 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "El Djem" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(November 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
El Djem الجمّ | |
|---|---|
| El Djem | |
 The skyline of El Djem | |
  El Djem Location in Tunisia | |
| Coordinates:35°17′48″N10°42′46″E / 35.29667°N 10.71278°E /35.29667; 10.71278 | |
| Country |  Tunisia |
| Governorate | Mahdia Governorate |
| Population (2014) | |
• Total | 21,544 |
| Time zone | UTC1 (CET) |
_-_par_C._T._Falbe_-_btv1b8495511m_(3_of_5)_(cropped).jpg)
El Djem orEl Jem (Tunisian Arabic: الجمّ,il-Jammⓘ) is a town inMahdia Governorate,Tunisia. Its population was 21,544 at the 2014 census. It is home toRoman remains, including theAmphitheatre of El Jem.
The Roman city ofThysdrus was built, like almost allRoman settlements in ancient Tunisia, on formerPunic settlements. In a less arid climate than today's, Thysdrus prospered as an important center ofolive oil production and export. It was the seat of a Christianbishopric, which is included in theCatholic Church's list oftitular sees.[1]
By the early 3rd century, when the amphitheatre was built, Thysdrus rivaledHadrumetum (modernSousse) as the second city of RomanNorth Africa afterCarthage. However, following the abortive revolt that began there in AD 238 andGordian's suicide in hisvilla near Carthage, Roman troops loyal to the emperorMaximinus Thrax sacked the city. The town is shown on the 4th-centuryPeutinger Map.
The prosperity of Thysdrus in Roman times, despite the challenges posed by its hostile geographical environment[2][3][4] reveals a diversity of economic and craft activities far richer than initially thought. These recent archaeological discoveries open up new perspectives on the workings of this ancient city and challenge the traditional image of a simple commercial centre.[5]
Recent agricultural research has provided some interesting insights into the rural dynamics surrounding Thysdrus. Although the difficult soil and lack of water posed major challenges to agriculture, the remains of rural settlements and small towns reveal more sustained activity than expected. However, the question of the extent of olive growing[6] in the region remains open to debate, due to the absence of ancient oil mills and persistent questions about agricultural practices at the time.[7]
In addition, analysis of the surrounding landscape highlights a degree of ecological degradation, attributable in particular to intensive land use over the centuries.[8] These findings call for in-depth interdisciplinary studies to better understand the interactions between human activities and the environment in ancient times.
Archaeological digs at Thysdrus reveal a remarkable economic and craft vitality. The remains of metallurgical, bone-working, moulding and sculpture workshops bear witness to the ingenuity and creativity of the region's craftsmen. What's more, although pottery workshops have yet to be identified, ceramic production seems to have played a crucial role in the local economy, as evidenced by the many finds of statuettes and terracotta moulds.[9]
The Amphitheatre of El Jem could seat 35,000 spectators. Only theColosseum inRome (seating about 50,000 spectators) and the ruined theatre ofCapua were larger.
The amphitheatre at El Djem was built by the Romans underproconsulGordian, who was acclaimed emperor at Thysdrus around 238 and was mainly used forgladiator shows and small-scalechariot races.
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 theGreat Mosque inKairouan. At a tense moment during struggles with theOttomans who used cannons to flush rebels out of the amphitheatre.
The ruins of the amphitheatre were declared aWorld Heritage Site in 1979. It hosts the annualEl Djem International Symphony Festival.
Drifting sand is preserving the market city of Thysdrus and the refined suburbanvillas that once surrounded it. Some floormosaics have been found and published, one of them featuring the iconography of(Dea) Africa,[10] but field archaeology has scarcely been attempted. Recently with aerial photos, a huge racetrack stadium has been discovered.[citation needed]
The dry climate of Thysdrus has helped to preserve writings onpapyrus.
El Djem is located on theA1 motorway which runs fromTunis toSfax.
Themetre gauge railway from Tunis toGabès, known as La Ligne de la Côte, stops at El Djem.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
