Borj Kelibia: Timeless Fortress

At The Crossroads of The Competitive Mediterranean

Photo credit: Housem Korbosli

Established by the Greeks of Sicily towards the end of the 4th century BC, and promptly seized by Carthage, the stronghold of Kélibia has always been an integral, if not dominant, part of the urban landscape. Positioned atop a rocky promontory overlooking the sea on the northeastern side of Cape Bon, its strategic significance and continuous utilization to the present day are readily apparent. The history of the ancient city, known as Aspis to the Greeks and translated by the Romans as Clipea, meaning shield, is intricately intertwined with that of its citadel, rightfully regarded as the emblem of the city, with its location dictating the selection of the site and its urban evolution.

Within its oldest sections, the citadel harbors a Punic nucleus. Yet, through excavations and topographic surveys, scholars have succeeded in reconstructing the layouts of its initial foundations, dating back to the 4th-3rd century BC, revealing a more expansive and fortified pentagonal structure ideally suited to the promontory's topography.

Following its destruction upon the fall of Carthage in 146 BC, the structure was partially restored in the 6th century by the Byzantines, who erected a fortress within the heart of the Borj.