Archaeological site of Sbeitla

Archaeological site of Sbeitla

Capitoline Hill of Sufetula
Shown within Tunisia
Location	Sbeitla, Tunisia
Site notes
Excavation dates	1906-1921

Archaeological site of Sbeitla is an archaeological site in Sbeitla, in north-central Tunisia. It represents the Roman ruins of Sufetula, and contains the best preserved Forum temples in Tunisia. And it was excavated and restored between 1906 and 1921.

History

The city was founded, if not already in existence, in the era of Vespasian, it was the theater of the great confrontation between the Byzantines and the Arabs in 646 during the Muslim conquest of North Africa and south of Europe.

Main sights

Roman remains

Roman bath with fish mosaic

• The Triumphal Arch of the Tetrarchy at the entrance to the city commemorates the four emperors that governed the empire in the year 300, just before the rule of Constantine I
• The Public Baths
• The Forum is one of the best preserved in the world
• The Gate of Antoninus, which stands at the entrance to the forum and can be dated between 138 and 161. Its inscriptions make reference to Antonius Pius and his two adopted sons, Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius
• The three temples. In place of constructing only one temple dedicated to the three most important Roman gods (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva) the inhabitants of the city built separate temples for each one. A similar arrangement is only found at Baelo Claudia, in Spain.
• Other important buildings include the theater and the public fountains.

Byzantine remains

The majority of the Byzantine buildings take advantage of the foundations of earlier Roman ones. They include:

• The church of Bellator
• The church of Vitalis
• The chapel of Jucundus
• The church of Servus
• The church of St Gervase, Protase, and Tryphon.