What is "cothon"

A cothon (Greek: κώθων, "drinking vessel") is an artificial, protected inner harbor such as that in Carthage during the Punic Wars c.200 BC.

Cothons were generally found in the Phoenician world. Other examples include Motya, (Sicily) from the 6th century BC, which performed an uncertain purpose, (measuring 35 metres x 51 metres), although it has been suggested this cothon might even have been closable and drainable to form a dry dock, Mahdia, (Tunisia) from the 7th century BC, (which measured 72 metres x 56 metres) and one from Kition in Cyprus.