which historical site would you like to see me review next? 🥳 (I accept all suggestions other than Stonehenge) follow the rest of my big, sandy train trip across Tunisia ➡ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IuNogl_rX5A.html see my report from visiting a remote Armenian chapel in Turkey ➡ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WCAtk-2UzNg.html join the patreon for more ➡ www.patreon.com/tomthornton
Ancient temples in Malta, probably the oldest buildings in Europe. Unfortunately, there are no trains in Malta, but at least there is a ferry between Malta and Italy.
I live 45 minutes away from El Jem Amphitheater and I would go there every now and then just to walk through, up and down, and sit between the massive ancient rocks and meditate, it gives you this strange and yet amazing feeling that you're able to contemplate space and time fast moving around you. I always took that for granted until I visited the one in Rome and saw how expensive it was, how long you had to wait, and the fact that you can't move freely up and down the theater where once you reach a certain point you can't come back unless you pay again.
Sounds perfect. I don't think the romans built these, populations back then were said to be small, too. Lots of greco-roman stuff all over the world, far away from roman influence! I think we are looking at the remains of a civilisation hidden from us by historians as 'the dark ages', which was destroyed perhaps as recently as the 1700s.
thank you for making this video about our little gem in Tunisia, it's always amazing to see the things we take for granted due to our routine be talked about with such awe
Incredible video!! I’m Tunisian and I’ve never been to the colosseum in Eljam and was lazy to get on a train and go there. This video is definitely a boost for me to do so. Thanks!! And I hope you enjoyed the rest of the trip!!❤
See by other comment - there is much to see and it is easy & inexpensive ( compared to many other countries) to travel around in Tunisia. For example I took a night train from Sousse to Tunis slept in the reclining seats & the next night I stayed overnight in the Carlton Hotel Tunis, equipped to Western expectations and not expensive. There are dormitory like hotels in Tunis too but I didn't fancy spending a night with 4 or more culturally different strangers in one large room with bathroom sharing.
What you are showing us, the world, is why I love RU-vid. Thank you for showing us their part of history. I did subscribe to to your channel to say thank you. 👍🏽👍🏽
A great video, Tom - thank you! Most Classicists will know of this structure, although relatively few visit it. BTW, there is only one Colosseum, the one in Rome; the rest are simply called amphitheatres. DT 12 = €3.50 / US$4.
Tom you should've teamed up with Toldinstone, he leads groups through north Africa and is very knowledgeable about anything involving the Roman empire. It's my favourite channel on youtube that deals with rhe roman empire almost exclusively.
3:58 Gladiators very rarely killed each other, that's pretty much a Hollywood myth. Gladiators were highly trained professionals who made their living fighting, not dying. It's expensive and takes a long time to train a Gladiator, so it didn't make sense to let them kill each other. The fights were more for show and usually ended if one was too tired, or tapped out. Apparently 9 out of 10 gladiators survived their match. There were fight's to the death, but usually only if they were sponsored by a wealthy benefactor who would compensate their trainers/owners
@@Mohazz88they killed Israelites AKA Christians too. They also killed animals lions, tigers, bulls, etc. I don't know where bulls came from maybe Spain or Portugal.
most of them are actually, before they became star wars locations, you'll find them in the south, at Tataouin, they are old houses for when people used to live under ground in the deserts, and they are highly accessible
Imagine if the othoman ruler did not detroy a part of it, it would have been intact. The tunisians were calling it kasr el jem which means castle and was effectively respected and preserved by them as it was a major shelter for them.
I have not read anywhere that the Colosseum was partially destroyed by the Ottomans, why would they have done it in this place lost in the middle of nowhere when they did not touch the Roman sites of Algeria and Libya which are moreover much more imposing than the rare Roman sites of Tunisia?
@@anteversus8471 there was a big popular revolution at that time because of taxes increase, i said ottoman ruler but it was the bey of tounes from otoman decendecy, and the people who made the revolution against him hided there so he attacked them and partially destroyed it
A nice portrait of a building. It must have been amazing to have it almost to yourself. On a tangential note, I just took out my old copy of Life of Brian to watch on a rainy day. Now, I'll know a bit more about the stadium scenes.
One of the local rulers had a large section of the walls removed so it couldn't be fortified against him. You can still see the large chunk of wall that was removed. Many ancient buildings, especially the arenas, were converted into fortresses. The Coliseum once had a large tower and other buildings added to it. These were demolished during the restorations.
Excellent video. Been lucky enough to visit both El Djem and Rome and I much preferred El Djem as you feel like you have the place to yourself. Love to go back.
This is great. I never had any idea that a Roman Colosseum existed other than in Rome. The Romans gave the world Concrete and no wonder the monuments have stood the test of time.
It was my pleasure to visit this magnificent amphitheatre myself - really wonderful and seemingly almost in the middle of nowhere. Thank you for the memories. We came by road from Sousse and the last section of the road went in a straight line to the Amphitheatre so we must have been following an ancient Roman road on our arrival. 😎☀️👍
The Leaning Tower of Piza. I climbed it the day before it closed in 1966. With my four older brothers. The battery in our VW Bus died, parked on the street in front of the tower. 1966, no traffic. My brothers and I push started that van in front of the tower. I was five. What a sight.
G'day Tom, I have only just discovered your channel, and WOW, what a great way to discover you, but in your expose of EL JEM in Tunisia. The locals must be very proud! Sincerely Peter Thornton Distant cousin, no doubt? Canberra Australia.
Thanks Pete! And yes, probably :) I have relatives on the west coast (near Perth) so I wouldn't bet against it. I see our surname pop up all around the world.
@thornton Not sure about the Perth clan, but there's no doubt that all roads would definitely lead back to the UK regarding the Thornton name. Anyway, I am living vicariously through your lived experiences and adventures, and I look forward to your next post. Cheers Peter
was there back in 2012, looks llke plenty more preservation and restoration has been done, fascinating place just like the rest of Tunisia, so much history, much of it turbulent, one of the most interesting places there is to visit
Brilliant video mate! I've heard of but never seen this exquisite example of late Roman Empire architecture until i viewed this! Very MUVH interested in planning a trip to Tunisia!
Few weeks ago, I discovered your channel and do thank you for this video that makes me curious enough wanting to go to Tunisia; perhaps only to see this, as you suggest, but there might be some more videos upcoming 😂
The one in Libya is pretty cool too. The Edmonton Oilers Colosseum was built exactly the same way with a mid level concourse, player (gladiator) entry and everything.
We went to the Taj Mahal at the start of the pandemic, days before it shut down. We were just floored at being able to see the site with no crowds. At one point we were the only two people in the mausoleum. That kind of thing never happens.
@@jasminatounsi you're so lost buddy, "most languages" are not Tunisian Arabic, they're their own languages and appropriate what's commonly used. E.g. the French write Sidi Bou Saïd so the Germans wrote Sidi Bou Saïd in Wikipedia, but in German the letter ï doesn't exist at all. Dj is because people of Algiers pronounce d before j so they write it how they say it. Tunisians don't pronounce d before j, are you even Tunisian to ask that? I feel like conversing with you might go over your head quickly so i'll stop.
This was breathtaking!! But at 5:37 I was a bit disheartened that people would carve their names into such historical places, I don't think this was the attention you were looking for Amber!!
I visited the Colosseum for first time recently and I have to say I'd much rather visit this. The swarm of tourists, overpriced tickets and limited access ruined it for me.
As an African American, my dream was to visit, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria. Unfortunately, nowadays, I wouldn't dream of going there. That young man spoke English very well.
Did you go to the catacombs in Sousse? Also the 30km tunnel between Sousse and El Jem. Also the 7 km Roman bridge between the mainland and the island of Jerba. Also on the island of Jerba is the oldest synagogue in African soil. Such an awesome country. There's so much more than even this in Tunisia.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing. I learned there would have been mats for sale to place on the stone seats. Food vendors would have been hawking their goods. Some things never change.😂
El Djem is much better preserved than the Colisseum in Rome. It is an amazing ancient historical site, & there are many more like it in Tunisia, especially around the environs of Tunis - incl the destroyed remnants of Carthage and much more Roman construction like Thuburbo Majus, & the Aqueduct from Mt Zaghouan to Tunis. Tunisia is a largely unspoilt archaeological gem. There has been political instability in previous decades, but the people are very friendly & welcoming to tourists. The country is well served by a comfortable & affordable railway service. Other tourist sites are the Bardo Museum in Tunis, with its beautiful and bountiful selection of Roman mosaics & statues, Southern Tunisia with its Djerba palm oasis in Tozeur, & the Red Lizard (Le Lezard Rouge) Railway from Metaloui thru the Selja Gorges at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. Also near Tunis the scenic blue & white houses on the coast at Sidi Bou Zid. There's also the holy city of Kairouan in Central Tunisia. As a single male tourist I felt quite comfortable touring alone, & mainly used the railway & local minibus transports to get around rather than booking tours with agents. A nice big souk (market) in Tunis & in Sousse too. A minor point on the private mini buses, which connect almost everywhere, they don't seem to work to any timetables, you jump in and have to wait for it to fill up with passengers before it leaves for its destination - sometimes that can take a half hour or more ( but minibuses have aircon)
I can't believe this! I had no idea of this? Never even heard of it? How is that possible for such an incredibly built historical sight be so under looked. Thank you for sharing this.
Tunisia is full of wonders 7500 years of history named in a very famous books through centuries and given many names like Afriqia, land Carthage or Tarshish like it was named in Torah
