Salambo: Ein Roman aus Alt-Karthago

A sweeping portrait of ancient Carthage opens with an extravagant banquet in the gardens of Hamilkar, the seasoned commander of a diverse mercenary band. Under a towering purple canopy and among scented fig trees, soldiers from Liguria, Lusitania, the Balearics, Gaul and beyond gather to celebrate a hard‑won victory. The feast teems with vivid detail—roasted oxen, jeweled platters, exotic wines, and a chorus of languages that hints at a fragile alliance on the brink of change.

Through Hamilkar’s measured gaze, listeners sense the undercurrents of ambition and unrest that pulse beneath the revelry. A striking young woman, Salambo, appears, her fierce spirit contrasting with the ceremony’s opulence, while rumors of political maneuvering stir among the guests. As the night deepens, the banquet becomes a stage where loyalty, desire, and the looming threat of conflict begin to intersect, setting the tone for the drama that will unfold in the streets and walls of Carthage.