bardo Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of mosaic floors from the Roman Empire.

The ancient mosaics in the Bardo Museum narrate a gripping story concerning the four-and-a-half centuries of Roman domination in ancient Tunisia.

From these mosaics, it soon becomes clear how lavishly the Romans lived in Tunisia with huge estates, outdoor banquets, entertainment, wine drinking, and public games.

I loved the ancient Jacuzzis! (I'm sorry...I couldn't resist!)



Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Carthage—A Pillar of Western Civilization

During the 9th century BC, the ancient Phoenicians were searching for ports on their way from their homeland (modern-day Lebanon) to the mines of Southern Spain, conveniently founding the city of Carthage, which now lies north of Tunis—the capital of Tunisia.

In the Phoenician language, Carthage (Qart-ḥadašt) meant ‘the new city’ and referred to a colony of cities along the Gulf of Tunis.

The Phoenicians were not just skillful seafarers and fervent traders, but they were also avid inventors, laying the foundation of Western culture and civilization.

One of Phoenician inventions flashes before our eyes everyday—the alphabet!

They also invented purple dye, from which they derived their name: Phoenician (from the Greek phoinikos) and Punic (in Latin)—both of which mean 'purple', the color in which they dressed.

When the Phoenician homeland (present-day Lebanon) was invaded in 538 BC by Cyrus, the king of Persia (modern-day Iran), waves of Phoenicians sailed to Carthage.

Carthage soon emerged the greatest Phoenician colony and a major maritime power in the Mediterranean, ultimately entering into conflict with the Roman Empire.

Carthage waged 3 wars against Rome and, after the third loss in 146 BC, was completely destroyed by the Romans, who rebuilt Carthage and dominated the region for nearly 4 ½ centuries.

The greatest memories of the ancient Phoenicians in Punic Carthage lie in the cemeteries of children, where thousands of tophets are found.

Afterward a walk around the museum, I went to the once-walled city, which overlooks the remains of the harbor of ancient Carthage. The city was called Byrsa, meaning ‘citadel’ in the Phoenician language.

Upon the hill, I stood on the mounted glory of the ancient Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans. There, I even lifted my eyes to see the mountains of Sicily through light haze in the distance!

I then traced my steps down to the ancient arena, the amphitheatre, the cistern, and finally the port—all of which were rebuilt by the Romans after the destruction of Phoenician Carthage.

Phoenician Fashion
If you would like to read more about how Phoenician styles have also appeared on the runways today, go to Phoenicians the People of Purple.

As you know, purple and all of its wonderful shades have been a dominant color for the past few seasons.

Just remember, the first men to wear purple were the ancient Phoenicians—the People of Purple!

Punic Fashion
For more information on the menswear of Carthage, or what I call “Punic fashion,” go to Carthage, of Phoenicians and Punics.

Roman Fashion
One of the predominant features of Roman menswear was draping, a trend that has been appearing on the runway for several seasons.

For details on how Roman styles rear their head today, read Roman Blockbusters, Byzantium & Barbarians.

See the photo gallery here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Cartharge, of Phoenicians and Punics

At the height of power, Carthage dominated up to 300 Phoenician colonies on the coasts and islands of the Mediterranean.

But their first conquest was Sardinia, where they claimed Karalis, today’s Cagliari.

Carthage—the “shining city”situated near modern-day Tunisia—was founded around 814 BC by the Phoenicians who emigrated from Tyre, naming their new home Qart-ḥadašt, which means ‘new city’.

Since the Carthaginians were essentially Phoenicians, the Romans called them Punics—pūnicus, which is merely the Latin name for “Phoenician.” Remember, the Greeks referred to the Phoenicians as phoinikois after the purple dye.

When Phoenicia was conquered by Persia (present-day Iran) in 539 BC, Carthage inherited the entire trade network from Tyre, emerging as the commercial center of the Western Mediterranean. However, as the new leader of the Phoenician colonies around the Mediterranean, Carthage was thrust into conflict, mostly in Sicily, with the Greeks and Romans who were vying for power.

Probably the most notable Carthaginian of all was Hannibal (248–183 BC), one of the greatest military commanders in history who led an army of mercenaries, compatriots, and elephants through Spain and over the Alps against the Romans.

After 668 years of existence, Carthage was brutally destroyed by Rome in the Third Punic War, in 146 BC.

Like Phoenicia, Carthage produced embroidered and dyed garments of linen, cotton, and silk, as well as ceramics and metalwork.

As for menswear, I have uncovered the attire of Punic solders (photo, type left, courtesy of Phoenician expert Salim George Khalaf). They sported long braids that were tied back with a golden ring.

Then, in the Archeological musuem of Cagliari, I made some very interesting discoveries!

First, as the photo to the middle right evidences, Carthaginian men wore a type of tunic with short sleeves that extended to the knees and was tied with a belt.

Secondly, the Punic man on the right side of the vase (bottom left photo) appears to be wearing a sort of long, flowing Roman-like outer garment that draps over the shouler and an ankle-length inner garment.

Photo Carthaginian Copyright Phoenica.org.
Photo middle right, statuettes of Punic men, Museo archedologico nazionale di Cagliari.
Photo bottom left, vase of Punic woman and man, Museo archedologico nazionale di Cagliari.