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The only ancient Roman amphitheater that can be visited underground

On March 22, 238 AD, the governor of the Roman Empire's African province (Africa, roughly in today's northern Tunisia and western Libya's Mediterranean coastal area) declared himself emperor in the newly built El Jem Amphitheater, known as Gordian I. Gordian I, who had served as the commander of the Syrian region, the governor of the British province, and the Roman city official, was famous and wealthy, and loved to watch beast performances. After being arranged by Emperor Alexander Severus to go to North Africa, Gordian I built the El Jem Amphitheater in imitation of the Roman Amphitheater. The city of Jem (then called Thysdrus) where the amphitheater is located is the second largest city after Carthage. The El Jem Amphitheater is the only ancient Roman amphitheater in the world that can be visited underground. The corridors on both sides of the underground palace are compartments for imprisoning slaves and beasts. Here, the rights of beasts are greater than human rights, 10 people are squeezed into a compartment, and beasts can enjoy single rooms. Like the Roman Amphitheater, the underground palace here is equipped with a winch-type lifting device that can send gladiators and beasts to the ground arena; the sewer system is responsible for discharging the dirty water that washes the corpses out of the field.
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*Created by local travelers and translated by TripGenie.
Posted: Jan 1, 2024
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Amphitheater of El Jem

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