History: We all know the great countries of Rome, Greece, Egypt, and Persia because they all grew mighty off of the Mediterranean. But most people have never even heard of a country so great it could rival Rome in military and beat it in economy. Carthage has become one of the forgotten civilizations of the ancient world. It was founded by the Phoenicians as a colony, but it grew prosperous to be its own city-state long before Rome had even emerged. Using diplomacy and economics, Carthage “conquered” its neighbors with financial ways, not reverting to military very often until the rise of Rome. Carthage and Rome where enemies from the start. They had a series of wars, including the Second Punic War, where one of the greatest military tacticians of all time came from: Hannibal Barca marched for Carthage. At the end of the many wars between Carthage and Rome, Rome ultimately prevailed, and Carthage became a Roman city.

Introduction to Carthaginian mythology: Carthage was originally a Phoenician colony, so most of their gods were Phoenician gods. The Carthaginians did adopt other gods from Greece and Egypt also to add to their pantheon. It has been assumed that Carthage sacrificed children to Ba’al Hammon, but that was more likely Roman propaganda, although the Carthaginians did sacrifice to the gods, but it usually was to Moloch.

The Carthaginians gain favor by how many temples they have. It goes “X amount of temples = X amount of favor”

Military Units- Most of Carthaginian soldiers were mercenaries, and they have a unique mercenary unit ability, but the defenders of Carthage were the citizens turned soldiers. Carthage was very serious about its military and crucified its generals that failed in a battle.

Byrsa- Carthaginian fortress that trains all normal Carthaginian land units except mercenaries

Peoni- Carthaginian citizen soldiers that defended Carthage as heavy spearmen, and although their numbers were small they could devastate enemy cavalry and light infantry. Good against cavalry.

Punic Officer- Carthaginian general that oversaw the troops, but not from a horse overlooking the battlefield like other generals, but in the front lines with the soldiers. They train mercenaries and are good against other infantry.

Sacred Band of Carthage- Carthaginian soldiers that acted like the Praetorian Guard of Rome and were drawn from noble families to protect Carthage. They were extremely loyal and said never to run away from a fight. They are the Carthaginian heroes and devastate myth units.

Elephant Archers- Heavy cavalry archer that is particularly good against other archers, but is also good against infantry. The Carthaginians were famous for their elephants, particularly Hannibal’s elephants crossing the Alps.

Siege Tower- Rolling tower that fires burning crossbow bolts at buildings. Good against buildings. The Carthaginians were the ones that really introduced siege warfare to Europe on an attack on Greece.

Fustibalus- a heavy two-handed sling called a staff-sling carried by a warrior that is good against buildings, but especially watch towers.

Mercenaries- trained by Punic Officers. Unlike the Egyptian mercenaries, these stay forever until they are killed, but like the Egyptian mercenaries, they only cost gold.

Iberian Mercenary- Native Spaniard that should form the bulk of your army. The Iberians were the main soldiers of Hannibal’s army and were the best infantry Carthage ever had. They are good against infantry.

Gallic Warlord- cavalry that uses large axes to charge opponents and are good against other cavalry. Gauls also played an important role in Hannibal’s army leading them over the Alps and helping attack Rome.

Libyan Mercenary- African counter Infantry that use a spear and are also good against
Heroes. Libyans were normally hired to do battle against African countries.

Numidian Mercenary- archer that throws javelins and does hand-to-hand damage at close range. Only good against other archers.

Dock- Trains Carthaginian ships, which were very powerful and very fast and was the real reason Carthage had such a stranglehold on the Mediterranean.

Quinquereme- hammer ship that was designed fast to keep away from arrow fire

Triconter- Siege ship that had a ramming spike on the bow of the boat

Sidonian Mercenary Ship- arrow ship hired from a Lebanon city called Sidon

Mythology (Not much is known about Carthaginian mythology, so I did take a few liberties)

Main gods

Tanit- Patron, chief goddess, and mother of Carthage
GP: Recruit- Gives you five free civilians
God Tech: Sign of Tanit- improvements for myth units are cheaper
Bonuses
-Civilians train faster
-Buildings are stronger and build faster
-Sacred Bands have more armor

Baal Hammon- Chief god of Carthage and is identified with the Semitic god El, the Greek Cronus, and the Roman Saturn
MU: Ugar- a scout messenger of Baal that can go through trees. Ugar means vine and was associated with being the caretaker of plants.

GP: Enlist- Ten Peoni are given instantly free
God Tech: Lord of Two Horns- Gallic warlord’s train faster
Bonuses
-Sacred Bands of Carthage can also train mercenaries
-Favor is generated faster
-You get a Ram of Carthage, which is a really good siege myth units, every time you advance in age

Melqart- God of the sea, navigation, and a solar god
GP: Mist- traps a group of enemy ships for one minute
God Tech: King of the City- Gates have as much HP as walls
Bonuses
-Fishing ships gather faster
-Naval myth units have more attack
-Quinquereme boost morale

Classical Gods

Kothar- Wise craftsman of the gods identified with the Egyptian Ptah and the Greek Hephaestus (Baal Hammon, Melqart)
GP: Corrosion- Enemies lose the ability to attack, but can still retreat
MU: Tallay- rain spirit and a daughter of Baal that heals ally units
Myth Techs: Yagrush- infantry are faster
Aymur- Infantry attack is increased
Athirat’s Bribe- Civilians gather gold faster

Shalim- God of dusk and sunset (Tanit, Baal Hammon)
GP: Twilight- enemy units become very sluggish and slow for forty-five seconds
MU: Rephaim- shades of the underworld that ride black chariots and throw thunderbolts
Myth Techs: Horses of the Dead- Rephaim are upgraded into Shade Rephaim, which are faster and have a better range
Contemplation of Day- citizens train faster
Attack at Sundown- Siege units are stronger with more hit points

Shachar- god of the dawn and brother of Shalim (Tanit, Melqart)
GP: Daylight- ally units become faster and train faster for forty-five seconds
MU: Bronze Ram- a ram made of bronze that exerts a healing radius, and is also a good siege unit.
[PNG, (242.95 KB)]
Myth Techs: Light Bringer- Upgrades your bronze Rams into golden rams that have more armor
Morning Star- Myth units have more HP
Luminescent Arrow- Elephant archers have more attack
Truceless War- Mercenaries cost less gold

Heroic Gods

Eshmun- god of health and healing (Tanit)
GP: Landslide- can only be cast near a hill or mountain, but when is, a huge mass of rocks and mud slam into enemy soldiers, doing an instant kill on whichever ones they touch
MU: Tannin- huge crocodile monster similar to the Leviathan that can go both in water and on land

Myth Techs: Patron of Sidon- Sidonian mercenary galleys have more attack
Holy prince- Sacred Bands of Carthage have more defense
Eight roomed temple- Buildings repair themselves
Mediterranean Threat- Upgrades Tannin into Taninim, which have more attack vs. ships and infantry

Sadrapa- God of protection (Tanit, Baal Hammon, Melqart)
GP: Dust- traps enemies in a cloud of dirt and debris that does damage to them for thirty seconds and also makes them not able to move.
MU: Aklm- grasshopper-like monsters that attacks Baal in the desert. These myth units are very easy to swarm with, being very inexpensive and costing only one population.
Myth Techs: Protector of Snakes- Peoni have more attack
Protector of Insects- Upgrades Aklm into Wasteland Aklm that can be trained in sects like the Russian units in AOE3.
Sicilian Wars- Triconters have a special attack where they destroy a building in one blast of fire

Astarte- Queen of heaven (Baal Hammon, Melqart)
GP: Paradise- for thirty second all units cost nothing (That includes the time for training)
MU: Sumul- giant eagle that flies low so has a melee attack, but can fly over any kind of terrain
Myth Techs: Aquat- upgrades the Sumuls into Hirgab with more defense and attack
Circled Star- Archers have better range
Divine Lion- Libyans have more attack

Mythic Gods

Mavet- God of death and the underworld (Baal Hammon)
GP: Infection- Targets a group of enemies and gives them a life-sapping illness that can be transferred to others
MU: Yellow Ones of Mavet- Henchmen of Mavet that were slain by Baal and wield two swords
Myth Techs: Scepter of Bereavement- Yellow Ones of Mavet get more attack and have a special attack where they stun a unit for ten seconds
Scepter of Widowhood- Town Centers support 30 population
City of Miry- Fustibalus have more attack

Yarikh- God of the moon (Baal Hammon, Tanit, Melqart)
GP: Hunted- A pride of lions is called to patrol your borders and kill any enemies that come close
MUs: Lotan- Giant Sea serpent that battled Baal for supremacy of the universe

Shataqat- Demoness that drives away diseases and can heal ally soldiers
Myth Techs: Illuminator of Stars- Infantry have more HP
Lamp of Heaven- Civilians have more HP
Keret’s Disease- Shataqats have more armor
Lord of the Sickle- Iberians have more attack

Moloch- God of sacrifice (Tanit, Melqart)
GP: Altar- Creates a huge altar of flame that periodically summons Flaming Bones
MU: Flaming Bones- a victim of Carthaginian sacrificial practices

Myth Techs: Abomination- Flaming Bones are upgraded into Burning Remains with more HP
Fliery Maw- Favor generation is increased
Sun blaze- Numidian attack increased

Miscellaneous

Villager: Civilian

Caravan: Elephant caravan

Wonders: If Baal Hammon: Tophet- A sacrificial plaza
If Tanit: A council building/ Courthouse
If Melqart: Huge harbor

Titan: Tine- fire, a gift from Tanit

[This message has been edited by Yamato Take (edited 01-20-2006 @ 05:59 PM).]