The amphitheatre of El Jem
Built around AD 238 in ancient Thysdrus, the El Jem amphitheatre held an estimated 35,000 spectators. Its axes measure 148 and 122 m; it has been a World Heritage Site since 1979.
Key facts
Before you go.
- Starting point
- The town of El DjemAmphitheatre of El Jem (Wikipedia)
- GPS coordinates
- 35.29639, 10.70694Amphitheatre of El Jem (Wikipedia)
Good to know
Three things to remember.
The building is oval: its two axes measure 148 m and 122 m.
Amphitheatre of El Jem (Wikipedia)Thysdrus was a town in the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis.
Amphitheatre of El Jem (Wikipedia)One theory holds that Emperor Gordian III, possibly born in Thysdrus, meant it to embellish his hometown.
Amphitheatre of El Jem (Wikipedia)
Plan the trip
Our recommended partners
One link per need, chosen for reliability. Prices and availability are the partner’s, in a new tab.
Keep exploring
Tunisia
The site of Carthage
The ancient city was destroyed in 146 BC by Rome, after a siege of nearly three years in the Third Punic War.
The Medina of Tunis
Founded in 698 around the Zitouna Mosque, the Medina of Tunis holds some 700 monuments: palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains.
Sidi Bou Saïd, the blue and white village
Some 20 km north-east of Tunis, Sidi Bou Saïd is celebrated for its white houses with blue doors and windows.
Sources · 1 pages consulted, with the exact sentence used
- Amphitheatre of El Jem (Wikipedia)
The Amphitheatre of El Jem […] is an oval amphitheatre in the modern-day city of El Djem, Tunisia, formerly Thysdrus in the Roman province of Africa. It has been listed by UNESCO since 1979 as a World Heritage Site. The amphitheatre was built around 238 AD in Thysdrus, located in the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis […] The estimated capacity is 35,000, and the major and minor axes respectively measure 148 metres […] and 122 metres […] the young Gordian III was in fact born at Thysdrus […] and that as Emperor he intended the amphitheater to be part of an embellishment of his hometown (coordinates 35.29639, 10.70694)
Opening hours, prices and access conditions change: check them with the official source before you go. Viafro publishes no price without a source and a date.