Shophet

The two suffetes were the highest magistrates in Phoenician cities like Tyre and particularly in North Africa in the field of commercial republic Carthage.

Term

The root of the word " suffete " are the three consonants Sin, Pe and Tet. The term Punic SPT, spoken šophet or rather šuphet corresponds to the Hebrew schofet: "judge". The Latin equivalent is su ( f) fes, pl. su ( f) fetes; Greek βασιλεύς.

In addition to the term rex βασιλεύς or have the ancient authors the terms consul, praetor and meddix tuticus ( Oscan top official Latin translation iudex publicus ) is used, sometimes the more of the original meaning of the term praetor Sufetenamts corresponding to certain aspects of the Carthaginian Sufetats to express.

History

The title is shown in Tyros since the 5th century BC.

In Carthage can the Sufetat to 410 in the time of Hannibal ( 440-406 BC, early temporal rulers, not to be confused with Hannibal Barca ), perhaps even of Hamilcar ( 510-480 BC) to trace. Maybe it was already in the 6th century BC suffetes. Probably Carthage was originally under the supervision of a governor ( skn ), who acted on behalf of the King of Tyre. As the city in the 8th / 7 Century BC politically emancipated, possibly replacing a king ( mlk ) the governor. In the 6th century BC, then a judge ( SPT) or two judges ( SPTM ) seem to have taken over. In general, the appearance of two annually elected suffetes adopted by the end of the 4th century BC, or in the 3rd century BC. It was the principle of collegiality and the annuity. In the long struggle of about 520 BC to 300 BC, the character of the ministry seems to have hardly changed.

As title and honorific title is held the Sufetat like other Punic facilities to the Roman Imperial period.

Competencies

The suffetes were elected by popular assemblies annually.

The determination of the number of incumbent annually suffetes difficulties. That the Doppelsufetat 's been at least temporarily in power, can perhaps already be seen from the passages in which the suffetes be placed on a level with the Spartan kings and the Roman consuls. This is illustrated by Cornelius Nepos pronounced. This is supported by Carthaginian documents, in which dated after two suffetes. But the number two does not seem to have been maintained from the beginning to the end of the Sufetats. At times, there must have been four suffetes.

That the Sufetat, at least in the historically tangible time, had the hallmark of the annuity is close due to notes of Nepos and Zonaras. For safety, acceptance, considering the relatively numerous epigraphic documents in which after št ( = year ) is dated from suffetes. We are informed only in part on the powers of mostly two suffetes. From playing the official title suffete with "King " ( βασιλευς or rex ) can only be vague to draw conclusions about the powers of the incumbent.

They were the highest state officials. Publicly, they acted as summus magistratus ( Livy, German "supreme authority " ), the state needs to the outside. They appear in interstate traffic on major powers to have features, because otherwise the use of the word rex βασιλευς or incomprehensible. The degree to which they were subjected to government controls, can not be seen in these two designations.

They led the Carthaginian Senate, often referred to as the Council had the Presidency and presentation in the Council, they had the right to its convocation and for submission of proposals to the Council. In the legislative field, they also played a crucial role. In all likelihood, they also had the right to convene the People's Assembly, and we also know of no other officials who would it come into question. The public finances appear to have been monitored, supported by a Roman quaestor comparable officials in the end of them.

The government needs to put through by police forces, whose top managers, they seem to have been himself. As the name SPT. (Judges ) or can meddix suspect tuticus, the judiciary was largely under their supervision. They had not infrequently the chief command in the war. The great importance of their position is evident from the fact that they like the "big ones" ( rab ) occupied the office in the Republican Carthage, which seems to have been reserved in old - ostphönikischer time the king, the Office of the mqm ' lm, ie, the awakener God Melkarth ( mlqrt ).

Swell

• Aristotle, Politics
• Cornelius Nepos, Hannibal
• Festus
• Justin
• Livy
• Paul the Deacon
• Polybius
• Seneca, Dialogues
• Zonaras
• Numerous Punic inscriptions in various publications