Roman Theater of Dougga — Attraction in Béja

Roman theaters were a fundamental element of the monumental make-up of a city from the reign of Augustus.

The theater, which was built in AD 168 or 169, is one of the best preserved examples in Roman Africa. It could seat 3500 spectators, even though Dougga only had 5000 inhabitants. It was one of a series of imperial buildings constructed over the course of two centuries at Dougga which deviate from the classic "blueprints" only inasmuch as they have been adapted to take account of the local terrain. Some minor adjustments have been made and the local architects had a certain freedom with regard to the ornamentation of the buildings.

A dedication engraved into the pediment of the stage and on the portico the dominates the city, recalls the building's commissioner, P. Marcius Quadratus, who "built [it] for his homeland with his own denarii"; the dedication was celebrated with "scenic representations, distributions of life, a festival and athletic games".

The theater is still used for performances of classic theater, particularly during the festival of Dougga, and conservation work has been carried out on...

Fabulous place with immense history. It is an ancient theatre located in Teboursouk in the north-west of Tunisia. Its history is revealed by a dedication engraved into the pediment of the stage and on the portico the dominates the city, states that the building's commissioner, P. Marcius Quadratus, who "built [it] for his homeland with his own denarii"; the dedication was celebrated with "scenic representations, distributions of life, a festival and...

You must come here. This is on a par with Ancient Rome, Ephesus etc for classical cities. Truly amazing to wander in the monolithic architecture and get a feel for Roman life. It's such a shame that Tunisian tourism hasn't recovered but, when it does, this place will be overrun. Get...