Chapter X: Timegad

On the morning of May 2 there was a general break-up. General Dastugue and Si Mohammed bin Abbas started on a tour of inspection in one direction and we, under the guidance of Si Bou-Dhiaf, proceeded towards Timegad.

Our new host is, perhaps, the best known of all the chiefs of the Aures, owing to the proximity of his principal residence to Batna. He worthily bears his ancestral name of Bou-Dhiaf, _father of guests_. His hospitality is unbounded, and he has a very cunning taste in Bordeaux—a little Mohammedan peccadillo, which we certainly were not called on to condemn. He is of a very ancient family, and, probably not without reason, boasts of his Roman descent. It is one of his ancestors to whom Peyssonnel[73] alludes under the name of Sistera (Si-Sedira).

His official title is Kaid of the Oulad Daood, or of Touaba. The ride from Oued Taga to Timegad is quite a short one of about three hours, through a fertile country covered with Roman remains; the direct distance from Batna is not more than thirteen miles. We found our camp pitched in the very centre of the ruined city, which enabled us to devote every hour of our stay there to its examination. Our host remained continually with us, and we found him a most intelligent and genial companion.

Before proceeding with my own observations respecting this most interesting place, I will quote what Bruce says on the subject:—

Left Tezzoute December 11, and encamped at a Dowar about eight miles S.E. of it.

The 12th, in the morning, arrived at Timegad, about seven miles from the Dowar and fifteen from Tezzoute, situated on the south end of the valley, which is a little further bounded by Jebbel Magjibah, the mountain of the Weled Abdi, who have here alone twenty-three villages.

It has been a small town, but full of elegant buildings.

Designed the triumphal arch, and lay that night near the town in a Dowar of Lushash.

The 13th, designed the large Corinthian temple. The arch lies N.E. from it. The ruins of the amphitheatre N.W. Between the arch and amphitheatre are the remains of a temple, only a piece of side wall standing. Copied two inscriptions here.

A short time since two statues of finest Parian marble were found here, just under the pedestal on which the last inscription was. They appeared to have been Antoninus Pius and Faustina, the first in a habit of peace, but entirely mutilated. The bust of the Empress was entire, and of an exquisite beauty, which I did therefore design, and after interred in the hole which I had made to discover the long inscription of Martialanus.[74] Eight more pedestals were standing in their places, and probably the statues buried near them. By digging out one of these I found the pavement of the temple twenty-eight inches under the surface. It consisted of pavement of white and blue marble, cut in square tiles (slabs) of about ten inches every way, and half (an inch) thick. By several large pieces of calcined marble found here buried, I suppose one of the instruments employed in this temple’s destruction was fire. The heads, arms, and legs of these statues were broken off and burnt for lime. They were quite entire when first found.

The ancient city of Thamugas was situated at the intersection of six Roman roads. Two went through Lambæsis in the direction of Sitifis, a third to Diana Veteranorum (the modern Zana), two more to Theveste (Tebessa) by Mascula (Ain Khenchla), and a sixth northwards to Cirta (Constantine).

It appears to have been of greater importance than Lambæsis; its population was as great, if not greater, to judge by the size of its public buildings, especially the theatre and the area covered by its remains, while its architecture is undoubtedly older and purer. There is nothing at Lambessa to equal the triumphal arch here.

The explanation of this probably is that Lambæsis was the great military station of the country, and that Thamugas was rather the centre of commercial and agricultural activity.

It is mentioned by Ptolemy under the name of Thanutada; in the Itinerary of Antoninus as Tamugadi, and it occurs in various inscriptions as Thamugas. It is elsewhere described as Colonia Marciana Trajana Thamugas, and Colonia Ulpia Thamugas, and on an inscription still in perfect preservation near the forum there is an allusion to the thirtieth legion, Ulpia, and a celebration of the victories of Trajan over the Parthians.

From this M. Léon Renier concludes, that the Emperor wishing to recompense the veterans of the thirtieth legion, Ulpia Victrix, for their participation in the war against the Parthians, established them at Timegad, not only as being a vast and fertile country, but a position of great military importance, from which they might be able to suppress the turbulence of the neighbouring mountaineers.

It is mentioned in the Acts of Saint Mammarius,[75] and in the Theodosian Code.[76] It subsequently became the great focus of religious agitation during the fourth century. Its bishop, Optatus, was considered as the head of the Donatists; he attached himself to the fortunes of Count Gildon in his revolt against the Emperor Honorius. By means of his soldiery, the Bishop was enabled to exercise great cruelty against the Catholics of his neighbourhood, until in 398 he was involved in his patron’s ruin, and died in prison. St. Augustine, who often alludes to Gildon, says that during ten years Africa trembled under his yoke. Amongst its bishops were Novatus, who assisted at the Council of Carthage in 255; Sextus, who lived in 320; Faustinianus, who was present at the Conference of Carthage in 411, and Secundus, who was exiled by Huneric in 484.[77]

When Solomon arrived for the first time in the Aures in 535 he found the city ruined, so that we may assume its destruction to have taken place between these dates. He restored the citadel at least, in the same style as the other fortresses throughout the country; the proof of this is evident, but the other public buildings bear no trace of a restoration posterior to their original construction. At the time of the Arab invasion it was a Christian city, as in 646, under the government of Gregory, a Christian church was built, the ruins of which still exist.

The ruins occupy a large and undulating plain cut into two portions by a watercourse, which has evidently been considerably deepened by winter torrents since the destruction of the city. Some of its course has been embanked, and perhaps covered over to admit of easy communication between the two portions of the city; perhaps also irrigational works existed to divert its waters to the gardens round about.

This stream runs nearly north and south, eventually turning towards the east. On the west side are numerous ruins of buildings, but the only one of importance is the Basilica above mentioned. It is a square building with a circular apse at the east end. It is divided into a nave and two aisles by columns of rose-coloured marble, three on each side, the centre of which only is free; the others are engaged in the walls right and left of the apse and entrance. Over the lintel of the door was inscribed in white marble

IN TEMPORIBUS CONSTANTINI IMPERATORIS FL. GREGORIO PATRICIO IOANNES DUX

DE TIGISI OFFERET[78] DOMUM DEI ✠ ARMENUS.[79]

The principal buildings are situated on the right or east bank of the ravine. They consist of a Byzantine fortress, theatre, forum, triumphal arch, a large temple, and innumerable other buildings too much ruined to admit of absolute identification.

The first of these was originally of Roman construction. The regular and careful masonry of that people can be recognised in some few places. A posterior restoration by the Byzantines can also be easily identified, as they invariably employed the cut stones of the former buildings, without much regard to perfect adaptation, using also tombstones, and any other material that came most easily to hand. The third restoration is of a very inferior character, the stones being small, irregular, and very loosely put together. The general plan of the enclosure and a great part of the walls are still entire. It is a large quadrangle, about 120 yards by 98, flanked on each side by salient towers three in number. That on the eastern side is not in the middle, and is much more salient than those at the angles. In the part of this tower facing the interior may be seen the remains of a circular brick dome, the crown of which has disappeared, and in its place there is a rude attempt to complete it by means of loosely piled stones. Some remnants of columns are seen in the interior court belonging to a small building, perhaps a church. With the exception of this fortress the city does not appear to have been fortified; no traces of circumvallation can be observed.

The theatre was cut in the abrupt northern flank of a hill, the opposite side of which gradually slopes towards the south. This monument was of considerable dimensions, and as the materials employed were not of a costly nature, we are led to suppose that it was intended for the accommodation of a large population. Nevertheless the building was executed in a substantial manner, the walls being generally of solid rubble masonry faced with cut stones of considerable dimensions. In the interior, where the masonry may have been covered with cement or other material, the angles were made sharp by brickwork. Although the columns found on the spot are all in stone of an inferior description, they are numerous; on the stage may be counted the remains of fourteen.

The building which, with great probability, has been styled the forum, consists of a long colonnade running parallel to an extensive and beautiful valley, bounded by picturesque hills, the general direction of which is from E. to W. Walking under the shade of this colonnade, the inhabitants must have enjoyed one of the most charming views which it is possible to imagine. The back part was formed of a continuous wall, against which were constructed ranges of small buildings, which were probably shops, separated here and there by openings giving access to the body of the forum. Towards the S. extremity of the colonnade, which was of great length, another range of columns runs at right angles to it, and probably formed a second side to the forum; further south are to be seen, still erect, several columns belonging to a building advancing into the valley. Other buildings, particularly on the northern side and touching the colonnade, are highly interesting.

Great numbers of inscriptions lie scattered about in this neighbourhood, commemorative of historical events: such as the Parthian War; of Roman Emperors and of distinguished soldiers and citizens, with which the forum seems to have been filled; many of these are broken and mutilated, but some are in a perfect state of preservation.

Amongst others there are two fine pedestals of white marble of octagonal shape, bearing identical inscriptions; one is broken, but the other is quite entire and measures five feet in height, each face being from twelve to twenty inches wide. This inscription is the one mentioned by Bruce as that of Marcellianus; it runs as follows:—

VICTORIAE

PARTHICAE

AVG. SACR.

EX . TESTAMENTO

M. ANNI . M. F. QVR.

MARTIALIS . MIL.
+-------+
|LEG III| AVG. DVPLC
+-------+
ALAE. PANN. DEC. AL
+-------+
EIVSDEM. [Symbol] |LEG III|. AVG
+-------+
ET. XXX. VLPIAE VIC{TR}IC

MISSI . HONESTA

MISSIONE . AB . IMP .

TRAIANO . OPTIMO

AVG. GER. DAC. PAR{TH}

SING. H̶S̶. V̅I̅I̅I̅. XX. PR. {MIN}

ANNII . M. LIB. PROTVS

HILARVS . EROS

ADIECTIS . A. SE. H̶S̶. I̅I̅I̅.

PONEND. CVRꜸER

IDEM Q. DEDICꜸER

D. D.[80]

The words LEG III have been chiselled out and again engraved on a lower level than the rest of the inscription.

This forum is the building described by Bruce as ‘the remains of a temple, only a piece of side wall now standing.’ The passage in his diary regarding the interment of the statue deserves the attention of future explorers. I only regret that his manuscripts were not in my possession prior to our visit. I have a distinct recollection of seeing the mutilated remains of a statue on the spot, which may have been that of Antoninus, and it is very probable that the bust of Faustina may still be where Bruce buried it.

While this work was going through the press, I have had the pleasure to receive part of the report of Professor Masqueray on his recent explorations at Timegad.[81] He has had the good fortune to discover in an Arab house at Enchir Terfas, on the left bank of the Oued Soutz, about 1,500 metres distant from this part of the ruins, several interesting fragments of inscriptions, which throw great light upon several already published by M. Renier, and one in a single block, which though incomplete, is highly valuable.

ANTONINI SARMATI

ODI FRATRIS DIVI ANTONINI NEPOTIS DIVI HADRIANI PRONEPOTIS DIVI TRAIAN

L SEPTIMI SEVERI PII PERTINACIS AVG ARABICI ADIABENICI PARTHICI MAXIM

ET IMP CAES IMP CAES SEPTIMI SEVERI PII PERTINACIS AVG ARABICI ADI

F I L DIVI M ANTONINI PII GERMANICI SARMATICI NEPOT DIVI ANTONINI PRO

EDI N RVAE ADNEPOT TRIBVNIC POTEST BIS PROCONS A

IMP CAES L SEPTIMI SEVERI PII PERTINACIS ARABICI ADIABENICI PAR

IMP CAES M AVRELI ANTONINI AVG

PATRCOL ET SÆVINIO PROCVLO TRIBLATI CLAVIO CVRATOR RPDDPP

This is a dedication to Septimius Severus, Caracalla, and Geta, of A.D. 199, the date of the second nomination of Caracalla to the Tribunal power. When the memory of Geta was abolished, his name was erased and other titles of Caracalla inserted. There is no doubt that these stones were taken to their present position from the forum.

M. Masqueray has also disinterred two very remarkable inscriptions, containing lists of the magistrates of Thamugas, placed according to their ranks, and amongst others the names of the curator and the three perpetual flamens who presided over the restoration of the Capitol, which took place in the reign of Valentinianus and Valens, between 364 and 367.

Towards the north-west of the town, nearly in the axis of the colonnade of the forum from which at all events it formed a striking view, exists the triumphal arch forming the subject of one of Bruce’s illustrations (Plate VI.), and which is one of the most important monuments of the kind in Algeria. It consists of three openings, the central one thirteen feet eight inches wide and the side ones seven feet two inches; above the latter are square niches for statues. The monument is of the Corinthian order; each front is decorated by four fluted columns nineteen feet six inches high, occupying the angles and the spaces between the arches. To each column corresponds a pilaster, both raised on a common pedestal.

J. LEITCH &. Co. Sc.

ARCH OF THE GODS AT THAMUGAS (TIMEGAD)

FAC-SIMILE OF INDIAN INK DRAWING BY BRUCE.

HENRY S. KING Co. LONDON.]

The entablature connects all the columns and pilasters together, and was itself surmounted by an attic, with an entablature, a portion of the architrave of which now alone remains. Over the two lateral arches and the square niches and supported by the two columns are two curved pediments, the cornices of which, as also the main cornice profile round, are set back over the columns, an arrangement not unfrequent in the colonies of the Empire. The attic, intended no doubt to receive the dedicatory inscription and perhaps also to support sculpture, appears to have extended over the whole top of the building. None of the original inscription remains in place, but fragments have been found below and near the forum, on which the following words have been read:—

IMP. CAESAR

NERVAE ᵥ F ᵥ NERVA ᵥ TRAIA~N~ . . . .

. . . . GERMANI . . . VS ᵥ PO~N~ . . . . .

. . . . TRIB ᵥ PO . . . . . . S ᵥ III ᵥ P . . . . CO

. . . . C . . . ANAM ᵥ TR . . . . ANAM ᵥ TI . . .
+-------+
. . . . DI PER |LEG III| AV . . .
+-------+
. . . . . . . ~V~NATIM . . . . GALLVS ᵥ LEG

AVG. PRO . . . . . . .

D.

M. Léon Renier restores this as follows:—

Imp_erator_ Caesar _divi_

Nervae f_ilius_ Nerva Trajan_us_

_Augustus_ Germani_c_us Pon_tifex maximus_

_Imperator III._ tr_i_b_unicia_ Po_testate IIII. consul_ III.
P_ater patriae_ co_loniam_

_Marci_anam Tr_aj_anam T_ha_-

_muga_di per leg_ionem_ tertiam Au_gustam_

_fecit_ . . . unatim . . . Gallus leg_atus_

Aug_usti_ pro _praetore_

D_edicavit_.[82]

The two façades are identical in feature and each is in itself perfectly symmetrical, except that the capitals of the two middle columns on the southern façade, instead of having the angle of the abacus supported by volutes, have eagles in their place. The square niches have had each their separate entablature, and columns supported by sculptured brackets; all the arches have archivoltes.

The mass of the monument is of sandstone, but the columns, capitals and bases of the pilasters, brackets and entablature are entirely of white marble, as was also the crowning of the attic; the sides of the attics were certainly covered by slabs, most probably of the same material. The _débris_ from the entablature and the upper part of the building has fallen round the base of the monument, burying it as far as the imposts of the lower arches.

M. Masqueray has found amongst the ruins of the Byzantine Citadel an inscription which proves that this building was called the arch of the Gods, ARCVM PANTHEVM, and that it was customary to ornament it with statues, some of which may probably still exist amongst the stones and soil with which the base is encumbered.

IMP. CAES. M. AVRELIO. AN

TONINO PIO FELICE. AVG

M. POMPEVIS. PVNTINVS. SVE

PL. PP. OB. HONOREM. FLAMONI

SVPER. LEGITIMA. ET. STA

TVAM. MARTIS. AD. AR

CVM. PANTHEVM. SVM.

The next important building is the Capitol or Temple of Jupiter, of which very little now remains, but that little coupled with Bruce’s beautiful sketch of it shows that it must have been a very splendid edifice (Plate VII.)

A large peristyle existed before it, to which access was gained by a flight of six or eight steps. None of the columns are now erect; but splendid fragments, nearly six feet in diameter, lie scattered about. Five are represented as still standing in Bruce’s time, supporting a small portion of the entablature; they were of the Corinthian order, and fluted.

The foundations and part of the superstructure of the principal façade or entrance to the cella are still in place; this was most powerfully constructed and measures nearly six feet in thickness, the stones varying from three to five feet in length from two to three feet in breadth and twenty inches in height. An attic base, in blue limestone, lying on the spot measures six feet in breadth at its plinth. The most massive parts were built of rubble, encased in cut stone masonry composed of blocks of great size.

An inscription was here found on four stones, surrounded by a moulding, of which the following is a copy, completed by M. Léon Renier.

Pro magnificentia saeculi d_ominorum_ n_ostrorum_ Valentiniani et Valentis, semper Augustorum _et perpe_tuor_um_, porticus capitolii, seriae vetustatis absumptus et usque ad ima fundamenta _conlapsus_, novo opere perfectus, exornatusque dedicavit Publilius Caeionius Caecin_a Albi_nus, vir clarissimus, consularis, curantibus Aelio Juliano iterum rei publicae _curatore_, Fl_avio_ Aquilino _flamine perpetuo_, Antonio Petroniano f_lamine_ p_er_p_etuo_ Antonio Januiariano f_lamine perpetuo_.[83]

The palm-trees to the right of the picture have beyond all doubt been added by Balugani, to increase the effect of the pictures. No palm-trees exist within many miles of this place, and it is impossible to believe that the simple beauty of the architecture here depicted, and these distorted and misplaced trees could have been executed by the same hand.

J. LEITCH &. Co. Sc.

CAPITOL, THAMUGAS (TIMEGAD)

FAC-SIMILE OF INDIAN INK DRAWING BY BRUCE (AND BALUGANI?)

HENRY S. KING Co. LONDON.]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 73: Peyssonnel, ap. D. de la Malle, i. p. 347.]

[Footnote 74: See Léon Renier, Inscr. No. 1505.]

[Footnote 75: _Ap. Mabillonium Analect._ t. iv.]

[Footnote 76: Lib. vi. tit. 22, l. 2.]

[Footnote 77: Morcelli, _Af. Chr._ i. p. 305.]

[Footnote 78: _Sic_ in original.]

[Footnote 79: L. Renier, Inscr. 1518.]

[Footnote 80: L. Renier, Insc. No. 1480.]

[Footnote 81: _Rev. Afr._, vol. xx. p. 164.]

[Footnote 82: L. Renier, Insc. No. 1479.]

[Footnote 83: Léon Renier, Insc. No. 1520.]