Home to the fourth largest amphitheater in the Roman world
El Jem (or El Djem) is a small town in central Tunisia. It was founded on the ruins of the ancient city of Thysdrus. Highlight of El Jem: the Roman amphitheater. With its enormous size, it sits majestically in the middle of the small town of 15.000. El Jem also houses a museum that exhibits the archaeological finds associated with the amphitheater. In the center of the Roman city alone, which was recently uncovered, the forum, the large thermal baths, a residential area and numerous other public buildings came to light.
The grand amphitheater, the third to be built in this city, dates from between the 2nd and the beginning of the 3rd century. Two more had been made earlier. A primitive Coliseum and one carved into the rock made of rough bricks
and a mixture of clay, stones and straw, the other according to the well-known Roman style.
The large, elliptical amphitheater was preserved. With a length of 148 meters, it is the fourth largest Colosseum in the Roman world and offered 60.000 spectators, who enjoyed the cruel struggles for life and death.
The wide sandstone walls between the arcades create the massive overall impression. The floor under the elliptical arena is criss-crossed by two corridors intersecting at right angles and by vaulted rooms that were used to house wild animals and those condemned to death.
Because of its excellent condition, UNESCO campaigned in 1979 to add it to the list of world cultural heritage along with the town of El Jem.
