Which Roman amphitheatre in Tunisia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in El Djem?

The Roman amphitheatre in Tunisia that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site at El Djem is the Amphitheatre of El Jem.

The monument stands in the modern town of El Djem, the ancient Roman city of Thysdrus. Built around AD 238, it is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world and among the largest outside Rome. Its impressive stone structure could hold an estimated 35,000 spectators.

Thysdrus became wealthy through olive cultivation and the export of olive oil. The amphitheatre hosted spectacles such as gladiatorial contests and possibly chariot events, reflecting the Roman practice of using grand public buildings to display civic wealth and imperial culture. It may have remained unfinished after the political upheavals surrounding the Gordian emperors.

UNESCO added the site to its World Heritage List in 1979. A common mix-up is confusing El Jem with the Colosseum: Rome’s amphitheatre is larger, but El Jem is especially remarkable for its preservation and its setting in North Africa. The monument has also served as a fortress and storage space in later centuries.