Sidi Ghrib

Sidi Ghrib is a Tunisian archaeological site about 40 kilometers (25 mi) southwest of Carthage and four kilometers (2.5 mi) from Borj El Amri, known for its beautiful Roman mosaics.

Archaeology

The site was searched in 1975. The study by Abdelmajid Ennabli showed that the site was a Roman villa of the late 4th or early 5th century. The thermal baths at the site formed part of the villa and were therefore private. With a total area of 780 m² (8,400 sq ft), they measure 28 by 29 meters (92 by 95 ft), around a frigidarium of about 8.5 by 9.5 meters (28 by 31 ft).

Description of the mosaics

Matron at her toilette, displayed at the National Museum of Bardo, is a mosaic representing the domina, the mistress of house, occupied with her toilet and surrounded by two maidservants of which one holds a mirror and the other carries a basket containing various jewels. At the end of the mosaic, the artist presented the necessary accessories for the bath: a pair of sandals, a basket of linen, a pitcher, etc.;
Master of the house leaving for the hunting exhibition at the presidential palace of Carthage.

These representations with the aim of social affirmation are frequent at the end of antiquity.

References

↑ Michèle Blanchard-Lemée, "About the mosaics of Sidi Ghrib: Venus, the Gaurus and a poem by Symachus", Mixtures of the French School of Rome. Antiquity, vol. 100, No. 100-1, 1988, p. 367–384
↑ Mohamed Yacoub, Splendours of the Mosaics of Tunisia, ed. National Heritage Agency, Tunis, 1995
↑ Abdelmajid Ennabli, "The thiase baths of Sidi Ghrib (Tunisia)", Monuments and memories of the Eugene Piot Foundation, vol. 68, No. 68, 1986, p. 1–59
↑ Abdelmajid Ennabli and Lucinda Neuru, "Excavations at Sidi Ghrib", Echoes of the Classical World / Classical Views, vol. XXXVIII, No. 13, 1994/2, p. 207–220
↑ Abdelmajid Ennabli and Lucinda Neuru, "Tunisia: Recent excavations at Sidi-Grib", Field notes, No. 18, 1993, pp. 27–31, pl. 13–18
↑ Mohamed Yacoub, Splendours of the Mosaics of Tunisia, ed. National Heritage Agency, Tunis, 1995, p. 222
↑ Yacoub, 1995, p. 224

[1] Michèle Blanchard-Lemée, "About the mosaics of Sidi Ghrib: Venus, the Gaurus and a poem by Symachus", Mixtures of the French School of Rome. Antiquity, vol. 100, No. 100-1, 1988, p. 367–384

[2] Mohamed Yacoub, Splendours of the Mosaics of Tunisia, ed. National Heritage Agency, Tunis, 1995

[3] Abdelmajid Ennabli, "The thiase baths of Sidi Ghrib (Tunisia)", Monuments and memories of the Eugene Piot Foundation, vol. 68, No. 68, 1986, p. 1–59

[4] Abdelmajid Ennabli and Lucinda Neuru, "Excavations at Sidi Ghrib", Echoes of the Classical World / Classical Views, vol. XXXVIII, No. 13, 1994/2, p. 207–220

[5] Abdelmajid Ennabli and Lucinda Neuru, "Tunisia: Recent excavations at Sidi-Grib", Field notes, No. 18, 1993, pp. 27–31, pl. 13–18

[6] Mohamed Yacoub, Splendours of the Mosaics of Tunisia, ed. National Heritage Agency, Tunis, 1995, p. 222

[7] Yacoub, 1995, p. 224