Bisica Lucana (Henchir Bijga)
Bisica Lucana · Bisica · Henchir Bijga · El Gharia
Roman (1st c. BCE–7th c. CE)·Numidian / Roman-Christian·🇹🇳 Zaghouan Governorate, Fahs–Zaghouan hills, Henchir Bijga (El Gharia), Tunisia
About
About Bisica Lucana (Henchir Bijga)
Hill municipium dominating Fahs–Medjerda watershed, Bisica preserves forum with double temples, huge nymphaeum (25 m façade), theatre semi-cut in marl, and 1.5 km aqueduct siphon crossing wadi with venter bridge. Bishop Felix of Bisica (484). Olive yard with 30 screw presses. View to Zaghouan massif. Excavated by Ferchiou.
Why it mattersSiphon aqueduct textbook example and watershed market town.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Siphon lead vs stone pressure
- 02Theatre chronology
Theories
- 01Rakob aqueduct typology
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Berber hilltop; municipium under Trajan (c.100 CE)
- Period
- Roman (1st c. BCE–7th c. CE)
- Culture
- Numidian / Roman-Christian
- Builders
- Numidian / Roman
- Purpose
- Upland olive and grain mart with hydraulic siphon technology demonstrator
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.100 CE
Municipium
2nd c. CE
Nymphaeum, aqueduct siphon, temples
484 CE
Persecution list bishop
6th c. CE
Fort over nymphaeum
On the ground
Structures & features
36.2845° N · 9.9120° E · 310 m · 2 mapped features
Nymphaeum Façade
nymphaeum25 m apsidal nymphaeum with niches and cisterns behind
36.2850° N · 9.9125° EAqueduct Siphon Venter Bridge
aqueduct1.5 km siphon crossing wadi, venter bridge 12 m high
36.2820° N · 9.9100° E