Bulla Regia

Orose tells us that it was a royal city, the residence of Hiarbas, a Numidian king in the 1 st century B.C. Bulla Regia did not enter under Roman domination until 46 B.C., after the creation of Africa nova by Caesar. Its ascension and integration took place rapidly. A likely municipium under Augustus, it was elevated to the rank of Colonia Ael(ia) Hadriana Augusta Bulla Regia. Actually, this promotion granted by the emperor Hadrian is explained by the excellent position of the city :
° Situated in the rich valley of Bagradas (Medjerda, the main river in Tunisia);
° Situated on the way between Carthage and Hippo Regius*.
Bulla Regia contains imposing ruins among which are the Thermal baths which were a gift to the city offered by Julia Memmia, the daughter of a native consul. Excavated as early as 1909, this thermal building went through important archaeological works, among which the recent Franco-Tunisian research work which gave birth to such a beautiful scientific edition. Apart from the vestiges of many thermal places, Bulla Regia displays other archaeological units :
° Forum;
° Capitol and other temples dedicated to as diverse divinities as Apollo, Baal, Isis, etc.;
° Christian basilica
° Theatre;
° Areas with many dwellings some of which have been excavated and are comparatively well preserved;
° Underground dwellings, a rare example of ancient troglodytic architecture. The special layout of the houses is explained by the great summer heat in this part of the plains;
° Market:
° Byzantine fort, etc.