Uthina Amphitheatre

The amphitheatre at Uthina (Oudna), a Roman colony of veterans of Legio XIII Gemina founded under Augustus about 30 km south of Tunis, was most likely built during Emperor Hadrian's visit to the region in 128 AD. Half-dug into a hillside, its elliptical arena measured approximately 77 by 55 yards with seating for about 16,000 spectators. Four principal entrances and many upper arches remain well preserved. It was later enlarged under Marcus Aurelius or Septimius Severus, and a head of Hadrian was found during 1873-1876 excavations.