Thuburbo Maius

THUBURBO MAIUS. - Ancient diocese and city in proconsular Africa, called the colony "Iulia Aurelia Commoda Thuburbo Maius," present-day Henchir-el-Kasbat in Tunisia; today it is a titular see.

Its known bishops are Sedatus, present at the Council of Carthage of 256; a Faustinus in the time of St. Augustine (Ad Donatum post collationem, 22, 38), a Cyprian in 411; a Germanus in 646; it was still an episcopal see at the beginning of the 8th century (A. Gelzer, in Byzant. Zeitschrift, 2 [1893], p. 26). The ancient temple of Baal-Saturn and of Tanit-Ceres was transformed into a church around the beginning of the 6th century in the southern part and in the peristyle; the left part of the portico became the right nave and a new row of limestone columns was added. The three naves were separated by gates resting against the columns; the floor was a geometric mosaic; three limestone slabs contained epitaphs (with the formula "fidelis in pace"); several doors were opened and the remaining free part was used as a cemetery. In front of the church, on four column bases arranged in a square, was placed the tomb of a woman who was laid in a wooden casket, with her jewels, gold earrings, two gold fibulae, a gold necklace, etc. Near this church there was later found the mosaic inscription beside the altar of an "Arifridos in pace," today in the Bardo Museum in Tunis. The temple of Mercury also seems to have been transformed into a church (CIL, VIII, 12372.) Another church was obtained near the harbor of the Petronii.

Enrico Josi