Thysdrus

History

• Third century BCE: Punic town with Numidian roots (name written as šṭpšr), thirty kilometers from the shore
• Agricultural center; settlement of Roman veterans
• Producer of olive oil
• Large city; aqueduct needed (fifteen kilometers); great wealth, cf. Maison d'Afrique
• Flavian age: construction of the small theater; hippodrome
• 235 CE: A new emperor, Maximinus Thrax, raises taxes on olive oil; revolt;
• 238: A senator from Thysdrus, Gordian, proclaimed emperor; he appoints his son co-ruler
• Start of the contruction of the amphitheater for which the city is now famous (stone quarries near the shore)
• The revolt is suppressed by III Augusta (commanded by Capellianus); Gordian commits suicide, his son is killed in action
• 244: Gordian III (son of Gordian II) completes the amphitheater and raises the town to the rank of colonia,
• Thysdrus in decline; Sufetula becomes the most important center of the region
• 439: Vandal capture of Carthage
• 533: Byzantine reconquest of Africa
• 698: Arab capture of Carthage. A local queen named Kahena uses the theater as fortress (699 CE)

Thysdrus, Pertinax	Thysdrus, House of the Dionysiac Procession, Mosaic of lions	Thysdrus, House of the Dionysiac Procession	Thysdrus, Gordian I
Thysdrus, Floral mosaic	Thysdrus, Sollertian House, Mosaic with the execution of criminals	Thysdrus, Sollertian House, Mosaic with dice players	Thysdrus, Sollertian House, Mosaic with the execution of criminals

Amphitheater

The amphitheater of Thysdrus is one of the best-preserved amphitheaters in the world. It was built between 238 and 244 and remained in use as fortress. It measures 148x 122 meters; the arena is 64½ x 39 meters.

Thysdrus, Amphitheater, View from the outside

Thysdrus, Amphitheater, Arena

Thysdrus, Amphitheater, Underground corridor

Thysdrus, Amphitheater, Corridor

Maison d'Afrique

Next to the museum of El-Djem is a small excavation of several Roman houses, dating to the second half of the second century. One of these, named the Maison d'Afrique after a mosaic, has been reconstructed.

Thysdrus, Maison d'Afrique, Interior

Thysdrus, Maison d'Afrique, Garden

Thysdrus, Maison d'Afrique, Mosaic of Africa

Thysdrus, Maison d'Afrique, Tombstone