\paperw7200 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 \fs22 THE TOPHET \par
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This was a sanctuary open to the sky in which urns containing the ashes of cremated children an
d inscribed with dedications to \b \cf4 \ATXht4139 Ba'al Hammon\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 and \b \cf4 \ATXht5139 Tanit\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 were set during religious ceremonies. Many of the Phoenician colonies in the West had a tophet, but undoubtedly the most import
ant tophet in the Punic world was the one at Carthage, used from the beginning of the city's history and right up until its destruction. \par
The most ancient phase is represented by a small chapel consisting of a square room with the sanctum sanctorum
carved out of the rock. In front of the chapel there was a courtyard with an altar, entered through a sort of labyrinth made up of three concentric curved walls.\par