Thysdrus on Gardens of the Roman Empire

House of Africa (Maison de l'Afrique)

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

Dates

Beginning of the 3rd century CE

Garden Description

This vast house (3000 m2) was laid out around a peristyle garden (Plan view, Fig.1). The sunken garden was enclosed by a low wall that curved to form a semi-circular basin in-between the third and fourth column to which was adjoined a euripus at the end of which a rectangular platform supported either a sculpture or a fountain.

Bibliography

H. Slim, CMGR VII-1, 1999, pp. 137-38, Archéologia, Avril 2000, n° 366. (worldcat)
Bullo, S., Ghedini, F., Amplissimae atque ornatissimae domus: l'edilizia residenziale nelle città della Tunisia romana, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2003, p.123-124. (worldcat)

Keywords

House of the Dolphins (Maison des dauphins)

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

Dates

Early 3rd century CE

Garden Description

The vast house (3000-3500 m2) is laid out around a large peristyle garden (Plan view, Fig.1). The large sunken garden (X, 16 x 16.25 m) was enclosed by a low wall (0.70 m high) and had a large semicircular basin (dia. 3.10 m) between the fifth and the sixth column facing a reception room (XXV). A rectangular aedicula with four columns facing the oecus (XXXVII) extended in the garden on the W.

Two lararia (32 B, XXXV) open off of porticos XI and XIII respectively.

Plans

Fig. 1: House of the Dolphins (CMT, plans 5-6)

Bibliography

Bullo, S., Ghedini, F., Amplissimae atque ornatissimae domus: l'edilizia residenziale nelle città della Tunisia romana, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2003,pp.309-312. (worldcat)
Dulière, C., Corpus des Mosaïques de Tunisie, Thysdrus, El Jem, Quartier Sud-Ouest, INA, Tunis, 1996, pp. 67-75, plans 5-6. (worldcat)

Keywords

House of the Lucius Verus

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

Dates

3rd century CE

Garden Description

The house was laid out around a large persityle garden of twenty-two columns (20 x15.5 m) that had a euripus and a semicircular basin facing a large reception room (Plan view, Fig.1)

Plans

Fig. 1: Plan of the House of Lucius Verus (Afrique dans l'Occident romain, fig. 8)

Bibliography

Bullo, S., Ghedini, F., Amplissimae atque ornatissimae domus: l'edilizia residenziale nelle città della Tunisia romana, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2003, pp.285-287. (worldcat)
Slim, H., "Thysdrus, une des plus grandes villes romaines d'Afrique", in Les Dossiers de l'Archéologie, 69, 1983, pp. 52-61.
Slim, H., "La maison du portrait de Lucius Verus à El Jem," BSAF, 1990, pp.87-88. (worldcat)
Slim, H., "Le modèle urbain romain et le problème de l'eau dans les confins Sahel et de la Basse Steppe", in Afrique dans l'Occident romain (1er Siècle av. J.-C.- IV siècls ap. J.-C.) Actes du Colloque, Rome, décembre 1987, Rome, 1990, pp. 190-192. (worldcat)
Slim, H., El Jem, Ancient Thrysdrus, Tunis, 1996, pp. 75-76. (worldcat)
Commission d'Afrique du Nord 2/2/90 BCTH. (worldcat)

Keywords

House of the Peacock (Maison du Paon)

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

Dates

Early 3rd century CE

Garden Description

This large house (1800 m2) adjacent to the domus of Sollertiana on the N had a large peristyle garden (XIII, 10.50 x 13.20 m) enclosed on four sides by a portico (XIV-XVII) of 18 columns that were connected by a low wall (Plan view, Fig.1). A semicircular basin facing the large oecus on the N, extended into the garden 30 cm lower than the level of the portico. To the N a small courtyard garden (XXXII, 2.70 x 3.70 m) 40cm lower than the level of the portico had 2 two semicircular pools that occupied most of the space, each facing a reception room (XXXI, XXXIII).

The light well (XXVII, 8.45 x 2.75 m) to the W of the oecus was also planted.

Plans

Fig. 1: Plan of the House of the Peacock. (CMT, plans 3-4)

Bibliography

Bullo, S., Ghedini, F., Amplissimae atque ornatissimae domus: l'edilizia residenziale nelle città della Tunisia romana, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2003, pp.266-267.pp.313-316. (worldcat)
Dulière, C., Corpus des Mosaïques de Tunisie, Thysdrus, El Jem, Quartier Sud-Ouest, INA, Tunis, 1996, pp. 31-66, plans 3-4.(worldcat)

Keywords

House of the White Mosaic (Maison des mosaïques blanches)

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

Dates

Early 3rd century CE

Garden Description

This house located E of the House of the Dolphins, has a small sunken peristyle garden (VI, 6.35 x 7 m) 60 cm lower than the level of the portico and bordered by a low wall (Plan view, Fig.1).

Plans

Fig.1: Plan of the house of the White Mosaic. (CMT, plan 7)

Bibliography

Bullo, S., Ghedini, F., Amplissimae atque ornatissimae domus: l'edilizia residenziale nelle città della Tunisia romana, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2003, pp.306-308. (worldcat)
Dulière, C., Corpus des Mosaïques de Tunisie, Thysdrus, El Jem, Quartier Sud-Ouest, INA, Tunis, 1996, pp. 101-105, plans 7.(worldcat)

Keywords

Sollertianna Domus

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

Dates

Early 3rd century CE

Garden Description

This large house (1120 m2) at the periphery of the SW quarter was laid out around a peristyle garden (VII, 8.20x11.30 m) enclosed on four sides by a portico of 14 columns that connected by a low wall (Plan view, Fig.1). A semicircular basin extended into the garden 75cm lower than the level of the portico. The cistern opening in the garden is adjacent to the middle column on the SE side. A large reception room (XVII) had a view onto the basin and the garden, which is planted today. A lararium (XXVII) opened off of portico X.

A small courtyard garden (XX, 5.60 x 3 m) enclosed on its two sides by a colonnade (XXI) brought light and freshness to five rooms (XXII-XXVI). Three trees grow in it today.

Plans

Fig. 1: Plan of the Sollertianna Domus. (CMT, plans 1-2)

Bibliography

Bullo, S., Ghedini, F., Amplissimae atque ornatissimae domus: l'edilizia residenziale nelle città della Tunisia romana, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2003, pp. 317-319. (worldcat)
Slim, H., Dulière, C., Corpus des Mosaïques de Tunisie, Thysdrus, El Jem, Quartier Sud-Ouest, INA, Tunis, 1996, pp. 1-11, plans 1-2.(worldcat)