Named as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Dougga illustrates
the synthesis of local and Mediterranean cultures that have left their
mark on the ancient city throughout the ages.
Burial sites in the southern quarter of the site indicate that Dougga was founded during the Neolithic era (2000 BC).
The choice of the site was appropriate. It’s easily defensible
against outside attack with its steep slopes and high cliffs as well as
ideal for human settlement with fertile lands for agriculture and plenty
of raw materials nearby for industry.
In the 4
th century BC, the Greeks of Sicily led by
Agathocles decided to fight the Carthaginians in their own territory.
The city of Toccai was taken by Greeks in the campaign according to
historical records and has been identified by modern-day scholars as
Thugga, the ancient name of Dougga,
In 202 BC, capitalizing upon the weakness of Carthage at the end of
the Second Punic War, the Numidians took control of Thugga, which became
the capital of their kingdom, according to some historians. The
Numidian Kingdom extended from
northwestern Tunisia
across northern Algeria. Under the reign of Massinissa (202-148 BC) and
his son Micipa, Thugga witnessed a golden age in which the arts
flourished.
Furthermore, this period in Thugga’s history has provided a
significant collection of epigraphic and archaeological insight to the
way of life at that time. In fact, it has provided the most ancient
Lybic inscriptions known to date.
The mausoleum of Dougga, in the southern edge of the site, is the
only intact structure that displays official Numidian architecture
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| Royal Mausoleum |
in the 2
nd century BC. It consists of a 21m tower topped by a pyramid and a lion and was dedicated to King Massinissa.
One century later, Thugga was conquered by the Romans, and the Roman
province of “Africa Proconsularis” annexed the Numidian city. During
Roman times, the city was composed of two districts – one for local
inhabitants and another for Roman settlers. The Roman influence swiftly
made an impact on the nature of the town, but the original layout
inherited from the Numidian kingdom remained unchanged.
Local inhabitants assimilated Roman deities into their worship. For
example, the Roman temples of Saturn and Caellestis were built over the
ruins of previous temples to local deities – Baal and Tanit –
respectively. Both of these Roman temples are found outside the cities’
walls while those of other major Roman deities are in the center of the
city.
Monuments were erected as displays of Dougga’s loyalty to Rome, and
the remnants of ancient Roman structures are testimony to the city’s
golden age in the 2
nd and 3
rd centuries AD.
Dougga’s theater, which is the best preserved in all of Tunisia, was
built under the reign of the Antonian dynasty in the 2
nd
century. The Capitol, or the Temple of Jupiter, occupied the center of
the city as a sign of Roman unity. The worship of Jupiter was the
official religion at the time, and it was incumbent upon any respectful
citizen to make sacrifices there.
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| Dougga Capitol |
The city was not lacking in public baths. The largest of Dougga’s
baths unearthed so far are the Licinian baths, which were constructed in
the 3
rd century thanks to the donations of rich Roman citizens.
Under the reign of the Severan emperors (193-235 AD) Thugga became a
Municipium, a Roman city ruled by its own citizens, and even achieved
the status of a colony in which all citizens were granted Roman
citizenship.
When the Byzantines took over the administration of the city in the
sixth century, they channeled enormous effort to fortify the city. Many
stone blocks were removed from their original structures to be inserted
in huge walls that would enclose the forum and the temple of Jupiter.
Latin inscription can be found on these Byzantine walls.
Like the rest of the Roman cities in the province, Thugga declined
with the arrival of the Arabs in the seventh century. Despite this
decadence, it remained inhabited, and archaeologists have discovered
ceramics and potteries from the 11
th century. A small mosque, built a few centuries ago, rests on the eastern side of a pagan temple.
An old tradition with pagan origins survived the arrival of Islam and
continues to this day. It’s the Lalla Mokhola along the ruins
of Dougga’s Ain el-Hammam cisterns. Curious visitors can discover
whitewashed walls bearing handprints, henna, the remains of burnt out
candles, and brownish traces of dried blood from a chicken sacrificed to
Lalla Mokhola, the Mistress and patron saint of the inhabitants. Lalla
Mokhola was a lady, who arrived to the city in time immemorial. When she
wanted to depart, she was obliged to stay by Dougga’s residents due to
the prodigious, mystical powers she possessed.
At the end of the spring, a
Zarda- a celebration involving sacrifice – is organized. The inhabitants collect money to buy a white ox
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| A Local Paying Respects in the modern-day Shrine to Lalla Mokhola |
and spend a night near the cisterns because they think that this
woman comes out from the nearby spring and pours oil on the head of the
ox. In the morning, the ox is sacrificed and the meat distributed to the
families.
The procession of Lalla Mokhola is a legacy of the Roman cult to the
water spring. A Roman aqueduct, built in 184 AD, brought its water
supply to the city. This cult is even mentioned in Latin inscriptions
found near the aqueduct.
In 1960, a new village was built to shelter the inhabitants, who used
to live amidst the ruins of the ancient city. It’s located on the road
that links Tunis to el-Kef (GP5) and known as New Dougga
