Roman times come to life in Tunisian festival

Tunisia's El Jem hosted the Thysdrus Rome Days festival on Monday, celebrating the city's rich Roman heritage. The event took place at the iconic El Jem Amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and attracted the participation of Tunisian Minister of Culture Mohamed Mouaz Bilheshine.

Gladiators wearing Roman clothes from the third century performed at the festival. The fights showcased realistic combat using replicas of weapons wielded by Roman soldiers, offering a glimpse into the historic arena battles of the Roman era.

Festival director Reza Hafiz told an Anadolu correspondent that the Roman civilization's influence on El Jem's architecture and structures remains evident today. He highlighted the great attention garnered by the gladiator show within the Roman Colosseum. Hafiz also noted that the festival incorporated demonstrations of some Olympic sports, adding another layer to the cultural celebration.

Hafiz said that during the festival, the Roman era was reenacted in the city of El Jem with various musical and theatrical performances. He said that the Roman rituals of the ruler entering and leaving the city and distributing bread and money to the people were reenacted. He added that Roman gladiators also performed various shows for the public in the city center.

The city of El Jem was founded in 238 A.D. under the Roman Emperor Gordiano I on the ruins of the ancient city of Thysdrus. The historical amphitheater has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

Source: Newsroom