El Jem Things to Do

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Originally planned to house a large collection of mosaics discovered in 1960 and 1961, the El Jem Museum was completed and opened to the public in 1970, bringing to an end the extensive dispersion of the archeological remains from Thysdrus, that had until then been divided among the Bardo, Sousse and Sfax museums. Inspired by the design of a Roman house, the museum includes three large exhibition rooms and a reception area, surrounding a central courtyard with a garden and peristyle.

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Underneath the arena run two passageways. This was the place where animals, prisoners and gladiators were kept, just until the moment when they were brought up into the bright daylight to perform what was in most cases the last show of their lives.

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The arena is 65 metres long and 39 metres wide, large enough to host more than one show at a time. Note inside the amphitheatre that the decorations are rather crude. This was because the stone used was too soft for fine sculpture. The upper part of the tiers were used as a sort of VIP tribune, where roofed rooms allowed hiding from the hot sun.

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The colosseum was constructed between 230 and 238 CE by the command of the Imperial official Gordian. It's believed to have given room for as much as 30,000 spectators, some estimates set it at 45,000. This in the town of Thysdrus with only 30,000 inhabitants. But was a wealthy town, probably eager to impress its visitors.
The building process is even more impressive considering that the stones were quarried 30 km away at Salakta. In 238 Gordian committed suicide after an unsuccessful rebellion against Rome, where he had claimed to be emperor. With this, the construction of the amphitheatre ended. It was never completely finished, but was of course used.

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In the grounds behind the museum building are the excavations of a few Roman Villas plus the reconstructed House of Africa which gives a good three dimensional idea of what a plush Roman Villa would have looked like based on floor mosaics, some of which still remain. There are some interesting literature on how mosaics were made and how they are removed so that they can be preserved. The mosaic of the goddess Africa still remains and is unique in Africa. More photo's can be found in one of my travelogues.

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This small 170 sq metre house known as "Silene A L'ane in reference to the mosaic of its main room, is inherently representative of the housing of the middle class (craftsmen, shopkeepers etc). It is established in the central and oldest part of the city whose streets are winding and narrow. The houses are closely linked to workshops or stores having some rooms around a courtyard, which is equiped with a tank. The house is, however, distinguished by its splendid and sophisticated latest floors. Those pavements suceed two other older on concrete-tile.

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This house was excavated in the early 1960's but no remains of it could be preserved. It is known as the House of La Procession Dionysiaque in reference to its most characteristic mosaic representing the myth of Dionysus, the god of wine. It belongs to the category of opulent residences built in the outskirts of the ancient city where nothing could block their expansion. For that reason those houses were particularly vast (between 1120 sq metres and 3000 sq metres or more) and offered a sumptuous convivial space with porticals, garden and immense ceremonial rooms. They also had private apartments reserved for family life. Their decoration was splendid thanks to their exceptionally beautiful mosaics, their murals and the various marble ornaments.

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The Archeological Museum exhibits a large collection of fine mosaics that mostly date from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. A few of them have been found in nearby Roman Villas that have been excavated. More photo's can be found in my travelogues.