Sidi Medien today
Sidi Medien

Vallitanus or Vallis was an ancient RomanBerber colonia in Carthage, Tunisia. The town is identified with ruins at Sidi Medien,[1][2] where are located the remains of a Roman theatre,[3][4] and a number of Roman inscriptions bearing witness to the town's name, and some local officials of the time can be found near the theatre.[5][6]

Roman Vallitanus was also the seat of an ancient bishopric under the metropolitan of Cartagine.[7] Four bishops from antiquity are known.

  • Bonifatius (Donatist bishop fl.314)
  • Restitutus (Donatist bishop floruit 404)
  • Bonifatius (Catholic bishop fl. 411)
  • Restitutus (Catholic bishop fl.525)

The bishopric ceased to function in the early 8th century with the arrival of Islam. Since the 1920s the diocese has been reestablished in name as a titular see and bishops have been appointed since.[8] The current bishop of Vallitanus is José Rafael Palma Capetillo, who replaced Jean-Michel di Falco Léandri.

References

  1. R. Cagnat – A. Merlin, Atlas archéologique de la Tunisie : édition spéciale des cartes topographiques publiées par le Ministère de la Guerre, accompagnée d'un texte explicatif (Paris 1914) Cat. no. 30.107.
  2. A. Hanene, A propos de C. I. L., VIII, 23750 provenant de Henchir Bez/Vazi Sarra, CahTun 197/198, 2006, 69;
  3. VALLES, Vallis, Henchir Sidi Median (Africa Proconsularis).
  4. Frank Sear, Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006) p290.
  5. Frank Sear, Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006) p289.
  6. Titular Episcopal See of Vallis at GCatholic.org.
  7. Vallitanus at catholic-hierarchy.org.
  8. Vallitanus at catholic-hierarchy.org.
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