Sidi Ghrib


Sidi Ghrib is a Tunisian archaeological site about forty kilometers south-west of Carthage and four kilometers 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 m 2, they measure 28 by 29 meters, around a frigidarium of about 8.5 meters by 9.5 meters.

Description of the mosaics

  1. Matron at his toilet, 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.;
  2. 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.