It is during the annual theatre festival, held in the month of May, that Dougga rediscovers its former grandeur. Built in AD 168-169 to accommodate 3 500 spectators, at a time when the population of the town was no more than 5 000, this monument is still remarkably well preserved. A mosaic still covers the floor of the stage and the portico still retains a number of its columns. During Roman times a huge canvas would have provided welcome shade, and water from tanks beneath the tiers of seats would have been sprinkled on the ground to offer some relief from the fierce heat.