Henchir-Bez

36.01617°N 9.530301°E / 36.01617; 9.530301

Vazi Sarra, Tunisia.

Henchir Bez is an archaeological site in Tunisia,^[1] located at 36° 00′ 23″ N, 9° 32 in the hills overlooking the Oued Miliane river,^[2][3] west of Tunis.^[4][5][6] Identified by a recently discovered inscription,^[7][8] it is the ruins of the Roman civitas of Vazi Sarra,^{[9][10][11][12]} which include a Christian Basilica and a Byzantine/Roman fort.^[13]

Ruins

The ruins at Henchir Bez have been identified as the remains of Vazitana Sarra Civitas (Vazi Sarara),^[14] a civitas of the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis.^[15][16] The remains at Henchir Bez include a Bascilica and a fort. The fort was originally a temple dedicated to Mercury Soberus.^[17][18]

Etymology

The name Henchir Bez means the "ruins of Bez" where 'bez' probably derives from the ancient "Vaz[i]" through Linguisitic Fortition. The name Vazitana Sarra Civitas is supported by recent epigraphical finds^[19]

Bishopric

The ancient Roman town of Vazi-Sarra was also the seat of an ancient Catholic Bishopric. It existed until the Muslim conquest of the Maghreb, and is now a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church.

Another ancient Bishopric, Marcelliana, was located nearby. However, its exact location is unknown.^[20]