Thibilis

Thibilis on the map of Roman Numidia, between Cirta and Calama. Atlas Antiquus, H. Kiepert, 1869

Thibilis (or "Tibilis") was a Roman settlement in Berber north Africa.[1] It is now called Salaoua Announa (formerly French "Announa"), a small town in nothwestern Algeria located not far from the Tunisia border.

History

The town is 18 km south of Guelma (Roman Calama). It was a berber village (called "pagus" in Latin), that was united to the Cirta Confederation in the second half of the first century. In 268 AD Thibilis was elevated to "Municipium" under Galienus, when was created a small "Thermae" [2]

In the fourth century was elevated to "Colonia", while in the fifth century Thibilis was an important Christian center, with a dioceses and bishop.[3] Thibilis was damaged by the Vandals and reconstructed by the Byzantines one century later.

At the end of the sixth century Tibilis was protected by a wall, with the creation of a little fortified "citadel".

To the S of the town is a Christian basilica (19.6 x 13.15 m)....The nave has a floor of beaten earth, and the aisles are paved. A second basilica, situated NW of the town, also occupies an elevated position. The church measures 14.3 x 12.3 m and includes a nave and 2 aisles with a ciborium and a rounded apse; the whole is paved. These two basilicas are probably of the Byzantine period. A chapel has also been found in the N quarter in the midst of some altered dwellings; it opens on the R side wall and has a projecting apse. Finally there is a citadel, probably Byzantine, to the NW, trapezoidal in form (70 x 45 x 35 m) with scattered buildings on the W side; it was made of double walls without a core of reused materials; in the interior a large quadrangular structure was perhaps a redoubt. A rampart was constructed at a later date at the citadel. — Perseus [4]

The city practically disappeared after the Arab conquest in the second half of the seventh century, and probably was reduced to a small Berber village. Some remains show a limited presence of Christian cult until the beginning of the ninth century.

In the northern part of the city there is still a small forum (27 x 12 m) that is relatively well preserved and, in the southern part of the city, a triumphal arch built in the third century. In addition to the Roman ruins there are also a Byzantine basilica and the remains of a large Byzantine citadel.[5]

Gallery

Notes

  1. ↑ Modern map showing the location of Thibilis
  2. ↑ Jacques Gascou: Pagus et castellum dans la Confédération Cirtéenne (in French)
  3. ↑ Thibilis (in French)
  4. ↑ Perseus: Thibilis
  5. ↑ Thibilis/Guelma (in french)

Bibliography

See also