Sfax, Looking across the Place de la Republique towards the Town Hall. May 2005.

Sfax, in Arabic: صفاقس, pronounced: Safaqis, or /sfa:qs/ in Tunisian Arabic, whence the French name, is a city in Tunisia, located 270 km southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD 849 on the ruins of Taparura and Thaenae, is the capital of the Sfax governorate, and a Mediterranean port on the Gulf of Gabes. Sfax has population of 340,000 (2005), and is an industrial center for processing phosphates. The city is often described as Tunisia's Second city, because only Tunis has more inhabitants. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x648, 191 KB) Cpyright-free image taken by RichJE, May 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x648, 191 KB) Cpyright-free image taken by RichJE, May 2005. ... The Arabic language ( ), or simply Arabic ( ), is the largest member of the family of Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic, and Aramaic. ... Tunisian Arabic is a Maghrebi dialect of the Arabic language, spoken by some 9 million people. ... Events Births Deaths August 18 - Walafrid Strabo, German monk and theologian Categories: 849 ... The Sfax Governorate is one of the governorates of Tunisia. ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ... The Gulf of Gabes, called Minor Syrtis in ancient times, is a gulf on Tunisias east coast in the Mediterranean Sea. ... In chemistry, a phosphate is a polyatomic ion or radical consisting of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen. ... The second city of a country is the city that is (or was) the second-most important, usually after the capital or first city, according to some criteria. ...

By the end of the 10th century Sfax had become an independent city state. The city was conquered by Roger of Sicily in 1148 and occupied until it was liberated in 1156 by local forces, and was briefly occupied by European forces again, this time by the Spanish, in the 16th century. Sfax became an integral base of the Barbary piracy, prompting an unsuccessful invasion by Venice in 1785. In the late 19th century Sfax and the rest of Tunisia were conquered by France and incorporated into the French empire. During World War II, the Axis powers used the city as a major base until they were defeated by British forces. After World War II, Tunisia was returned to France only to gain independence in 1956. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 10th century was that century which lasted from 901 to 1000. ... A city-state is a region controlled exclusively by a city, and usually having sovereignty. ... Roger II (1093-1154), son and successor of Roger I, began his rule in 1112. ... Events Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona conquered Tortosa in posetion of the moors. ... Events Prince Yuriy Dolgorukiy fortifies Moscow, regarded as the date of the founding of the city Establishment of the Carmelite Order Hogen Rebellion in Japan January 20 - According to legend, freeholder Lalli slays English crusader Bishop Henry with an axe on the ice of the lake Köyliönjärvi... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Venice (Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venexia) is the capital of the region of Veneto and the province of the same name in Italy. ... 1785 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Founded in 1961, Radio Sfax broadcasts twenty hours a day on MW 720 kHz/105.21 MHz. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ...

Sfax had a great university,

ENIS ( Ecole Nationale d'Ingenieur de Sfax) issued a number of well known scientists and industriels. www.enis.rnu.tn

ESCS (Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Sfax) issued a number of Managers, Economy and Management Researchers and Youth Entrepreneurs. www.escs.rnu.tn

See also

• Sufax
• Sfax travel guide

Coordinates: 34°44′N 10°46′E Sufax (also Sophax, Syphax or Sufaqs like in the name of the current city Sfax, Tunisia) was a hero from the Berber and Greek mythologies. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...