Photos
El-Jem
El-Jem in short - Key Attractions
- Roman amphitheatre and superb mosaics
About El-Jem
Small town of El-Jem is located approximately 2 hours 30 minutes journey from Tunis. In the ancient times it was a trading town, a hub of the Saharan trade routes bringing goods, slaves and animals from the African mainland for the Colosseum.
The most interesting and a sole attraction of this small Tunisian town is without a doubt Roman ancient amphitheatre. It is situated in the town centre and as the biggest building in the area it is well visible from almost any point of the town. As you get closer you really become aware the massive scale of this building. The amphitheatre which is six largest in the world - was built by Romans in AD 230. It is 484 feet long and 117 high. On its three tiers of lofty arcades it could fit / seat 30,000 spectators.
Since the games became very famous the amphitheatre attracted the crowds from vast distances of Roman Northern Africa. Visitors entered the Colosseum by the vaulted galleries and the steep stairs around. The emperor took his place at whichever end was in the shed and, from dungeons below (which were found only in 1904), the gladiators and Christian martyrs, incarcerated for days beside the lions, were brought out to fight or die.
Did you know?
Romans built the amphitheatre to persuade the resurgent Berbers that Rome was not declining.
The amphitheatre is UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Published on 1st February 2010
By Arek Zasowski
Photographs by Viola and Arek Zasowski
Our Opinion
El-Jem is a truly magnificent place to visit. You can almost feel the history in the amphitheatre while strolling on the arena floor and throughout the tunnels beside where thousands of gladiators were waiting for their turn. If you are planning your excursions we would really recommend that you would add El-Jem to your list.
You may visit El-Jem during organised excursions to the Sahara Desert form one of the costal resorts (Hammamet, Sousse or Port El Kantaoui) as El-Jem is usually included into the itinerary.
