Iulia Valentia Banasa

Colonia Iulia Valentia Banasa

Roman ruins of Banasa: great occidental thermae
Shown within Morocco
Location Sidi Ali Boujenoun, Kénitra Province, Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen, Morocco
Coordinates 34°36′06″N 06°06′56″W / 34.60167°N 6.11556°WCoordinates: 34°36′06″N 06°06′56″W / 34.60167°N 6.11556°W
Type Settlement
History
Builder Augustus
Founded Between 33 and 25 BC
Abandoned Approximately 285 AD

Colonia Iulia Valentia Banasa was one of the three colonias in Mauretania Tingitana[1] (in northern Morocco) founded by emperor Augustus between 33 and 25 BC. for veterans of the battle of Actium.

Characteristics

It was located on the southern bank of the Sebou River on the site now known as Sidi Ali Boujenoun. At the start of the reign of Marcus Aurelius, Banasa became Colonia Aurelia Banasa. In 285 AD the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana was reduced to the territories located north of the Lixus. Banasa was then abandoned.[2]

Among the ruins of Banasa we find the characteristic elements of a Roman city: a forum with a basilica, a capitol and baths, as well as streets in a regular pattern. Many of the buildings date from the early third century AD. Beautiful mosaics decorated the buildings and now most are show at the Rabat archeological museum[3]

The Latin name Valentia means young, strong and may be compared to Valence (France) and Valencia (Spain), also colonies. Augustus founded at least twelve Roman colonies in Mauretania, although it was a client-kingdom and not yet a province of the empire. Some of the other major companion Roman cities to Iulia Valentia Banasa of this early era are Chellah and Volubilis, the latter of which shares the features of basilica and regular street pattern.[4]

Objects recovered at Banasa may be seen at the Rabat Archaeological Museum.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Dictionnaire de l'Antiquité. 2005
  2. ↑ William Seston. Tabula Banasitana ( Banasa )
  3. ↑ Banasa
  4. ↑ Hogan, C. Michael (2007). "Chellah". The Megalithic Portal, ed. A. Burnham.

Bibliography

See also

External links

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