Gladiators are not forgotten. Not even in Rome or other places, and
definitely not in Tunisia. Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa, but
it has an important strategic position. It's located on the coast to the Middle
terrain Ocean and squeezed between two big and unstable countries as Libya and
Algeria. But that doesn't frighten tourists from going there.
From history the Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Ottomans
and French have all affected the country in different ways. Mostly it has been
bloody affairs. One monument that strongly reminds about this is Thysdrus in El
Jem.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Tunisia was the religion. I
couldn't avoid hearing the loudly praying at the big mosque in Sousse.
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And it reminded me about Freddy Mercury in Queen
singing the song Mustapha (on the Jazz album).
Photo. The big mosque in Sousse.
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Islam is the state religion in Tunisia, but the life seems to be fairly
liberated. Islam has been seen as a force that has slowed down or kept back the
country's development. After Bourguiba became president in the 1950s, he reduced
Islam's role in society by removing religious leaders from their traditional
areas of influence, such as education and the law. The shari'a (Qur'anic law)
courts were also abolished, and lands that had financed mosques and religious
institutions were confiscated.
Today Tunisia has a mixed culture of both Arabian and western style. Tunisia
is probably best known as an attracted place for tourists who love sunny beaches
and bathing. In my case I was eager to find more about the history behind the
story in the great movie Gladiator. This movie was released in Mai 2000 and had
some incredible actions scenes with gladiators. I have seen this movie at least
3 times, and it still haunt me. One of the brutal scenes was from the big
colloseum Thysdrus in El Jem (Tunisa in northern Africa).
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Photo. Cover from the great movie
"Gladiator".
The director of the movie Gladiator is Ridley Scott. |
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The story is from the second century A.D. It's about Maximus, who is a
popular and trusted general in the Roman army. He is also a close friend to the
ailing Emperor Marcus Aurelius. After the emperor's jealous son orders Maximus
and his family killed, Maximus escapes death only to be sold into slavery. So he
has to fight for his life, and then he became a fierce gladiator. In his seek
for revenge he keeps up his good fighting spirit. Here you can see lots of
scenes with hard clashes, big guts and spelling of blood. But first of all I had
to do a breathtaking stunt on the beach. This was day the day for really big
adventures.
Dramatic landing in a parachute
Eastern, Monday
21 April 2003: On the beach near Sousse I was ready to have some fun in the
morning. I was so keen to do a new stunt that I helped a boat driver to drag out
his boat. His plan was to drag me up in the air in a parachute by the boat. It
was just a thin line between me and the 100 metres free fall to the ocean. In a
big parachute I am soared over the Mediterranean Ocean and I feel very small. I
hoped that the line would hold
.. ! If the line broke, where would I land? In
the middle of the ocean, or would I across the ocean over to Spain? I kept the
ropes tight. I feel little beat fear, but at the same time I enjoy the
excitement. "Butterflies were soaring around in my stomach".
Instead of thinking of how it would be if I felt down, I tried to focus on the beautiful
surroundings. I could clearly see the beautiful beach crowded with people. I could also
get a good view over the area. With clear sight I could see the city Sousse few
kilometres away. It was really a beautiful day. I assumed that the sun would
burn me when I was soaring in the air, but fortunately the big parachute
protected me.
After a while I started to relax. I didn't feel dizzy or had other problems.
This magical mystery tour was definitely not for people who are afraid of air
under their feet. I am used to have contact with the ground, and my balance
nerve is not trained for tours like this. Some people rise voluntary up in the
air. Others are challenged by friends or colleagues, and some have got it as a
surprising gift, perhaps from "good" friends concerning stag or hen parties. For
me it was an old dream I had to turn to reality.
Parachuting is arranged usually in the morning between 10.00 - 12.00 O'clock.
If it blew too much, "passengers" have to wait for take off. When I started my
flying tour I ran off from the beach assisted by to instructors and dragged by a
small motorboat. Mother earth was waiting me. It was not easy to find the way
down, and of course I would like to land comfortably. Seconds before my attempt
to land, I started to be real worried. People shouted and waved at me from the
beach. I got a hardly feeling that something was wrong. I just tried to do what
they had told me.
Photos. What is safest? Exploring Tunisia on a
camel back, or in a parachute?
Before I started I got strictly instructions from the instructor that I had
to use my right hand when I should land. He showed me a mark on the rope on the
parachute. When he signalled to me with blowing in his flute, I should use drag
the rope with my right hand. Logically I should use my left hand to steer
towards the beach. I tried that too, but they still shouted wildly, and I got
even more confused. When I tried both hands, they got totally wild. I failed,
and the boat driver dragged me out on the ocean again.
| Photo. Parachuting is for people who like
fun, and sometimes like to be scared. |
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On my second attempt to land it also became dramatic. I went up and down as a
yo-yo. But finally I landed. Not on safe ground, but on shallow water. My
instructor ran quickly out in the water to catch me. Fortunately I didn't get
the parachute over me, and I also avoided diving under the cold ocean water. It
was a happy end, and after a while I could breath normally again.
All this dramatic made my girlfriend Sirpa little bit
nervous. She was the next "victim" in the parachute. I gave her my advice, and
she had an enjoyable tour in the air. She did the right things during the
descending. Her landing was just perfect with both her feet planted safely on the beach.
Then she turned to a big smile and looked really relieved. She was very happy with
the flying tour, and I congratulated her afterwards. I think she like parachuting better
than camel riding.
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The show must on!
Parachuting better than camel riding?
Photo. My girlfriend Sirpa from Finland made it with a
big smile and great Finnish SISU-guts! |
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This story continues in part 2 - read more about the great colloseum in
El Jem where the gladiators fought big battles.
Stein Morten Lund, 5 May 2003.
Additional information
Some facts about
Thysdrus (El Jem in Tunisia):
Area: Thysdrus covers about 360 acres.
The extent of its ruins ranks it among the largest antique cities of Tunisia.
Construction period: built between 230 and 238 A.D.
Capacity: 30,000
spectators.
Long axis: 138 metres long (450 feet).
Short axis: 114
metres wide (370 feet).
Height: the tiers rose to more than 30 metres (90
feet) from the ground.
Some facts about Colosseum in Rome:
The Colosseum was designed to hold 50,000 spectators, and it had approximately
eighty entrances so crowds could arrive and leave easily and quickly.
The
plan is a vast ellipse, measuring externally 188 m x 156 m (615 ft x 510 ft),
with the base of the building covering about 6 acres. Vaults span between eighty
radial walls to support tiers of seating and for passageways and stairs.
The facade
of three tiers of arches and an attic story is about 48.5 m (158 ft) tall -
roughly equivalent to a 12 - 15 story building.
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