senator Cato was so well known that since the 18th century, he has been credited with ending all of his speeches with Carthago delenda est ("Carthage must be destroyed").[41][42] The opposing faction included Scipio Nasica, who argued that fear of a strong enemy such as Carthage would keep the common people in check and avoid social division.[33][43] Cato was a member of an embassy to Carthage, probably in 153 BC, and noted her growing economy and strength;[43] Nasica was likely a member of the same embassy.[44] Using the illicit Carthaginian military action as a pretext,[40] Rome began preparing a punitive expedition.[45] the obverse and reverse of a slightly corroded siver coin A silver double shekel from Carthage's last mint of coins before its destruction.[46] Modern scholars have advanced several theories as to why Rome was eager for war.[47] These include: a Roman fear of Carthaginian commercial competition;[48][49][50] a desire to forestall a wider war which might have broken out with the death of Masinissa, who was aged 89 at the time;[51] the factional use of Carthage as a political "bogeyman", irrespective of her true power;[52][53] a greed for glory and loot;[48][54] and a desire to quash a political system which Rome considered anathema.[52] No consensus has been reached regarding these and other hypotheses.[55] Carthaginian embassies attempted to negotiate with Rome, which responded evasively.[36][56] The large North African port city of Utica, some 55 km (34 mi) north of Carthage,[57] went over to Rome in 149 BC. Aware that its harbour would greatly facilitate any assault on Carthage, the Senate and the People's Assembly of Rome declared war on Carthage.[34][58] The Romans elected two men each year
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