The archaeological site of Outhna- Tunisia

[aymenkhemakhem]

I visited last week with a group of friends the archaeological site of Outhna located in the north of Tunisia it was an unforgettable day
Here is my presentation for this beautiful place

Historical overview

The site of Oudhna corresponds to the ancient city of Uthina which is located about thirty kilometers south-west of Tunis, the delegation of Morneg, governorate of Ben Arous. This city is of pre-Roman origin, probably a city with suffêtes. The foundation of the Roman colony is located around 27 BC. when veterans of the XIII Legion were installed in this place, about 40 km south of the capital Carthage, on the way connecting the capital to the city of Thuburbo Maius.

I- The monuments of spectacles- The amphitheater:

This monument is located north of the site, at the level of the current entrance. It is installed on top of a hill at the bottom of which were excavated the arena and the lower part of the cavea. Only the peripheral and upper part of the cavea leaned on an entirely artificial structure built at the top of the hill. Its middle part consisted of juxtaposed compartments. By these characteristics, the amphitheater of Uthina belongs to the category of buildings called "full structure".

The main axis of the arena measures 58.50 m in length and the minor axis 35 m. The area of ​​the arena is 1607 m2. The width of the cavea being 27 m, the main axis of the building reaches 112.50 m and the small axis 89 m.

A basement is dug in the axis of the monument, with a central space, square shape, 3 lifts on either side of this gallery and two rooms (4.35x3.75 m) are identified as carceres. A pipe evacuated the rainwater in the direction of the wadi.

The theoretical surface of the cavea is estimated at 6253 m2 and its overall capacity was of the order of 15623 places, which places this monument in third place in Tunisia after those of Carthage (2nd state) and Thysdrus (the large amphitheater).

The facade included 68 rather narrow arches (or spans) delimited by massive piles each decorated with a hinged pilaster. The facade was entirely built in large unit, decorated with a cornice and an attic floor in its upper part.

The large apparatus was systematically used for the construction of this building, only the vaults were built in blockage.

Local sandstone is the main material used for the construction of the walls whereas the local white or gray limestone was reserved for the steps, the thresholds and the crapaudines. The wall of the podium was covered with a marble plating Cape du Gard.

This building was probably built under Hadrian (a dedication commemorates under his reign a donation of 350,000 sesterces, suggests that it is related to its edification). Subsequently, the building underwent an important extension that consisted

by adding the large peripheral gallery and the current façade. To this second state is attributed the great dedication engraved on the obverse of the parapet which crowned the wall of the podium, dating from the years 161-167 under the common reign of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus or later, in 207 under the reign of Septimius Severus and Caracalla. Major restorations, visible throughout the south-east half of the amphitheater, related to the movement of ground, the cause of which was the swelling of the clay, which was largely under the bleachers. These restorations are dated from the Lower Empire.

At the end of Antiquity, the monument was transformed into a fortified wall and the final abandonment is located at the end of the Byzantine period.

II- Religious monuments: the capitol

This temple dedicated to the Capitoline triad is located in the heart of the city, at the highest point of the city, it opens on the forum and is one of the most important temples of Africa. It is composed of three distinct temples whose central is the main, was hexastyle and pseudo-peripteral (43 x 27 m). Beside the level of the cella, an imposing podium (on two levels: upper and lower) was arranged to give more scale to this building. Below this podium, a basement level has been built, the central part of which is occupied by a solid space.

From a chronological point of view, three great states have been distinguished, all dating from the Upper Empire:

• The first state dating from the reign of Hadrian.

In the second state, dating from the second half of the second century, a wall of doubling was pressed against the walls in large apparatus of the first state in order to consolidate it.

• In the third state, dated at the latest from the Severe era, a second
  even more important restoration was brought to the monument,
  presumably following a serious fire. Very big walls, thick of 1
  m, were built perpendicular to the facade on the three sides of the
  podium of the main temple and around the exedra. They were connected by
  vaults in large apparatus and arches, thus determining a series
  of empty space of 3 m wide on average.

III- Private architecture:

1- The house called Laberii

It is one of the most spacious houses in the city, with an area of 2300 m2. This house, which has been excavated since the end of the 19th century by P. Gauckler, is also known as the Ikarios house. It is a central peristyle opening onto an open garden. This rich dwelling of about thirty rooms has beautiful mosaic pavements, the majority of which are currently on display at the #Bardo Museum.

2- The house of Industrius:

It is built towards the end of the third century and covers about 700 m2. It is a peristyle house overlooking an open courtyard. It is the mosaic of the ceremonial hall that bears the inscription Industrius (presumably the name of the owner of the house) which gave its name. This mosaic representing the toilet of Venus Anadyomene between two nymphs naked holding basins, is currently on display at the Museum of Bardo ..

PHOTOS ARE TAKEN BY @aymenkhemakhem and @mister-dreamer

UPVOTE AND RESTEEM

THANK YOU FOR READING

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