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Thuburbo Majus (or Thuburbo Maius) is a large Ancient Rome site in northern Tunisia. It is located roughly 60 km southwest of Carthage on a major African thoroughfare.Aïcha Ben Abed-Ben Khader, "Corpus des mosaïques de Tunisie II: Région de Zaghouan 3: Thuburbo Majus, les mosaïques dans la région ouest", review by David Parrish, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 97, No. 3. (July, 1993), pp. 590-591 This thoroughfare connects Carthage to the Sahara. Other towns along the way included Sbiba, Sufes, Sbeitla, and Sbeitla. Parts of the old Roman road are in ruins, but others do remain.Count Byron Khun de Prorok, "Ancient Trade Routes from Carthage Into the Sahara", Geographical Review, Vol. 15, No. 2. (April, 1925), pp. 190-205
Most of the town was built around 150–200 and restored in the 4th century after the Crisis of the Third Century. It received a Capitolium in 168. The Cambridge Ancient History, pg. 980-1, Volume XI, Cambridge University Press 2000 The town was a productive grower of grain, olives, and fruit.Jashemski, Foss, Lewis, Timpson, Lee, "Roman Gardens in Tunisia: Preliminary Excavations in the House of Bacchus and Ariadne and in the East Temple at Thuburbo Maius", American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 99, No. 4 (October 1995), pp.559-576 Under Hadrian it was made a municipium, helping cause a growth in wealth, and Commodus made it a colony. The early third century Christian martyr Perpetua was born in the town.
In 1920 an inscription found in Thuburbo Majus written in honor of C. Vettius Sabinianus proved that several other inscriptions bearing that name were referring to the same person.Sidney N. Deane, "Archaeological News", American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 25, No. 1. (January–March 1921), pp. 83-109
Remains of the house of Dionysus and Ariadne dating back to the early 5th century were excavated in 1925. Researchers found the town to be a valuable site, as evidence of food preparation in a garden was discovered. Those and other finds point to what daily life in ancient Rome might have been like. Mosaics found in the town date to the late 4th century.Aïcha Ben Abed-Ben Khader, "Corpus des mosaïques de Tunisie II: Région de Zaghouan 3: Thuburbo Majus, les mosaïques dans la région ouest", review by David Parrish, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 97, No. 3. (July, 1993), pp. 590-591 These mosaics depict items from nature, like a still life arrangement of food items and a sea filled with fish as young people fish from boats. They have been studied by archaeologist Aïcha Ben Abed . Another mosaic represents a nude Venus riding a chariot, with plant life surrounding her to represent well-being and fertility.
This town does not have fully restored buildings, but there are remains of a forum, the amphitheatre, temples, baths, houses, and other sites.
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