We have not very satisfactory accounts of the constitution of the Carthaginian state. It is certain that it was oligarchical, and that the chief power was in the hands of the great families (gentes), from whose members the senate, amounting to 300, was chosen. This senate appointed, as it were, a more select council of 30, and sometimes a still smaller one of only 10, at the head of whom were two suffetes (probably the same as the Hebrew shofetem, " judges"), but it is not certain what relation these bore to one another, or how their power was apportioned between them. We can gather dimly, from various scattered statements, that the Carthaginian oligarchy, while despising the multitude, was itself split up into factions, and torn by family jealousies. Corruption largely prevailed: and it would perhaps have been better for the country if the power had been m the hands of a popular despot than of a band of insolent and tyrannical nobles.
The Carthaginian army was raised from the conscription of the subjugated Libyans, from the hired Numidians, and from slaves. In the time of Agathocles, the city sent forth 40,000 heavy armed infantry, 1,000 cavalry, and 2,000 war-chariots, but the state could easily raise 100,1:00 troops. The fleet in the first Punic war consisted of 350 ships, carrying 150,000 men. How C. contrived to raise revenues sufficient to cover the enor mous expense her military and naval organization involved, is not very clear. It was, in all likelihood, derived from tribute imposed on subject Libyan or Numidian races, in great part from mines in Spain, and from import duties derived from her maritime and inland trade, which was prodigiously great. Her merchantmen visited every coast and
island of the Mediterranean, and even ventured as far as the Azores, Britain, the Baltic, etc. : while her caravans penetrated through Sahara to the gold-producing districts of the Niger, and through the Libyan desert to the lands along the Nile.
The religion of the Carthaginians appears to have been substantially the same as that of the Phenicians—a worship of the stars and of fire. Moloch was the chief deity. and to him children and captives were sacrificed. The highest natural maid festation of this deity was the sun. Besides Moloch, the Carthaginians worshiped the Tyrian Hercules; Astarte, the goddess of the elements; Esmun, the god of the celestial vault; and a variety of hems, heroines, and genii or spirits, such att. the Genius of Death, Hamilcar (who fell at the bakle of Himera), Dido, the brotherallPhilteni, etc., as well as a few of the lesser Greek divinities, of whom a knowledge had6lbeen obtained in Sicily. It does not appear that there was a distinct sacerdotal order in Carthage. Probably religious ceremonies were performed by the dignitaries of the state, but our knowledge on this interesting point is too meager to permit of our arriving at any very definite conclusion.