Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia
Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia (© Westend61/Getty Images)
A 'standing ovation' to Roman architecture
The Amphitheatre of El Jem is a fascinating historical site located in the Tunisian town of El Jem, known as Thysdrus in Roman times. Constructed in the 3rd century CE during the Roman Empire, the Amphitheatre of El Jem is renowned for its impressive architecture. It was built using stone blocks, had the capacity to accommodate up to 35,000 spectators and is still one of the largest amphitheatres in the world today. The amphitheatre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of Roman amphitheatres in the world, almost equal in grandeur and architecture to the Colosseum in Rome.
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