Carthage (Ancient Greek: Καρχηδών Karkhēdōn, Latin: Carthago, from the Phoenician קרת חדשת Qart-ḥadašt meaning new town) refers both to an ancient city in present-day Tunisia and to the civilization that developed within the city's sphere of influence.
The city of Carthage is located on the eastern side of Lake Tunis across from the center of Tunis. Carthage is now a suburb of the Tunisian capital city of Tunis. According to legend it was founded by Phoenician colonists under the leadership of Elissa (Queen Dido). It became a large and rich city and thus a major power of the Mediterranean until its destruction in the Third Punic War in 146 BC.
Although the centre of the Punic culture was destroyed, it continued into Roman times. Rome also refounded Carthage, which became one of the three most important cities of the Empire, a position that would last until the Muslim conquest when it was destroyed a second time in 698 AD.