Harvard Study: Ancient Carthaginians Genetically Closer to Greeks Than Phoenicians

08:40 25/4/2025 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

A new study by Harvard University researchers suggests that the ancient inhabitants of Carthage shared more genetic similarities with Greeks than with Phoenicians, challenging long-standing assumptions about the origins of the powerful Mediterranean civilization.

The research, led by Harvard geneticist David Reich and published in the journal Nature, analyzed DNA from 17 skeletons excavated in Carthage (modern-day Tunisia) and 86 others from Carthaginian settlements across North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, and Spain. An additional 25 samples came from ancient Phoenician sites in present-day Lebanon.

The team compared these genomes with data from other ancient Mediterranean populations, including those from the Aegean region.

They identified a distinct “Carthaginian genetic profile” that showed minimal ties to Phoenicia but clear ancestry from Greek, North African, and Sicilian populations.

While historical accounts widely acknowledge Carthage's founding in the 9th century BC as a colony of Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city, the study indicates that over time, the city’s population became significantly influenced by surrounding cultures, particularly the Greeks, despite frequent military conflicts between the two civilizations.

“What surprised us was the degree of Greek genetic influence,” Mr. Reich said. “Carthage and Greece were known rivals, yet their populations appear to have been more interconnected than previously thought.”

Interestingly, the study found limited genetic input from local populations in Spain and Sardinia, despite the presence of Carthaginian colonies there.

The reasons for this remain unclear.

“Whether this was due to social segregation or other factors is still a mystery,” Mr. Reich noted.

Carthage rose to become a dominant power in the western Mediterranean from the 6th to the 2nd century BC, developing its own Semitic culture and empire.

Hannibal, its most famous figure, launched a notable military campaign against Rome during the Second Punic War in 218 BC.

Despite crossing the Alps with war elephants and challenging Roman territories for 15 years, he ultimately failed to conquer the city.

Carthage was eventually destroyed by Rome in 146 BC at the end of the Punic Wars, later rebuilt by the Romans, and became a major city within their empire. It remained influential until its final destruction during the Arab conquest in AD 698.

The study provides new insight into the complex history of Carthage, revealing that cultural identity and genetic heritage can often diverge, particularly in ancient, cosmopolitan societies.

By Alexis Panousis

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