Salammbô by Gustave Flaubert is a historical novel set in ancient Carthage during the Mercenary War (after the First Punic War), blending rich, exotic detail with brutal realism.

The story centers on Salammbô, the beautiful daughter of the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca, and her entanglement with Matho, a rebel mercenary leader. As Carthage battles the revolting mercenaries, themes of political intrigue, religious ritual, passion, and destruction unfold. Flaubert combines historical accuracy with vivid, often violent imagery to depict the clash between civilization and chaos.