Gabès قابس |
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Coordinates: 33°53′N 10°07′E / 33.883°N 10.117°ECoordinates: 33°53′N 10°07′E / 33.883°N 10.117°E | |
Country | Tunisia |
Governorates | Gabès |
Population (2014) | |
• Total | 130,984 |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Website | Official website |
Gabès (Tunisian Arabic: ڨابس Gābis), also spelled Cabès, Cabes, Kabes, Gabbs and Gaps, is the capital city of the Gabès Governorate in Tunisia. It lies on the coast of the Gulf of Gabès. With a population of 130,984, it is the 6th largest Tunisian city.
Takapes, the ancient name of Gabes, is a Numidian (Berber) toponym. Later, the prefix "Ta" (meaning "to" in Berber) was dropped, and the place became known as Kapes. As in Arabic the sound /p/ is unknown, Kapes became known as Kabes, and later known as Gabes.
Gabès is the ancient Tacapae or Tacape (Τακάπη in Ancient greek) or Tacapes of the Roman province of Tripolitania.
Strabo refers to this city as an important entrepot of the Lesser Syrtis. Pliny (18.22) remarks that the waters of a copious fountain at Tacape were divided among the cultivators according to a system where each had the use of the water during a certain interval of time.
The Tabula Peutingeriana shows Tacape between Marcomades and Sabratha.