El Djem (Thysdrus): The City of the Coliseum

El Djem (Thysdrus): The City of the Coliseum

The city of El-Djem has preserved no trace of its Punic past when it was known as Thysdrus. However, this archeological site is famous for its Colosseum the and entire Roman city is coming to light thanks to excavations. The Colosseum, visible from every part of the city, stands in the town center. It is the most important amphitheatre in north Africa and could hold 35,000 spectators. Its excellent state of preservation has cause it to be included in the UNESCO World heritage list (although large part of its stone was used to build the nearby houses!!!).

El Djem Coliseum

The Colosseum was built in the III century. Some of the more common mosaics are still in place but the most precious ones have been displaced in the Mosaics Museum.

But El-Djem has other treasures too: a forum, baths, villas and public buildings have already been discovered in the center of the city. There is still which has not yet been explored but the great interest shown by archeologists in continuing the work promises us pleasant surprises in the future.

Thysdrus was already a prosperous city in the II and III century, surrounded by hundreds of hectares of olive trees. The wealth of oil exports to Rome had created a rich middle class, which would not tolerate Roman interference in their own affairs. In 238, the city rose up against the Emperor Maximiliam and proclaimed Gordian proconsul. Four centuries later, the city supported the Berber resistance against the Arabs. This resistance, led by the Berber queen Kahena, began to weaken after heavy fighting and the last battle legend, in which Kahena lost her life, took place inside the El-Djem Coliseum.

Back to Country by Region