Sousse: the ribat between defence and religious life

Useful to know

The medina of Sousse in Tunisia is connected to the Aghlabid commercial and military port city. The ensemble includes fortifications, mosques and a ribat - a building combining a defensive and religious role. [1]

This helps to explain why a massive appearance does not necessarily just mean a barracks function. In a fish plan, compare the enclosing parts with the interior spaces. Then put it in the larger system of coastal protection and medina. The reading of the individual monument is more accurate when considering its place in the whole port city.