Dougga

THUGGA

A Numidian city, mentioned in the 4^th centry B.C. by Diodorus the Sicilian as Tocai, tukka was from the 2^nd to 1^st century B.C. one of the residences  of the Massyle Kings (MASSINISSA, MICIPSA,JUGURTHA)

 In Roman times the municipal land was split into two parts; the Numidian city, and a pagus (rural area) under the authority of carthage, Whole again, thugga was a municipium in 205 and honorary colonia in 261. With some 5.000 residents, thugga had a municipal bourgeoisie which endowed her with a number of rich monuments.

The monuments are incredibly well preserved, allowing us to imagine the infrastructure this little Proconsular town possessed:

12 pagan temples, 3transformed into churches in the 4^th C, 3 baths, numerous tanks and fountains, 1 nymphaeum, 1 aqueduct, 1 market, 2 theaters,1 circus, several necropolises and mausoleums.

After its 2^nd C prosperity, thugga slowly lost its glory, though it still enjoyed brief periods of revival in the 3^rd, the 4^th and 6^th centuries (Byzantine fortress) Though it was never deserted, archaeological research required the removal of its residents to a new Dougga lying below classical thugga.

THE LIBYAN-PUNIC HERITAGE

The mausoleum dates from the middle of the 2^nd century B.C It held the sepulture of a numidian king.

21 metres high, it has 3 superposed tiers, the top crowned by a pyramidical roof, formerly flanked by 4 harpies.

From the ground up, each tier is separted from the next by steps and decorated with lonic columns the 2^nd tier is decorated with horsemen, the 3^rd with basrelief quadrigas.

RELIGIOUS LIFE

Built in 166-7, the Capitol consists of a 13x14 m cella, which housed a 6,5 m. marble statue of Jupiter and two statues, of Juno and Minerva, preceded by a portico ( 6 fluted Corinthian columns, 4 of them across the front) leading to a monumental flight of steps with a right angle turn. In front of the Capitol is an esplanade linking the 'Compass of the winds' square to the forum (39x24m) enclosed by Corinthian portico.