Cillium (Kasserine)
Kasserine · Colonia Cillitana · Cillium
Roman Imperial (Flavian–Byzantine, 1st–7th c. CE)·Roman (Africa Proconsularis)·🇹🇳 Kasserine Governorate, Kasserine, Tunisia
About
About Cillium (Kasserine)
Tripartite Roman colonia at Kasserine, famed for its 3rd-c. Mausoleum of Flavius Secundus (tetrapylon), monumental arch of Septimius Severus, theatre (900 seats) and 2nd-c. arch-gravity dam across Oued Derb. Frontier post on Theveste-Hadrumetum road. Captured by Vandals, later Byzantine fort.
Why it mattersOnly surviving Roman arch-gravity dam in Tunisia and rare Numidian colonia ensemble.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Dam reservoir capacity and irrigation catchment
- 02Whether mausoleum also served as victory monument
Theories
- 01Dam supplied military annona (Smith 1970)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Colonia Flavia Augusta Cillium under Vespasian, 1st c. CE; dam 2nd c.
- Period
- Roman Imperial (Flavian–Byzantine, 1st–7th c. CE)
- Culture
- Roman (Africa Proconsularis)
- Purpose
- Road-station and dam control on Theveste–Cillium–Sbeitla axis
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 80 CE
Colonia founded under Vespasian
c. 200 CE
Arch of Septimius Severus erected
2nd c. CE
Kasserine Dam built (arch-gravity)
544 CE
Byzantine fort built after Vandal wars
On the ground
Structures & features
35.1675° N · 8.7971° E · 680 m · 2 mapped features
Mausoleum of Flavius Secundus
mausoleumTetrapylon mausoleum 12 m, three storeys with Corinthian capitals
35.1685° N · 8.7980° EKasserine Dam (Cillium Dam)
damRoman arch-gravity dam 150 m long, 10 m high across Oued Derb
35.1658° N · 8.8006° E