Thapsus or Thapsos (less commonly, Tapsus) (Greek: Θάψος) was an ancient city in what is modern day Tunisia. Its ruins exist at Ras Dimas near Bekalta, approximately 200 km southeast of Carthage. Originally founded by Phoenicians, it served as a marketplace on the coast of the province Byzacena in Africa Propria. Thapsus was established near a salt lake on a point of land eighty stadia (14.8 km) from the island of Lampedusa.
In 46 BC, Julius Caesar defeated Metellus Scipio and the Numidian King Juba with a tremendous loss of men near Thapsus (see Battle of Thapsus). Caesar exacted a payment of 50,000 sesterces from the vanquished. Their defeat marked the end of opposition to Caesar in Africa. Thapsus then became a Roman colony.
External links [edit]
- Mosaics of Thapsus
- Amphitheatre of Thapsus
- Hitchner, R., R. Warner, R. Talbert, T. Elliott, S. Gillies. "Places: 324827 (Thapsus)". Pleiades. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
Coordinates: 35°37′33″N 11°02′42″E / 35.62583°N 11.04500°E
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