It can hardly be said to be now surrounded by a wall, though in some places the wall built on Roman or Byzantine foundations still exists. The most interesting part is towards the north, where one of the ancient city gates still remains entire, though built up and buried to a great part of its height in débris.
This is curious, as it differs from all the triumphal arches I have yet seen in North Africa. The piers on each side consist of two fluted Corinthian pilasters, supporting a complete entablature, from which the central arch rises. As nothing except the arch itself now remains, it is impossible to say how this was crowned. Amongst the stones used in the re-construction of this part of the walls are many fragments of sculpture and inscriptions. The latter have frequently been published. One of them contains the ancient name of the city, THIB. BVRE, another a record of the reconstruction of its walls by Thomas, prefect of Africa during the reign of Justinus II. and the Empress Sophia, A.D. 565 to 578.[205] This Thomas is honourably mentioned by Carippus Africanus in the first book of his poem, De laudibus Justini minoris:—
Et Thomas Libyæ nutantis dextera terræ.
Three others have been recorded by Bruce, but the precise locality where they were found is not given.
AEDEM . NOVAM . L. PALATIVS . HONORATV . . . .
BONIFATIAE VXORIS SVAE XX MIL. N. EX. T.
MVLTIPLICATA . PECVNIA . EXCOLVIT . ET . OMNI . REPER.
VRBI ROMAE AETERNAE AVG
RESP. MVNICIPI . SEVERIANI ANTO
NINIANI LIBERI THIBVRSICENSIVM