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About Tunisia Tourism Historical sites
El Djem |
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(Latin Thysdrus) is a town in Mahdia Governorate, Tunisia, population 18,302 (2004 census). It is home to some of the most impressive Roman remains in Africa.
History
The city was built, like almost all Roman settlements in Tunisia, on
former Punic settlements. In a less arid climate than today's,
Roman
Thysdrus prospered especially in the 2nd century, when it became an
important centre of olive oil manufacturing for export. It was the seat
of a Christian bishop - which is still occupied by a titular Roman
Catholic bishop today.
By the early 3rd Century AD, when the amphitheatre was built,
Thysdrus rivalled Hadrumetum (modern Sousse) as the second city of
Roman North Africa, after Carthage. However, following the abortive
revolt that began there in 238 AD, and Gordian I's suicide in his
villaMaximinus Thrax destroyed the city. It never really recovered.
near Carthage, Roman troops loyal to the Emperor
How thorough the destruction was in the 3rd century is not known.
Perhaps there was a garbage dump at Thysdrus like the one at
Oxyrhyncus.
SightsAmphitheatre |
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