House of the Masks (Maison des Masques)
Location
Location Description
Hadrumetum is located on the bay of Hammamet at the edge of the fertile region of Sahel from which it drew its wealth. Choosing the side of Rome against Carthage during the Punic war, Hadrumetum was rewarded with the status of free town. Taking the side of Pompey, the city was heavily fined by Caesar after his victory at Thapsus. Nevertheless, the opulence of its houses adorned with luxurious mosaics testifies that the city experienced great economic development after its elevation to the status of colony, under Trajan.
Garden
House of the Masks (Maison des Masques)
Keywords
Garden Description
Known for its mosaic pavements, the domus of the Masks was laid out around a large peristyle that may have had a garden.
The triclinium, an oecus cyzicenus, opened on the W towards the peristyle was bordered on two sides by pillars that opened towards a rear garden, the third side is not clear as the house is destroyed in this area.
Plans
Dates
2nd century CE
Bibliography
- Bullo, S., Ghedini, F., Amplissimae atque ornatissimae domus: l'edilizia residenziale nelle città della Tunisia romana, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2003, pp. 103-105. (worldcat)
- Foucher, L., La Maison des Masques à Sousse, Fouilles 1962-1963, Notes et documents, VI, Tunis, 1965. (worldcat)
- Ghaddhab, R., "Y avait-il un port à Hadrumetum dans l'antiquité tardive?", in Revue des etudes anciennes, 2016, Bordeaux, France: Feret & Fils, pp. 175-199. https://revue-etudes-anciennes.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ghaddhab1-2016.pdf
- Guizani, S., "L'œcus « cyzicenus » de la maison des Masques à Sousse", in Revue Tunisienne d'archéologie, 2013, p. 77-91.(worldcat)