catacombs of Sousse

The dams of Sousse are catacombs of an underground cemetery that were created at the end of the first century by Christians to bury their dead during periods of persecution. The dams of Sousse consist of galleries that extend over 5 kilometers and contain more than 15,000 tombs. These tombs were dug into the walls of the galleries. On two or three levels, and the visitor notices the presence of niches at fairly regular intervals along the wall, and in the galleries there are oil lamps whose dim light is used to illuminate the catacombs. The catacombs were not only used as a secret tomb, but also as a place of worship and sanctuary for Christian believers until the end of the fourth century, and they also contained many sacred artifacts that are now displayed in the Sousse Museum.