| Utica Founded
by the Phoenicians back in 1101 B.C., Utica was for a
long while Carthage's rival, and chose the Roman side in
the 3rd Punic War.The capital of Africa
Vetus, she had a conventus of Roman citizens and in
81 B.C. POMPEY granted several prominent people
citizenship. In the civil war between Caesar's and
Pompey's supporters (49-45 B.C.) 'CATO of
Utica' (grand-son of cato the Elder) got support from
King JUBA I but was defeated by CAESAR ( battle of
thapsus in 46 B.C. ). When Proconsular Africa was
created, Utica was replaced as capital by Carthage. It
became a municipium under OCTAVIAN in 36, and an honorary
colonia under HADRIAN. To outshine its rival, Carthage,
Utica built splendid monuments: Forum, Capitol, theatre,
amphitheatre, Circus, etc Under the empire Utica
prospered until its port was silted up.It expanded again
(40 hectares) and had a 10km-long aqueduct, built under
HADRIAN, a new forum and vast Baths on the shore, plus (
further sings of its wealth) numerous vast, sumptuously
decorated residences.
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| HOUSES
OF UTICA The insula (residential
area) possesses the famous 'House of the
Waterfall', the 'House of the Story-telling
Capitols', the 'House of the Hunt', the 'House of
the Treasure' and a residential block, The'House
of the Waterfall' (there used to be an upper
storey) straddles the insula and has 2 entrances.
The rooms are grouped round a garden with
peristyle and with a central fountain, sloping
and decorated with mosaics. The rooms of the
triclinium are flagged with honey-coloured marble
from Simitthus and green cipolin from Euboea.
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