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....take the time to wander round its outside.
Most people don't, so you'll get chance to explore awitout being distarcted...maybe help your imagination a bit.
Look for the patches of 'opus signinum', the Roman mortar containing bits of tile. You'll see it on the walls, probably providing a surface on which to paint frescoes.
Look for 'dumps' of column fragments and broken bits of masonry. This building was once much more highly-decorated than it appears now.
Look at the columns....look at the skill which went into creating and carving them.
Look at how the arches are constructed, and consider how they were constructed without modern tools and technology.
Going 'off-the-beaten-path a bit will help you to understand and appreciate the importance of this structure, and the sheer skill and wealth of the Roman Empire.
Written Aug 7, 2010
**...you will find yourself in African little town. Special atmosphere of Africa! I so much enjoyed this little walk!
Walking around El Jem to visit the museum made it more possible to allow my being to memorise the impressions, really worthwile ones, from the Amphitheatre built by Roman empire and put them in connection to what was going on in El Jem in the present time, Crossing of the Civilizations.... Special....
You can also see Berber people in the streets, local doctors' houses (oh there was a cool one of some gynekologyst - he has money you can tell by a house as if from 1001 Nights! :)), and in gerenal what life for/of local people is like in that area. Very different than in Europe or US.
Walk is not tiring (long), so it is suggested. I will provide some photos in this section for you to see :)
Updated Sep 29, 2006
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There are couple of huge corridors under the groun floor of the amphitheatre. This is the scene where gladiators have stood before entering into the arena. Also, the side rooms for the animals can be seen.
Updated Nov 13, 2004
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The ventilation system of the underground is in the shape of flowers. It can be barely noticed from the ground floor of the amphitheatre, in fact, I saw it only from the underground.
Updated Nov 13, 2004
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Reviews and photos of El Jem attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for El Jem sightseeing.
The ventilation system of the underground is in the shape of flowers. It can be barely noticed from the ground floor of the amphitheatre, in fact, I saw it only...
Q: Hi, I'll be staying in Sousse. Is it possible to get there by train? If so what are the departure times from Sousse and from El...
A: http://www.fahrplancenter.com/Fahrplan_SNCFT.html As ali has sent. There are only two effective trans for you from Sousse 8.07 AM getting in at 9.am 11.48 getting in...
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Since I was grown up in Pula, another town with great Roman amphitheatre, I couldn't wait to see this one in El Jem. My first impression was pretty disapointing because the amphitheatre in Pula is...
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El-Jem, amphitheater in the middle of olive groves
El-Jem or El-Djem or Al-Jamm is a mid-size town (20,000 inhabitants in 2006) in eastern Tunisia, 160 km south to Tunis, in the middle of a rich agricultural plain, 60 km south to Sousse, 60 km north...
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ONE OF TUNISIA'S REMARKABLE SIGHTS.
El Jem used to be called Thysdrus.It was known as a farming centre in Carthaginian days,nothing very memorable occurred until the 3rd century A.D.when the Romans chose this site to build Africa's...
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We arrived in El Jem at about 2.30, the hottest part of the day, after driving from Kairouan. What really stands out in El Jem is what attracts most of its visitors: the famous amphitheatre. It's by...
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Were it not for the amphitheatre in El Jem, I doubt that it would ever feature in any tourist brochure. But the romans went and built this huge amphitheatre here, making El Jem a must for anyone...
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