Hadrumetum on Gardens of the Roman Empire

House of Sorothus (Maison de Sorothus)

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Location

Fig. 1: Plan of Hadrumetum

Credit: (Ghaddhab, R., 2016, P.182)

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 Sorothus (Maison de Sorothus)

Keywords

Garden Description

This very damaged house was laid out around a peristyle garden. A semi-circular and bisected basin was placed on the axis of the reception room (Plan view, Fig. 1). The small wall that enclosed the garden was painted with flowers.

Plans

Fig. 1: Diagram plan of the House of Sorothus

Credit: (from Laporte, J.-P., Lavagne, H., 2006, fig.4, and Hannezo, G., 1896, p.819)

Dates

end 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. 100-101. (worldcat)
Gauckler, P., "Les mosaïques de l'Arsenal à Sousse", in Revue archéologique, 1897, II, p. 9-10.(worldcat)
Gauckler, P., Inventaire des mosaïques de la Gaule et de l'Afrique, II : Afrique proconsulaire (Tunisie), Paris, 1910, p. 48-52, nos 120-130.(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
Hannezo, G., "Les mosaïques de Sousse", in Association française pour l'Avancement des Sciences, Carthage, 25e session, 1896, 2e partie, p. 817-821, p. 819.
La Blanchère, M.-R., "Note sur une mosaïque représentant le cortège de de Neptune, découvertes à Hadrumetum et transportée au musée de Tunis (Bardo)", in Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, 15, p. 342-346, 378-383.(worldcat)
La Blanchère, M.-R., "La mosaïque de Neptune à Sousse", in Bulletin du Comité des travaux historiques, 1888, p. 163‑176.
Laporte, J.-P., Lavagne, H., "Sousse: La domus de Sorothus et ses mosaïques", in Les sodalités africo-romaines, Chaires internationales de recherche Blaise Pascale, Paris, 2006, p. 24-28, fig. 4. (worldcat)

Places

House of the Masks (Maison des Masques)

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Location

Fig. 1: Plan of Hadrumetum

Credit: (Ghaddhab, R., 2016, P.182)

Location Description

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

Fig. 1: Plan of the House of the Masks

Credit: (Foucher, L., 1965)

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)

Places

House of the Ostriches (Maison des Autruches)

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Dates

2nd century CE

Garden Description

In this incomplete house, the peristyle-garden was bounded by a low wall that curved to make six semi-circular niches facing the galleries of the peristyle (Plan view, Fig. 1). The two niches located on the East-West axis of the triclinium are wider with the one facing the triclinium containing a basin with a marine mosaic. The house is dated to the II c.

Plans

Bibliography

Bullo, S., Ghedini, F., Amplissimae atque ornatissimae domus: l'edilizia residenziale nelle città della Tunisia romana, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2003, pp. 106-107. (worldcat)
Foucher, L., "Venationes à Hadrumete", in OMRL, XLV, pp. 87-114. (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