It's hard to describe how striking Dougga was. I was completely unprepared for it. My Lonely Planet had said it was an impressive site of Roman ruins and it was just a couple of hours south of Tunis, so I decided to head down there and take a look. There was a bizarre incident on the bus where one passenger walked to the front and started slapping another man across the face and screaming at him, but I lived in New York long enough to know there are crazy people everywhere, and then every taxi I stopped in Tebersouk demanded 20 times the local rate to take me the last few miles out to Dougga, so I was a bit tired by the time I did manage to find a driver who asked a fair price. I figured I'd spend an hour at Dougga, take some photos, and go back to Tunis, the end. So when the taxi turned a corner and I looked out the window to catch my first glimpse of the magnificent ruins at Dougga, I knew immediately it was already worth the hassle.
Dougga was formerly Thugga, a Numidian town founded around 500 BC, which became a Roman settlement in 46 BC. Like Carthage, Dougga has been occupied by various ruling cultures over time.
Given the height of the columns and its exceptionally well maintained state, the capitol does not fail to impress.
The theater seats 3,500 spectators! Dougga is perched on a hill and the view from the theater gives a 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside.
The Romans built underground tunnels.
More of the incredible mosaics that I love.
Archaeologists have found thousands of Libyan, Punic, Greek, and Roman inscriptions which have made invaluable contributions to modern understanding of ancient life.
Over 20 temples from various centuries and rulers have been identified.
The former market.
I spent 3 hours wandering around the ruins, absolutely enthralled. I could have easily spent 3 more hours but the bus to Tunis waits for no one.
The best part about Dougga? I had it virtually to myself. Ok, I had to share it with some sheep but that wasn't a problem.
