Safaqis

Sfax (Ṣafāqis), Tunisia Taparura Built on the site of the Roman Taparura, the fortified monastery had grown into a town by the 9th century. It fell to a French attack in 1881. The name is said to be derived from the Arabic for ‘City of Cucumbers’, although why this should be so is not known.

Safaqis or Sfax , city (1994 pop. 230,900), E Tunisia, on the Gulf of Qabis (Gabès), an arm of the Mediterranean Sea. It is Tunisia's second largest city and has exports of phosphates, olive oil, cereals, and sponges. A major fishing port, there are oil fields nearby. Safaqis was the site of Phoenician and Roman colonies. It was briefly held by Roger II of Sicily (c.1150) and by the Spanish (16th cent.). Later it became a stronghold of the Barbary pirates.