El-jem

El Jem

Amphitheatre of El Jem - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

ROMAN HERITAGE IN TUNISIA

El Jem is amphitheatre in the modern-day city of El Djem, Tunisia, formerly Thysdrus in the Roman province of Africa. It is listed by UNESCO since 1979 as a World Heritage Site.

COLOSSEUM IN a TUNISIAN DESERT

By order of the proconsul Mark Antony Gordian, the future emperor, the construction of the amphitheater began and lasted 8 years.

Construction of EL Jem began in 230 AD. e.

the amphitheater served until
400 years

But even in an unfinished form, he served until 400, until the Roman community banned battles. It still existed intact until the 7th century.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 7TH CENTURY
TO BE DESTROYED

Locals in the nearby town of El Jem began using the amphitheater they did not need as a source of free building stone.

By order of the proconsul Mark Antony Gordian, the future emperor, the construction of the amphitheater began and lasted 8 years.

Construction of EL Jem began in 230 AD. e.

amphitheater served until
400 years

But even in an unfinished form, he served until 400, until the Roman community banned battles. It still existed intact until the 7th century.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 7TH CENTURY

Locals in the nearby town of El Jem began using the amphitheater they did not need as a source of free building stone.

IN 1850 THE AMPHITHEATRE WAS FINALLY DESTROYED BY THE CANNON SHOTS OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

and preserved to nowadays

El jam is better

than Rome!?

In El Jem, two thirds of the chain of walls with three floors of arcades have been preserved. On each of the three floors, there were originally 30 arches, of which 68 remain. Three levels and a basement are open for viewing, unlike the Colosseum with its two.

40м - 3 tiers

Amphitheater walls

The arena of the Colosseum in Rome has disappeared, it was a simple wooden floor covered with sand. While in El Jem the arena is intact.

65м х 39м

arena completely
preserved

The Roman Colosseum is the most visited monument in Italy, hosting 6−7 million tourists a year. it is constantly crowded with visitors.
In El Jem, there are many times fewer visitors, around 150 thousand a year.

6M vs 150K

The number of tourists

The underground spaces can still be visited. There were rooms for gladiators, cages for predators, elevators for raising animals and scenery for various performances.
Capacity up to 30 thousand people; it is the fourth largest after the Colosseum and the amphitheatre of Capua and Verona.

30K capacity

Corridors and service rooms

AMPHITHEATER EL JEM BECAME THE PROTOTYPE FOR "GLADIATOR" MOVIE

Why you should

visit El Jem

El Jem is really impressive. Rising to the upper tiers of the arcades, a beautiful view of the amphitheater and the plains beyond opens up.

If you are lucky to be in Tunisia between the end of July and September, an international symphony festival takes place on the stage of the amphitheater.

Don't be lazy to download Hans Zimmer's soundtrack from, turn it on and take a walk through the arena and cellars with headphones on. The twilight of the corridors and thematic music will bring special feelings and images.