Cothon

A cothon (Greek: κώθων, lit. 'drinking vessel') is an artificial, protected inner harbor such as that in Carthage during the Punic Wars c.200 BC.

Ancient Carthage port as an example to cothon

Cothons were generally found in the Phoenician world. Other examples include Motya in Sicily from the 6th century BC, which performed an uncertain purpose, (measuring 35 metres x 51 metres), although it has been suggested this cothon might even have been closable and drainable to form a dry dock,[1][2] Mahdia in Tunisia from the 7th century BC, (which measured 72 metres x 56 metres) and one from Kition in Cyprus.

In ancient times "cothon" was only used to describe the harbor at Carthage.[3] In modern times, however, archaeologists use the term to refer to similar ancient harbors constructed of a man-made basin connected to the sea by a channel.[4] The name comes from an island in Carthage's harbor.[5]

The harbors of Carthage

The cothon at Carthage was divided into a rectangular merchant harbor followed by an inner protected harbor reserved for military use only. This inner harbor was circular and surrounded by an outer ring of structures divided into a series of docking bays for ship maintenance, along with an island structure at its centre that also housed navy ships. Each individual docking bay featured a raised slipway. Above the raised docking bays was a second level consisting of warehouses where oars and rigging were kept along with supplies such as wood and canvas.

On the island structure there existed a raised 'cabin' where the admiral in command could observe the whole harbor along with the surrounding sea. Altogether the inner docking complex could house up to 220 ships. The entire harbor was protected by an outer wall and the main entrance could be closed off with iron chains.[6]

References
  1. BSJ Isserlin - Antiquity, 1971
  2. Franco, Leopoldo (1996). "Ancient Mediterranean harbours: A heritage to preserve". Ocean & Coastal Management. 30 (2–3): 115–151. doi:10.1016/0964-5691(95)00062-3.
  3. Marriner, Nick; Morhange, Christophe; Flaux, Clément (2017). "Harbors and ports, ancient". In Gilbert, Allan S. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Geoarchaeology. Dordrecht: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-4409-0. ISBN 978-1-4020-4409-0.
  4. Carayon, Nicolas (2005). "Le cothon ou port artificiel creusé. Essai de définition". Méditerranée. 104: 5–13.
  5. Smith, William (1854). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Walton and Maberly. pp. 550. Cothon.
  6. Torr, Cecil (1 January 1891). "The Harbours of Carthage". The Classical Review. 5 (6): 280–284. doi:10.1017/s0009840x0016737x. JSTOR 693421.
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