Bardo National Museum (Tunis) facts for kids

The Bardo National Museum is a famous museum in Tunis, Tunisia. It is one of the most important museums in the Mediterranean region. It is also the second largest museum in Africa, after the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The museum tells the story of Tunisia's past over thousands of years. It shows many different civilizations through its amazing collection of archaeological pieces.

This museum was first suggested in the 1860s. It has been located in an old palace since 1888. It was first called the Alaoui Museum. This name honored the bey (ruler) at that time. After Tunisia became independent, it was renamed the Bardo Museum.

The museum has one of the world's largest collections of Roman mosaics. These mosaics were found during digs at places like Carthage, Hadrumetum, and Dougga. They show what daily life was like in Roman Africa. The museum also has many marble statues of Roman gods and emperors.

You can also see items from Punic sites, like Carthage. These include unique masks, clay statues, and special stone tablets called stelae. One famous stele shows a priest and a child. The museum also displays Greek art. Some pieces were found from a shipwreck near Mahdia. A beautiful marble bust of Aphrodite is a highlight.

On March 18, 2015, the museum experienced a sad event. An attack took place, and some visitors were hurt. Police quickly responded to the situation. The museum is now safe and continues to welcome visitors from all over the world.

Discover the Bardo Museum

Bardo museum plan.

The Bardo National Museum is housed in a beautiful 15th-century palace. This palace is located in the suburbs of Tunis. It is a truly special place to explore history.

The museum is a treasure chest of artifacts from many civilizations. It shows the rich history of Tunisia over thousands of years. You can see major works found since archaeological research began in the country.

Inside, you'll find incredible collections. The Islamic Department has a famous Blue Koran from Kairouan. It also features many ceramics from North Africa and Asia Minor.

Amazing Roman Mosaics

The Carthage Room with Roman statues and a mosaic.

The Bardo Museum is famous for its huge collection of Roman mosaics. These mosaics are some of the best and largest in the world. They were found in places like Carthage, Hadrumetum, and Utica. These artworks are like windows into everyday life in Roman Africa. The museum also has many marble statues. These statues show Roman gods and emperors. They were found at sites like Carthage and Thuburbo Majus.

Ancient Punic and Greek Treasures

The Sousse Room with a golden ceiling and mosaics.

The museum also holds fascinating items from Punic sites. These include grimacing masks and clay statues. There are also stelae, which are carved stone slabs. One very famous stele shows a priest and a child. The Bardo also has Greek artworks. Many of these were found from the Mahdia shipwreck. A marble bust of Aphrodite is a well-known piece.

The museum had a big renovation that finished in 2012. This made the museum even larger and better for visitors.

Museum Collections

Small Patio of the Palace.

The Bardo Museum has a huge collection of Roman mosaics. It also displays other ancient items. These come from Ancient Greece, Carthage, Tunisia, and the Islamic period.

You can see objects from pre-historic times to modern jewelry. The museum offers a journey through different eras.

Technologies for Visitors

Since June 17, 2014, the museum has offered a digital guide. This guide is available in English, French, and Arabic. It was created by Orange Tunisia.

Visitors can download a free app to their smartphones. They can also borrow a free smartphone at the museum entrance. The app provides audio guides and photo slideshows. It also shares historical and geographical facts about the artworks.

Images for kids

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  Virgile Room.

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  d’Althiburos Room.

Gallery

Carthaginian art

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  Anthropomorphic amphora

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  Carthaginian baby bottle. Painted decoration: eyes; palmettes; Tanit....... 3rd century BCE

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  Statue of Baal Hammon sitting on a throne

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  Statue of Tanit leontocephalus

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  Punic jewelry

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  Carthaginian armor from Ksour es-Saf

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  Bottle idol on a stele

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  Stele of Tanit (Carthaginian goddess of fertility)

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  Punic statue

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  Carthaginian granite pebble with figure of deity. 5th century BCE

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  Miniature Punic chapel (naïskos)

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  Priest's stele, discovered in Carthage in 1921. (3rd century BCE. J.-C.).

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  Punic jewellery

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  Statue of Demeter

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  Coroplath statuette holding a tambourine

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  Punic figure of the goddess Tanit with a lion’s head. CE 1st century

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  Punic stelae

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  Stele of the tophet of Salammbô

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  urn to the Bard, "naïskos"

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  Egyptian style Female mask found in a tomb, known as Protomé Necropolis of Carthage, late 6th - 5th century BCE.

Famous mosaics

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  Mosaic of a bottle of wine (2. Jhdt.n.Chr., El Jem-Thysdrus)

• Neptune Roman mosaic Bardo Museum Tunis.jpg

  Neptune Roman Mosaic

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  Zodiac mosaic

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  Seignor Julius mosaic, CE 5th century, Carthage

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  Matron at her toilet, CE 4th century, Carthage

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  Mosaic of a Wild boar and dog. CE 3rd century

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  Mosaic of Virgil seated between Clio and Melpomene (from Hadrumetum Sousse). CE 3rd century.

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  Mosaic of a hunting scene. CE 2nd century

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  Roman Christian mosaic of bricklayers at work. CE 4th century

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  Roman mosaic of "Crescentinus diaconus", dating from the CE 4th century. The inscription translates: "The host of the angels, the count of the martyrs, and breathing a peaceful life, may he go to you in a holy manner. Our memory, with the gracious piety with which the deacon Crescentinus is accustomed, returned in peace the 3rd Augustus Kalends."

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  A Roman Christian mosaic called "Daniel among the Lions". CE 4th century

Famous sculptures

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  Roman commemorative sculpture, in which the deceased is dressed as Hercules. CE 3rd century

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  Minia Procula, Roman sculpture. CE 2nd century.

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  Roman sculpture of Minerva. CE 2nd century

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  Roman sculpture of Suturn. CE 2nd century

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  Roman sculpture of Ceres Diademea, CE 2nd century

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  Colossal head, Sculpture of Jupiter, CE 3rd century

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  Jupiter Serapio, CE 2nd century

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  Sculpture of Jupiter, CE 2nd century

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  Sculpture of Empress Faustina II statue, CE 2nd century

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  Sculpture of Abundance, CE 3rd century

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  Sculpture of Concordia Pantea, CE 2nd century

Pieces in the ground floor

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  The early Christian room with baptistery in the centre

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  Museum entrance

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  Hallway of sarcophagi full with visitors.

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  Access door on the first floor

Fresco and Roof of Althiburos Room

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  Fresco on interior balcony

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  Roof of the Bey Palace

Roofs of Oudna Room

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  Painted ceiling of the Oudna Room.

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  Painted wooden ceiling.

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  Painted and gilded ceiling of the Room Althiburos.

Roofs of Sousse Room

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  The domed ceiling of the mosaic hall

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  Parts of the Bardo Palace before CE 1870, Le Bardo

Roofs of Virgil Room

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  Roofs decorated with stucco

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  Ceiling of the Virgil room

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  Apartments of the Bey, room called Virgil, after the name of the mosaic of Sousse that was exposed until the extension of the years CE 2010

See also

In Spanish: Museo Nacional del Bardo para niños

• Culture of Tunisia
• List of museums in Tunisia
• History of Tunisia
• Ancient Carthage
• Carthage National Museum