Thubursicum Numidicum (Khamissa)
Khamissa
Numidian to Byzantine (5th c BCE-7th c CE; peak 2nd-3rd c CE)·Numidian / Roman / Byzantine·🇩🇿 Souk Ahras Province, Algeria
About
About Thubursicum Numidicum (Khamissa)
Thubursicum Numidicum (Khamissa, Khemissa) is a 45-ha Trajanic colony on the High Tell at 920 m, 32 km south of Souk Ahras, exceptional for its twin theatres (theatre of 2,500 and second smaller theatre/odeon) facing each other across the forum. Forum with Capitol, basilica, arch of Trajan, Roman baths, and Byzantine enclosure. Huge extramural cemeteries with mausolea and megalithic dolmens continuity. Epitaph of notable Punic-named elites shows bilingual survival.
Why it mattersOnly city in Numidia with twin theatres indicating dual curiae.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why two theatres instead of theatre+amphitheatre
Theories
- 01Colonial deductio on land of defeated Tacfarinas tribe
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Numidian town 5th c BCE; Trajanic colony 100-112 CE
- Period
- Numidian to Byzantine (5th c BCE-7th c CE; peak 2nd-3rd c CE)
- Culture
- Numidian / Roman / Byzantine
- Builders
- Numidian / Trajanic veterans
- Purpose
- Plateau colony and theatre-city dominating High Tell wheat lands
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
Numidian town 5th c BCE; Trajanic colony 100-112 CE
Initial construction
c. 1408 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
36.1939° N · 7.6528° E · 920 m · 2 mapped features
Forum of Thubursicum Numidicum (Khamissa)
forumForum
36.1949° N · 7.6538° ETemple of Thubursicum Numidicum (Khamissa)
templeTemple
36.1929° N · 7.6518° E