Musti

Musti or Mustis was an ancient city and bishopric in the Roman province of Proconsular Africa, now in northern Tunisia. Its ruins, called Mest Henshir, are about eight miles from Dougga, near Sidi-Abd-Er-Rebbou. It is also a Catholic titular see. History Musti was an important town in the Roman era, located along the Roman road that ran between Carthage and Tebessa, eight miles from Dougga, and near Sidi-Abd-Er-Rebbou. The limits of the town were set in 238 by two triumphal arches, erected on this road which traversed Musti from east to west. Towards the end of 2nd century BC the Roman general Gaius Marius settled his veterans here and at a later time it was elevated to the rank of a municipium by Julius Caesar or by Marcus Aurelius. The ancient Roman town lost its appearance when the Byzantines transformed it into a stronghold during their struggles against the Vandals. The town has only been partially excavated, leaving a large area still to be researched, but nevertheless boasts remains of the forum, the marketplace, built in white calcareous stone several temples, the cisterns, a Byzantine citadel, and a number of Roman houses. There is also a church with a baptistry. Three temples have been identified at Musti though others were known, One of the temples was converted to a bascillica in the 4th century