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Tunis ( ') is both the capital and the largest city of Tunisia. The greater metropolitan area of Tunis, often referred to as ''Grand Tunis'', holds some 2,700,000 inhabitants. Situated on a large Mediterranean Sea gulf (the Gulf of Tunis), behind the Lake of Tunis and the port of La Goulette (Ḥalq il-Wād), the city extends along the coastal plain and the hills that surround it. At its core lies its antic medina, a world heritage site. Beyond this district lie the suburbs of Carthage, La Marsa, and Sidi Bou Said. Just through the Sea Gate (also known as the ''Bab el Bahr'' and the ''Porte de France'') begins the modern city, or Ville Nouvelle, transversed by the grand Avenue Habib Bourguiba (often referred to by popular press and travel guides as "the Tunisian Champs-Élysées"), where the colonial-era buildings provide a clear contrast to smaller, older structures. As the capital city of the country, Tunis is the focus of Tunisian political and administrative life; it is also the centre of the country's commercial activity. The expansion of the Tunisian economy in recent decades is reflected in the booming development of the outer city where one can see clearly the social challenges brought about by rapid modernization in Tunisia. == Etymology == ''Tunis'' is the transcription of the Tunisian Arabic name ''تونس'' which can be pronounced as "Tūnus", "Tūnas", or "Tūnis". All three variations were mentioned by the Greek-Syrian geographer al-Rumi Yaqout in his ''Mu'jam al-Bûldan'' (''Dictionary of Countries''). Different explanations exist for the origin of the name ''Tunis''. Some scholars relate it to the Phoenician goddess ''Tanith'' ('Tanit or Tanut), as many ancient cities were named after patron deities.〔 〕〔 〕 Some scholars claim that it originated from ''Tynes'', which was mentioned by Diodoros and Polybius in the course of descriptions resembling present-day Al-Kasba in the center; Tunis's old Berber Bourgade.〔 〕〔 〕 Another possibility is that it was derived from the Berber verbal root ''ens'' which means "to lie down" or "to pass the night".〔 〕 Given the variations of the precise meaning over time and space, the term ''Tunis'' can possibly mean "camp at night", "camp", or "stop". There are also some mentions in ancient Roman sources of such names of nearby towns as ''Tuniza'' (currently El Kala), ''Thunusuda'' (currently Sidi Meskine), ''Thinissut'' (currently Bir Bouregba), and ''Thunisa'' (currently Ras Jebel). As all of these Berber villages were situated on Roman roads, they undoubtedly served as a rest-stations or stops.〔Paul Sebag, ''Tunis. Histoire d'une ville'', éd. L'Harmattan, 1998, p. 54〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tunis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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