- El Djem is a town located in Tunisia which was the Roman city of Thysdrus, the second most important city in North Africa after Carthage.
History
- It is the location of the well preserved El Djem Amphitheatre built in c. 238 CE, which was used in the filming of Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) and Gladiator (2000) with Russell Crowe.
- The Amphitheatre is thought to have been constructed by the Gordian I, Governor of Africa Proconsularis and completed in 238 CE.
- In 238 CE, Gordian I was declared Emperor by the population in a revolt against Taxes, but was then forced to commit suicide when the Legio III Augusta overthrew the Rebellion and razed Thysdrus to the ground.
The Roman Sites
- El Djem Amphitheatre
- The Amphitheatre has been a World Heritage Site since 1979.
- It was the second largest Amphitheatre in the Roman Empire with a capacity of 35,000 spectators. It was exceeded only by the Colosseum with a capacity of 50-60,000 spectators.
- Museum
- There is a Museum adjacent to the Amphitheatre and entry is included in the Amphitheatre ticket.
El Djem Roman Amphitheatre