Thuburbo Majus

Thuburbo Majus (or Thuburbo Maius) is a large Roman site in northern Tunisia. It is located roughly 60 km southwest of Carthage on a major African thoroughfare.[1] This thoroughfare connects Carthage to the Sahara. Other towns along the way included Sbiba, Sufes, Sbeitla, and Sufetula. Parts of the old Roman road are in ruins, but others do remain.[2]

Thuburbo Majus
Ruins of the Capitolium
Thuburbo Majus is located in Tunisia
Thuburbo Majus
Shown within Tunisia
LocationTunisia
RegionZaghouan Governorate
Coordinates36°24′00″N 9°54′15″E

History
Map of the ruins

Thuburbo Majus or Colonia Julia Aurelia Commoda, its Roman name, was originally a Punic town, later founded as a Roman veteran colony by Augustus in 27 BC. Military veterans were sent to Thuburbo, among other sites, by Augustus[3] to allow them to start their post-army lives with land of their own. Its strategic location and access to trade routes made it an important establishment. Ruins of the town are in the middle of the countryside with no towns in close proximity.

Most of the town was built around 150–200 and restored in the 4th century after the Crisis of the Third Century. It received a Capitolium in 168.[4] The town was a productive grower of grain, olives, and fruit.[5] Under Hadrian it was made a municipium, helping cause a growth in wealth, and Commodus made it a colony.

Excavations
Panoramic view of Thuburbo Majus

A 1916 excavation found a tetrastyle temple. The building was decorated with statues of Apollo, Venus, Silvanus, Bacchus, the Dioscuri, and a satyr. Three perfume vases showed dogs pursuing rabbits.[6]

In 1920 an inscription found in Thuburbo Majus written in honor of C. Vettius Sabinianus proved that several other inscriptions bearing that name were referring to the same person.[7]

Remains of the house of Bacchus and Ariadne dating back to the early 5th century were excavated in 1925. Researchers found the town to be a valuable site, as evidence of food preparation in a garden was discovered. Those and other finds point to what daily life in ancient Rome might have been like. Mosaics found in the town date to the late 4th century.[8] These mosaics depict items from nature, like a still life arrangement of food items and a sea filled with fish as young people fish from boats. They have been studied by archaeologist Aïcha Ben Abed. Another mosaic represents a nude Venus riding a chariot, with plant life surrounding her to represent well-being and fertility.

This town does not have fully restored buildings, but there are remains of a forum, the amphitheatre, temples, baths, houses, and other sites.

Bishopric
extract of the Tabula Peutingeriana showing Thuburbo, Roman North Africa, during 4th century.

The Bishopric was founded during the Roman Empire and survived through the Arian Vandal and Orthodox Byzantine empires, only ceasing to function with the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb. The diocese was refounded in name at least in the 20th century. Known bishops include:

[9]

References
  1. Aïcha Ben Abed-Ben Khader, "Corpus des mosaïques de Tunisie II: Région de Zaghouan 3: Thuburbo Majus, les mosaïques dans la région ouest", review by David Parrish, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 97, No. 3. (July, 1993), pp. 590-591
  2. Count Byron Khun de Prorok, "Ancient Trade Routes from Carthage Into the Sahara", Geographical Review, Vol. 15, No. 2. (April, 1925), pp. 190-205
  3. Tenney Frank, "Vergil's First Eclogue and the Migration to Africa", The Classical Review, Vol. 40, No. 1. (February–March 1926), pp. 15-16
  4. The Cambridge Ancient History, pg. 980-1, Volume XI, Cambridge University Press 2000
  5. Jashemski, Foss, Lewis, Timpson, Lee, "Roman Gardens in Tunisia: Preliminary Excavations in the House of Bacchus and Ariadne and in the East Temple at Thuburbo Maius", American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 99, No. 4 (October 1995), pp.559-576
  6. William N. Bates, "Archaeological News", American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 22, No. 1. (January–March 1918), pp. 73-100
  7. Sidney N. Deane, "Archaeological News", American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 25, No. 1. (January–March 1921), pp. 83-109
  8. Aïcha Ben Abed-Ben Khader, "Corpus des mosaïques de Tunisie II: Région de Zaghouan 3: Thuburbo Majus, les mosaïques dans la région ouest", review by David Parrish, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 97, No. 3. (July, 1993), pp. 590-591
  9. Pétridès, S. (1912). Thuburbo Minus. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved January 23, 2017 from New Advent
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