Carthage is older than Rome.
By the traditional dates the Phoenicians founded it in 814 BC, 61 years before Romulus founded Rome. In 146 BC the younger city would destroy the older one.
The events
- Founding of Carthagec. 814 BC · Carthage. According to legend, Phoenicians from Tyre led by Princess Elissa (Dido) founded Carthage on the North African coast. It grew into the great sea power of the western Mediterranean and Rome's chief rival.
- Founding of Romec. 753 BC · Palatine Hill. Roman tradition holds that Romulus founded the city on the Palatine Hill on 21 April 753 BC. Romans counted years 'from the founding of the City', and the small settlement grew into the centre of a vast empire.
9th century BC · 8th century BC · 2nd century BC
More amazing facts
- 841 BC · 776 BC Chinese history has exact years earlier than Greek history.
- 800 BC Sparta, tradition says, banned gold and silver coins and used heavy iron money instead.
- 782 BC · 753 BC Yerevan is 29 years older than Rome.
- 776 BC · 753 BC The Olympic Games are older than Rome: the first were held in 776 BC, and by tradition the city was founded only 23 years later.
- 776 BC The first Olympic champion on record was a cook.
- 776 BC · 771 BC The first Olympic Games and the fall of China's Western Zhou are five years apart: the games traditionally date to 776 BC, and in 771 BC nomads sacked the Zhou capital, opening the Spring and Autumn period.