Tigisis (Aïn el-Bordj)
Tigisis · Tigisis Maior · Aïn el-Bordj · Henchir Tigisis
Roman to Byzantine (1st–7th c. CE)·Numidian / Roman-Christian (Donatist/Catholic)·🇩🇿 Souk Ahras Province, Medjerda headwaters, Aïn el-Bordj, 20 km S of Souk Ahras, Algeria
About
About Tigisis (Aïn el-Bordj)
Episcopal city on Numidian–Mauretanian drain, Tigisis encloses 300×250 m walls (8 towers), forum with portico (60×40 m), two churches: Donatist basilica (large 42×22 m) and Catholic basilica (30×15 m) facing across forum — physical witness to 411 Conference schism. Martyrdom of 385. Thermal spring baths (sulphur). Inscriptions: civitas Tigisitanorum.
Why it mattersTwin facing basilicas as schism archaeology — rare architectural witness to 411 Donatist controversy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Basilica attribution — which is Donatist
- 02Fort vs enceinte
Theories
- 01Shaw Donatist topography
- 02Frend schism model
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 hill town; municipium under Trajan; twin churches 4th c.
- Period
- Roman to Byzantine (1st–7th c. CE)
- Culture
- Numidian / Roman-Christian (Donatist/Catholic)
- Builders
- Roman
- Purpose
- Dual-church episcopal see illustrating Donatist–Catholic schism topography
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.110 CE
Municipium
305 CE
Early martyr church
411 CE
Donatist and Catholic bishops listed
6th c. CE
Byzantine wall repair
On the ground
Structures & features
36.1250° N · 7.9120° E · 730 m · 2 mapped features
Donatist Basilica
basilica42×22 m three-aisled basilica with martyr inscription facing forum north
36.1260° N · 7.9130° ECatholic Basilica
basilica30×15 m basilica facing south across forum with baptistery annex
36.1240° N · 7.9110° E