The Colosseum in El Jem (Tunisia) is called the "golden crown of Africa." This monument, erected in the second century, really reminds from afar the headdress of a royal person. On the territory of modern El Jem then was the city of Tisdrus, the cultural center of ancient Africa. The construction of the majestic monument was never completed.
What is an antique amphitheater?
Does Tunisia have a Colosseum? Everyone knows the answer to this question. But little is known about what happened in the amphitheater 18 centuries ago. Imagine an ancient African city with its inhabitants, eager for amusements that would terrify even the most cold-blooded modern man.
When in the early evening the gusty wind intensified over the steppe, the hissing of wild animals, dying screams and the roar of a crowd of many thousands mixed in with its conquest. The echo rang far in the neighborhood. The Colosseum in Tunisia, which is visited today by sedate tourists, once shuddered at merrymaking. More than thirty thousand people can accommodate the tiers of the amphitheater, where gladiators met for mortal combat, horses, panthers, lions collided ...
The huge arena - one of the largest created in the era of the Roman Empire - is almost equal in size to the Roman Coliseum. Its length is 65 meters. Width - 39 meters. On a ghostly plain, covered with endless winds, this monument rises like a powerful and formidable fortress.
Construction
Where is the Colosseum in Tunisia? The cultural monument is located in Al Jem . It is worth talking about the city, which was once a prosperous colony of Rome. Namely about Tisdrus . The population worshiped the goddesses of Africa and the god of winemaking Dionysus, who, while still a young child , bravely mounted a tiger. With the same courage, the locals at the beginning of the second century AD began to build their own Colosseum.
This is the time of the highest flowering of their identity, influence, wealth, power. Amphitheater - the embodiment of perfect harmony. Everything is clearly thought out. The unthinkable, breathtaking combination of monumentality and aspiration up.
The rise of Tisdrus
What is the Colosseum in Tunisia? What was it built for? This amphitheater is a monument created by the inhabitants of the city of Tisdrus themselves. What ambition needed to have in order to transform a small steppe village into a luxurious oasis?
Back in 50 BC, local Berbers demonstrated to Caesar both obstinacy, hard work, and the ability to trade. Then the city lived mainly in agriculture. Three hundred thousand quadrangles of wheat - an incredible amount for the ancient world - they managed to collect from their fields. That's what became the basis of their later prosperity, thanks to which they were able to build their Colosseum. In the city of Tunisia, El Jem is today the main attraction.
Cruel games
Masses of people flocked from all over the country to a performance that captured and stunned the audience with incredible, cruel, often deadly fights. In the vast catacombs, there was an ominous, terrifying smell, endless labyrinths and cages for animals and people. Terrible sounds made by hunters and their victims were heard here.
Panthers, tigers, lions and criminals sentenced to death - they were all waiting for their entry into the arena. A simple but merciless principle reigned here - the strongest survive. The building accommodated the audience much more than the city residents. The Colosseum in Tunisia is the last large amphitheater built in the Roman Empire, and one of the best examples of this kind of buildings .
Gladiator - a prestigious profession in Antiquity
Fanfare announced the beginning of games. Participants walked along the noisy stands. Then began a vivid theatrical performance, in which the veneration of the Roman gods played a significant role. To the cheering crowds of the crowd went gladiators. For a lot of money, they were ready to risk their lives in a battle with wild animals.
Such spectacles were consistent with the lifestyle of a prosperous state. Here, qualities such as success, strength, willingness to take risks were very much appreciated. Heroes were respected and extolled. The Colosseum for gladiators was an excellent place for a test of strength.
Appearance
Ancient architects did their best. They managed to create an amphitheater in which the arena was beautifully illuminated by the sun's rays falling here through numerous gaps. The mosaic was made in a unique style. The architectural appearance of the building combines the traditions of Arabic and Roman architecture.
The funds needed to create the monument came from the olive trade. In the two hundred years since Caesar, the city has transformed into a picturesque grove. The meager, steppe- drained steppe area has become a major supplier of olive oil. In a modest colony, money and ambition dominated, and the amphitheater became the place of demonstration.
No convincing historical source can explain why it was here, in this area, that such a prosperous city arose. After all, construction required tremendous effort. The monument was built of sandstone, which was brought here from far away. There are no fancy ornaments on the walls, which is explained by the peculiarities of the material on which the drawing will not be held. But much more important is the shade of stone, which gives the amphitheater an amazing radiance in the daytime.
The fall of Tisdrus
Construction lasted eight years. The city opposed tax increases in the Roman Empire, elected and crowned its own emperor. But he soon suffered a crushing defeat. The Colosseum in Tunisia was never completed. Tisdrus himself sank into oblivion. Centuries have passed. The conquerors destroyed part of the amphitheater. The catacombs often served as a refuge for rebels.
Colosseum in Tunisia: reviews
After reviewing the history of this monument, a person planning a trip to Tunisia expects to see the ruins. After all, the construction of the Coliseum was not completed, and since the ancient city fell, a lot of time has passed. However, according to reviews, the amphitheater is a completely harmonious construction. The building, which has rounded shapes and arched windows, looks very festive against the blue sky .
The monument is striking in its scale. It is of interest even to tourists who do not consider themselves lovers of Antiquity. And people with developed imagination, when visiting the Coliseum, have pictures of fierce gladiatorial battles before their eyes. Numerous rows cannot but be of interest. As already mentioned, the theater accommodated about thirty thousand people. And all these people were overwhelmed by a thirst for bloody spectacles.
A visit to the Coliseum is included in almost every excursion program. Guides tell amazing stories not only about the construction of the amphitheater, but also provide some interesting facts. So, many of them claim that the famous film " Gladiator " was shot here.