Thapsus

35.62583333333311.045Koordinaten: 35 ° 37 ' 33 "N, 11 ° 2' 42" O

Thapsus ( Greek form Thapsos ) was an ancient city on the coast of North Africa in present-day Tunisia. She was one of many cities in the coastal strip of Byzacena and originally a Phoenician market town, which was established near a salt lake, 80 stadia from the island Lopadussa between Leptis Minor and Sullectum.

After the Third Punic War and the destruction of Carthage Thapsus part of the Roman province of Africa, but retained as a civitas libera its internal autonomy.

In the year 46 BC, the battle took place here at Thapsus between Gaius Julius Caesar and the united army of the supporters of Pompey and the Numidian king Juba.

The disintegration time of the Roman Empire continued to 430, the Vandals of Spain here on, and the country came to their kingdom.

The only known by name Bishop Vigilius of Thapsus is, who took part in the time of the Arian schism 484 at a Bishops' Conference. She had been convened by the Vandal king Huneric as a discussion platform between Catholic bishops and those supported by the King Arians. When the conference failed, Huneric issued an edict to the dispossession and exile of Catholics, unless they were Arian. Also Vigilius seems to have escaped - probably after Constantine Opel; only ten to twenty years later, Catholics were allowed to return at a later king.

Thapsus is still a titular today.

As the climate of North Africa deteriorated, the city declined; its ruins can be found at Ras Dimas near Bekalta in Tunisia. You can still see the remains of a pier, a fort, an amphitheater and large cisterns. In the surrounding area there is a necropolis of the Carthaginians.