Gigthis (Bou Grara)
Gigthi · Gigthis · Bou Grara · Jigthis
Punic to Byzantine (6th c BCE–7th c CE; Roman peak 2nd c)·Punic / Roman / Byzantine·🇹🇳 Medenine Governorate, Tunisia
About
About Gigthis (Bou Grara)
Island-bridged port of the Syrtic coast, Gigthis (Gigthi) on the Bou Grara lagoon causeway is a 10-ha intact small Roman town where Antonine and Severan forums stand side by side. Formed by merging Punic emporium and 1st c CE Roman port after causeway to Djerba. Highlights: Forum Old (1st c) with capitol, Forum New (Antonine 160 CE) 45×30 m colonnaded, Mercury temple, temple of Apis, thermal baths with hypocaust, 400-m colonnaded decumanus to port mole, and shops with dolia. Undisturbed by later city, its twin-forum plan is exemplar for Roman urban phasing in Tripolitania. Butterflied between sea and lagoon.
Why it mattersOnly town preserving two successive forums side-by-side, illuminating Roman urban expansion without demolishing earlier centre.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether causeway is Punic or Roman engineering
- 02Which deity presided over New Forum temple
Theories
- 01Port-djerba causeway as toll station (Mattingly)
- 02Twin forum as Severan patronage display
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Punic emporium 6th c BCE; Roman twin-forum city 1st–3rd c CE
- Period
- Punic to Byzantine (6th c BCE–7th c CE; Roman peak 2nd c)
- Culture
- Punic / Roman / Byzantine
- Builders
- Punic / Roman
- Purpose
- Lagoon port linking Djerba, Tripolitanian limes and Garama trade
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
Punic emporium 6th c BCE; Roman twin-forum city 1st–3rd c CE
Initial construction
c. 1177 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
33.5319° N · 10.6717° E · 8 m · 2 mapped features
Forum New (Antonine)
forum45×30 m colonnaded plaza 160 CE
33.5324° N · 10.6720° EForum Old and Capitol
forum1st c forum with capitol podium
33.5315° N · 10.6712° E
Gallery