Thuburbo Majus - Capitol

The northwest side of the Forum in Thuburbo Majus is occupied by the Capitol, built in 168, which stands on a podium consisting of three courses of massive blocks of dressed stone. A broad flight of fifteen steps leads up to four (originally six) re-erected Corinthian columns of Carrara marble, 8.5m/28ft high. There is no trace of the cella which contained the cult statues of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, but the excavators found the head of a statue of Jupiter which originally stood 7m/23ft high; it can now be seen in the Bardo Museum in Tunis.

The podium originally housed the temple treasury and was later occupied by an oil-press. From the Capitol there is a fine view over the ancient city.