Aquae Calidae

Map showing Aquae Calidae just south of Caesarea of Mauretania

Aquae Calidae was a Roman colonia in Mauretania Caesariensis. It is now called Hammam Righa in modern Algeria.

History


Emperor Augustus established there a colony of his veterans and the city started to grow soon in importance.[1] Augustus even founded in what is now coastal Algeria the following Roman colonies: Igilgili, Saldae, Tubusuctu, Rusazu, Rusguniae, Zuccabar, Thuburnica and Gunugu. All these colonies were connected to Aquae Calidae in a military way with strong commercial links.[2]

The importance of Aquae Calidae -as the name indicated- was from the warm waters (reaching nearly 50 C.) that were used for the local famous roman thermae[3]

During the centuries of Roman domination Aquae Calidae was a small but rich city with a Forum, theater, baths, library and acqueducts, but nearly all has disappeared. Only a necropolis of the city walls has shown the abundance of evidences about Aquae Calidae Christian past.

Occupied by the Vandals in the fifth century and damaged, the city was recovered to romanitas by the Byzantines and regained importance during the sixth century.

Conquered by Arabs around 700 AD, Aquae Calidae nearly disappeared in the next two centuries.

Notes

  1. ↑ Roman Coloniae
  2. ↑ Mommsen, Theodore. "The Provinces of the Roman Empire". Section: Africa
  3. ↑ Thermae in Aquae Calidae

Bibliography

See also