- El Djem
Infobox Settlement
official_name = El Djem
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motto =
imagesize = 300px
image_caption = The town seen from the ruins
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pushpin_label_position =bottom
pushpin_map_caption =Location in Tunisia
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = Governorate
subdivision_name1 =Mahdia Governorate
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unit_pref =Imperial
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population_as_of =2004
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population_total =18,302
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population_blank1_title =Ethnicities
population_blank1 =
population_blank2_title =Religions
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timezone = CET
utc_offset = 1
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latd=35 |latm=18|lats= |latNS=N
longd=10|longm=43|longs= |longEW=E
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footnotes = El Djem (Latin Thysdrus) is a town inMahdia Governorate ,Tunisia , population 18,302 (2004 census). It is home to some of the most impressive Roman remains inAfrica .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 Christianbishop - which is still occupied by a titularRoman Catholic bishop today.By the early 3rd century AD, when the amphitheatre was built, Thysdrus rivalled
Hadrumetum (modernSousse ) as the second city of RomanNorth Africa , afterCarthage . However, following the abortive revolt that began there in 238 AD, andGordian I 's suicide in his villa near Carthage, Roman troops loyal to the EmperorMaximinus Thrax destroyed the city. It never really recovered.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 .ights
Amphitheatre
El Djem is famous for its
amphitheatre (often incorrectly called "a coliseum"), capable of seating 35,000 spectators. OnlyRome 'sColosseum (about 45,000 spectators) and the ruined theatre ofCapua are larger. The amphitheatre at El Djem was built by the Romans underproconsul Gordian, who was acclaimed Emperor at Thysdrus, around 238 and was probably mainly used forgladiator shows and chariot races (like in "Ben-Hur"). It is also possible that construction of the amphitheatre was never finished.Until the 17th century it remained more or less whole. From then on its stones were used for building the nearby village of El Djem and transported to the Great Mosque in
Kairouan , and at a tense moment during struggles with theOttomans , the Turks used cannons to flush rebels out of the amphitheatre.The ruins of the amphitheatre were declared a
World Heritage Site in 1979.Others
Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Amphitheatre of El Jem
State Party = TUN
Type = Cultural
Criteria = iv, vi
ID = 38
Region =Arab States
Year = 1979
Session = 3rd
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/38Drifting sand is preserving the market city of Thysdrus and the refined suburban
villa s that once surrounded it. The amphiteatre occupies archaeologists' attention: no digging required. Some floormosaic s have been found and published, but field archaeology has scarcely been attempted.In the world of writing materials, Thysdrus lay in the Empire of
Papyrus , which preserves remarkably well if kept as dry as at El Djem..ee also
*
Thapsus
*Dougga External links
* [http://www.ancientplaces.tv/archives/17 Ancient Places TV: HD Video of El Djem amphitheatre]
* [http://www.passiontravel.eu/images/Tunisia2008/El%20Jem/index.html El Jem Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.tunisiaonline.com/mosaics/index.html Roman mosaics in Tunisia]
* [http://www.tunisia.com/Tunisia/Travel/Tunisia-Travel-Guides/Central-Tunisia/El-Jem El Djem travel guide]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/8725/Tunisia/eldjemthumb.htm Amphitheater of El Djem]
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