El Jem Amphitheatre

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 [1]. The amphitheatre was built around 238 AD in Thysdrus, located in the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis in present-day El Djem [1]. It is one of the best preserved Roman stone ruins in the world, and is unique in Africa [1]. Like other amphitheatres in the Roman Empire, it was built for spectator events, and it is one of the biggest amphitheatres in the world [1]. The estimated capacity is 35,000, and the major and minor axes respectively measure 148 metres and 122 metres [1]. The amphitheatre is built of stone blocks, located on flat ground, and is exceptionally well conserved [1]. The amphitheatre of El Jem is the third amphitheatre built in the same place [1].