Thysdrus

The Roman amphitheatre in modern El Jem, Tunisia.
El Jem: ancient Roman mosaic
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El Jem: ancient Roman mosaicAncient Roman mosaic in the El Jem Museum, El Jem, Tunisia.
El Jem Museum
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El Jem MuseumEl Jem Museum, El Jem, Tunisia.
El Jem: Roman amphitheatre
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El Jem: Roman amphitheatreUpper levels of the Roman amphitheatre of Thysdrus, modern El Jem, Tunisia.
El Jem: Roman amphitheatre
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El Jem: Roman amphitheatreInterior view of the Roman amphitheatre of Thysdrus, modern El Jem, Tunisia.
El Jem: ruins of Thysdrus
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El Jem: ruins of ThysdrusAncient ruins of Thysdrus in modern El Jem, Tunisia.

Thysdrus, ancient Roman city south of Hadrumetum (modern Sousse) in what is now Tunisia. Although it was originally a native community influenced by Carthaginian civilization, Thysdrus probably received Julius Caesar’s veterans as settlers in 45 bce. Thysdrus did not become a municipium (settlement with partial rights of citizenship) until the reign of Septimius Severus (193–211 ce). In 244 it finally became a Roman colonia (settlement with full rights of citizenship). The wealth of its territory is shown by a vast amphitheatre built there, the largest Roman monument in Africa and second in impressiveness only to the Colosseum at Rome. Because the site lies under the modern town of El Jem, excavation is difficult.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Sheetz.
Citation Information
Article Title: Thysdrus
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 04 August 2017
URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/place/Thysdrus
Access Date: September 19, 2024