The amphitheatre of El Jem is imposing and monumental. It is hard to imagine the scale of the Roman town of Thysdrus, which gave birth to this amphitheatre modelled on Rome's Coliseum. By the 3rd century Thysdrus had a population of 100,000 - modern day El Jem only musters a meagre few thousand - and was the richest city in North Africa.

Its prosperity was based on the fact that the Romans, through their exquisite knowledge of water systems, were able to harness the potential of the fertile soil in this otherwise dry region. El Jem stands as a worthy testament to their skill and management of water. The modern town is indicative of our lack of progress since that time, although, thankfully, the dungeons beneath the vast arena are now empty.