Byrsa

, a citadel in the middle of Carthage, on which was the temple of Æsculapius. Asdrubal’s wife burnt it when the city was taken. When Dido came to Africa, she bought of the inhabitants as much land as could be encompa ed by a bull’s hide. After the agreement, she cut the hide in small thongs, and inclosed a large piece of territory, on which she built a citadel which she called Byrsa ( Βυρσα , a hide ). Virgil , Æneid , bk. 1 , li. 371 .— Strabo , bk. 17 .— Justin , bk. 18 , ch. 5 .— Florus , bk. 2 , ch. 15 .— Livy , bk. 34 , ch. 62 .