Sbeïtla

Sbeïtla (rear RTL سفيطلة), known in the past under the name of Sufetula, is a city of the center of the Tunisia depend on the Gouvernorat of Kasserine.

Located at 260 kilometers at the south-west of Tunis and at more than 150 kilometers at the west of Sfax, it shelters one of the ancient sites best preserved country. The catch of the city in 647 by the troops arabo-Moslem women marks the birth of the Ifriqiya.

History

Archaeological testimonys of the site are all posterior at the 1st century but traces of a former human installation exist in the immediate surroundings.

The city is founded by the Romains, under the Dynastie of the Flaviens, probably in second half of the 1st century. The Roman armies have just pacified the area then in prey with the attacks Berbères, and of the grounds are allotted to the veterans who can thus protect the borders from the foreign incursions. Thus are born the towns of Sufetula and Cillium (current the Kasserine) apart 35 kilometers. Being located halfway between the north and the south of the province of Africa, in Byzacène, the city of Sufetula experiences an important economic development and urban. The monuments, which one can still visit, testify some: the houses, the forum, the temples, the thermal baths, etc the city is used then of crossroads road and shopping mall and agricultural. Its economy is primarily based on the Agriculture, and in particular on the culture of the olive-tree for the production of oil.

The city becomes a colony, after having been a Municipe, with an administrative organization copied on the traditional Roman system. From the 2nd century, the city is equipped with a curator (kind of controller of finances sent by Rome). It is besides Sufetula which delivers the first example of curator of city (certain Aelius Rusticus) under the reign of Septime Sévère.

With the first quarter of the 4th century, Sufetula converts with the Christianisme as the remainder of the Roman Empire, after the emperor Constantin institutes Christianity like religion of State. She does not escape the quarrels related to the schismatic currents which the Église knows (in particular the Donatisme). But those disappear with the arrival from the Vandales at the 5th century. The Christians of the city are then persecuted, in particular in 484, with the case of a bishop named Praesidius. The presence of several and olive oil production centres Céramique S close to Sufetula, whose activity is undoubtedly dated from the end of the 5th century and the beginning of the 6th century, lets think that the economy and arts however continue to develop.

The Byzantine , with the reconquest of Africa under the reign of Justinien, settle in Sufetula with a Garnison and strengthen many monuments, as the houses at the entry testify some to the site. The Patrice Gregoire indeed chooses the city like place of residence and installs its staff there. With the approach of the Arab armies come from Tripolitaine, Gregoire proclaims his independence with respect to the Byzantine Empire.

The knowledge of the attacks of the Moslem army rests primarily on the Arab oral tradition. In 647, Sufetula is taken and its inhabitants flee in great number the city to perhaps take refuge in the Amphithéâtre Thysdrus antique (current El Jem). The city is destroyed but not completely abandoned as attest it the recent excavations.

Site

The current site covers a score of Hectare S but the ancient city undoubtedly occupied about fifty hectares. It is installed on a plate near sources which are always exploited, some feed the town of Sfax, and of careers of stone always in activity.

From the beginning, Sufetula is divided into rectangular small islands separated by paved streets under which runs a system of drains for the Drinking water and of sewer S for the collection of the Waste water.

The site is not yet entirely excavated but the monuments are numerous and date from the Roman epoch (forum, thermal baths, theater, etc) or from the Byzantine time (churches). It is not possible to allot with certainty of the monuments at the time vandal, fault of texts attesting it, or with the first Islamic period.

Among the remarkable elements of the site, the Capitole is one of rare kind to be separate in three temples which form actually only one unit (whereas the traditional type is only one temple divided into three rooms). Its date of construction is not known but the Triumphal arch giving access the forum carries a dédidace to Antonin the Piles and its two adoptive sons which goes back to 139.

Every year, the festival Abadilla Es Sabaa (7 Abdallah) is organized to celebrate the victory into 647 of the Moslem army.

References

Random links:

Common primula | Noyal-Muzillac | Rocío Dúrcal | CEU | Certificat_d'argent