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As we know the Carthaginians were rounded up following the destruction of Carthage and its surviving inhabitants sold into slavery across the scattered Republic. But undoubtedly, there were escapees. Likely, however, the significance of the fugitive Carthaginian refugees was light, nevertheless, with their knowledge not only of West Africa but also the trade winds, based on their Phoenician foundation, it is not impossible to imagine a carefree attitude to their own life and land by sailing as westward as possible.
The interesting thing is that Scipio Aemilianus, the conqueror of Carthage, should have known about this lore. His mentor, Polybius, was Greek. He likely knew his Aristotle legend, later described by Diodorus Siculus about a remote Carthaginian outpost. It thus raises a question: Why would Scipio commission Polybius to take a fleet and sail the West African coast immediately after the fall of Carthage, as he in fact did? Was it just to learn about the existing West African outposts (Mogador, etc.), or was it something more?
All of this has been posited in a fascinating but little known short film from a couple years ago:
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