Amphitheatre El Djem - Tunisia
Posted by: 
Arne1
N 35° 17.828 E 010° 42.385
32S E 655155 N 3907330
This five dinars bank note depicts Amphitheatre El Djem in Tunisia.
Waymark Code: WME1GB
Location: Tunisia
Date Posted: 03/21/2012
Views: 15
El Djem is famous for its amphitheater, often incorrectly called a Colosseum (roughly translated from Latin as 'that thing by the Colossus'), which is capable of seating 35,000 spectators. Only the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome (about 45,000 spectators) and the ruined theatre of Capua are larger. The amphitheatre at El Djem was built by the Romans under proconsul Gordian, who was acclaimed Emperor at Thysdrus, around 238 and was probably mainly used for gladiator shows and chariot races. It is also possible that construction of the amphitheatre was never finished.
Until the 17th century it remained more or less whole. From then on its stones were used for building the nearby village of El Djem and transported to the Great Mosque in Kairouan, and at a tense moment during struggles with the Ottomans, the Turks used cannons to flush rebels out of the amphitheatre.
The ruins of the amphitheatre were declared a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Money Issuing Country: Tunisia
Currency: Tunisia Dinar
Denomination: 5
Date of Issue: 01/01/1972
Type of Money: Bank note
Law and Order:
Yes!
Relevant Website: Not listed
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