Water management was a central concern of cities in Africa Proconsularis, where a significant proportion of water resources was devoted to bathing facilities. Alongside urban baths, hot springs (aquae calidae) played an important role, valued for their therapeutic properties and often equipped with dedicated thermal installations. Despite their significance, these sites have received far less scholarly attention than monumental urban baths, and previous studies have relied mainly on literary and epigraphic evidence. Focusing exclusively on ancient Tunisia, this paper examines sixteen identified hot springs and associated thermal structures, many of which exceed those recorded in ancient texts. Drawing on archaeological remains as well as physicochemical, mineral, and therapeutic data, the study offers a synthesis of their geographical distribution, architectural characteristics, and modes of exploitation. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between hot springs, healing practices, and water cults, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of thermalism in Roman Africa Proconsularis.
Ameur Younès (Thu,) studied this question.