DOUGGA (Thugga)		Quality of Remains
		Ease of Access
		Atmosphere & Setting

History & Occupation:

Extant monuments at Dougga hint at a rich and powerful existence even before Roman occupation, under Numidian and Punic influence. The city seems to have been founded in the 6th century BC. From the time of the Roman defeat of Carthage, Dougga began to change. Under the dominion of Rome, the city appears to have gone from strength to strength, initially existing as two cohabiting settlements of natives and Roman colonists, but gradually coming together to form a single city with a strongly Romano-African culture. By the Severan era, the city seems to have become a solidly Roman city and wealthy. The greatest buildings of the city date from the Severan reign, when triumphal arches and magnificent baths and more were constructed. The city seems to have continued with influence throughout the later empire and into Byzantine times as evidenced by the existance of Christian buildings and Byzantine defensive walls. After the withdrawal of Byzantine influence, following the arab invasion, Dougga became abandoned and has been used as farmland ever since.

Remains and Visit:

There is a reason that Dougga is a world heritage site and the pride of Tunisia's tourist industry. Reaching it from the tourist areas can be tough. Coach trips visit but really don't allow anywhere near enough time to see the city. Taxis, buses and louages are possible combinations, but can be tiresome. Hiring a car is the best way (as usual with Tunisia) to see the city and allow enough time. Indeed, a car trip can also take in nearby Mustis. It would be tedious here to list each and every monument worth visiting in Dougga. The upshot is, buy a guidebook with a good map and be preapred to walk a lot. Dougga is very large and is packed with great monuments. Among the many, make sure note to miss the theatre, the forum & capitol, the Licinian (or Antonine) baths, the two triumphal arches, the various cisterns, the Punic Mausoleum, the Temple of Juno Caelestis and the concentrated area of housing below the forum, sprawling down the hill. Set aside the whole day.

Images:

Theatre	Theatre	Capitol	Square of the Wind Rose	Forum
Auditorium	Licinian Baths	Licinian Baths	Licinian Baths	Arch of Severus Alexander
Arch of Septimius Severus	Temple of Tellus	Temple of Caracalla's Victory	Temple of Saturn	Temple of Juno Caelestis
Nymphaeum	Ain Doura Latrines	Ain Doura Baths	Ain Mizreb Cisterns	Ain El Hammam Cisterns
Ain Doura Cisterns	Punic Mausoleum	House of Venus	House of the Trefoil	House of the Gorgon
Baths of the Cyclops	Street	Street	Street	Dougga View
Dougga View	Dougga View	Dougga View	Dougga View	Dougga View