In the mid-19th century, the French novelist Gustave Flaubert traveled to North Africa, seeking inspiration for his next literary work. Plagued by illness and depression, he found himself struggling to write, eventually deciding to immerse himself in the history of the ancient, vanished empire of Carthage. This journey, which took him to the ruins of the ancient city, allowed him to connect with the past and ultimately led to the creation of his successful novel, Salammbô, which renewed public interest in the history of this once-powerful civilization.