 Ruins of theCapitolium | |
  Thuburbo Majus Shown within Tunisia | |
| Location | Tunisia |
|---|---|
| Region | Zaghouan Governorate |
| Coordinates | 36°24′00″N9°54′15″E / 36.40000°N 9.90417°E /36.40000; 9.90417 |
Thuburbo Majus (orThuburbo Maius) is a largeRoman site in northernTunisia. It is located roughly 60 km southwest ofCarthage on a major African thoroughfare.[1] This thoroughfare connectsCarthage to theSahara. Other towns along the way includedSbiba,Sufes,Sbeitla, andSufetula. Parts of the old Roman road are in ruins, but others do remain.[2]
Thuburbo Majus orColonia Julia Aurelia Commoda, its Roman name, was originally aPunic town, later founded as a Roman veteran colony byAugustus in 27 BC. Military veterans were sent to Thuburbo, among other sites, by Augustus[3] to allow them to start their post-army lives with land of their own. Its strategic location and access to trade routes made it an important establishment. Ruins of the town are in the middle of the countryside with no towns in close proximity.
Most of the town was built around 150–200 and restored in the 4th century after theCrisis of the Third Century. It received aCapitolium in 168.[4] The town was a productive grower of grain, olives, and fruit.[5] UnderHadrian it was made amunicipium, helping cause a growth in wealth, andCommodus made it a colony. The early third century Christian martyrPerpetua was born in the town.[6]
A 1916 excavation found atetrastyle temple. The building was decorated with statues ofApollo,Venus,Silvanus,Bacchus, theDioscuri, and asatyr. Three perfume vases showed dogs pursuing rabbits.[7]
In 1920 aninscription found in Thuburbo Majus written in honor ofC. Vettius Sabinianus proved that several other inscriptions bearing that name were referring to the same person.[8]
Remains of the house ofBacchus andAriadne dating back to the early 5th century were excavated in 1925. Researchers found the town to be a valuable site, as evidence of food preparation in a garden was discovered. Those and other finds point to what daily life in ancient Rome might have been like. Mosaics found in the town date to the late 4th century.[9] These mosaics depict items from nature, like astill life arrangement of food items and a sea filled with fish as young people fish from boats. They have been studied by archaeologistAïcha Ben Abed. Anothermosaic represents a nude Venus riding a chariot, with plant life surrounding her to represent well-being and fertility.
This town does not have fully restored buildings, but there are remains of a forum, the amphitheatre, temples, baths, houses, and other sites.
TheBishopric was founded during theRoman Empire and survived through theArianVandal andOrthodoxByzantine empires, only ceasing to function with theMuslim conquest of the Maghreb. Thediocese was refounded in name at least in the 20th century. Knownbishops include:
Romano-Berber cities in Roman North Africa | ||
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| Related articles | ||
1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites2 Proposed | ||
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