The Roman amphitheatre of El Jem, in central Tunisia, was built in the ancient city of Thysdrus, a prosperous center of olive oil production, and is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world. According to tradition, it was started by the local governor Gordian, who was proclaimed emperor there in a revolt against Maximinus Thrax, though it may never have been fully completed. It could hold tens of thousands of spectators, making it one of the largest in the Roman world after the Colosseum. The building has an elliptical shape and three tiers of arches. In later centuries it was used as a fortress, and during Berber resistance to the Arab conquest, and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Before and after
- from 224 CE to 651 CESasanian Empire
- from 229 CE to 233 CEFirst Mesopotamian campaign of Ardashir I
- c. 233 CEEruption of Taupo
- from 235 CE to 284 CECrisis of the Third Century
- 238 CEConstruction of Roman amphitheatre of El Jem
- c. 240 CEEruption of Ksudach
- 245 CERise of Neoplatonism
- 250 CEDeath of Nagarjuna
- from 250 CE to 538 CEKofun period
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 31st century BCE to 14th century BCEConstruction of Stonehenge
- 13th century BCEAncient Celts
- 7th century BCEConstruction of Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- 80 CEThe Colosseum is inaugurated
- from 285 CE to 1453Byzantine Empire
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 3rd century.