The Sacred Band of Carthage was the elite military force guarding the city of Carthage itself. Unlike most of the Carthaginian military, it was formed entirely of Carthaginian citizens as opposed to mercenaries; in fact, it was the only armed force of Carthage where mercenaries were forbidden to join. It was the only military force allowed in the city itself, and dressed in white, the color asscoiated with death in Carthaginian society. The band usually formed a phalanx formation of spearmen or pikemen, on the Macedonian model. They were eventually wiped out completely at the end of the Third Punic War, along with Carthage itself. Though they reached a certain level of prestige, they were never as important as the Carthaginian navy.