Cape Farina

The cape was known to the Phoenicians and Carthaginians as Rusucmona, meaning the "Cape of Eshmun", a healing god in the Phoenician pantheon whom the Greeks and Romans variously interpreted as Asclepius or Apollo.[1] From this, the cape was known under Roman rule as the Cape of Apollo (Latin: Apollinis Promontorium) or of the Beautiful One (Pulchri Promontorium).[2]

Its modern Arabic names are Ras et-Tarf or Ras Sidi Ali el-Mekki.

The extremity of Cape Farina forms the northwestern end of the Gulf of Tunis. The geological formation responsible for Cape Farina continues underwater before rising to form Plane Island 3.75 kilometers (2.3 mi) offshore.

Under Roman rule, the peninsula preserved an ancient and important temple to "Apollo", probably representing a continuation of the Carthaginian worship of the healing god Eshmun.[1] The settlement at Castra Delia (modern-day Ghar el-Melh), the largest on the peninsula, was also sometimes known by the peninsula's latinized Punic name as "Rusucmona".[3]

Under Turkish rule, Porto Farina (modern-day Ghar el-Melh) was a well-fortified base for piracy. This caused it to be the scene of the 1655 English assault wherein naval bombardment completely overwhelmed shore defenses for the first time.[4]

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  A French topographical map of the Gulf of Tunis
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  A French nautical chart of the Cape Farina anchorage in 1939
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  An aerial view of Cape Farina from the west
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  An aerial view of Cape Farina from the southwest