Location: Djémila Map
Former name: Cuicul, Curculum
Inhabited: 1st- 6th century
Tel. 036 945 101
Entrance Fee: DA20, student DA10
Open: 9am- 12pm, 1:30- 5:30pm
Emperor Nerva (96 - 98 AD)
Djémila or Cuicul as it was known back then,
was constructed by the Romans during reign of emperor Nerva (96 - 98 AD).
The site was chosen at the confluence of the two rivers. Djemila
is an extensive ancient Roman town that was added to a UNESCO World Heritage
Site List. Unlike many Roman cities in Europe, Djemila was largely abandoned
and hence it escaped a fate of vandalism by the local population. The city
was inhabited by farmers and wheat traders that sold grains to all corners
of the Roman Empire. In the ancient times Northern Algeria had much milder
climate, that was perfect for growing crops without a threat of a sudden
freeze. Residents of Djemila enjoyed their status as a major food supplier.
Two major streets, the Cardo Maximus and the Decumanus Maximus, created the two highways around which the city gradually grew. Initially the city was populated by the Roman army veterans who got their share of land. During reign of Caracalla New Forum was added to the city. In the 4th century AD Christianity spread through out the city. Its presence is marked by Baptistery as well as Christian Quarters situated in the South part of the ruins at the entrance. In the 5th- 6th century AD the site was abandoned probably due to invasion of Vandals from Europe during The Great Migration. The Arabs who conquered these lands did not rebuild the city, but they certainly marveled at the wonder of the ancient engineering giving ruins its today name of Djemila, which means "beautiful" in Arabic.
Logistics of getting there and back might be tricky. Make sure you start yearly in the morning then the sun is low and are the temperatures. Get a bus or a taxi driver. Personally I would suggest a bus. You can pinch in with other tourists to make it safer and more reliable trip. There are no hotels or motels in the village of Djemila itself. The closest you will get to civilization is probably Setif situated 50 km southwest of the site.
The Cuicul colony was founded on rugged soil in
northern Algeria at the end of the 1st century (in 96) probably by
the veterans of Nerva; its name is that of a Berber village or place
that had not yet been Latinized. It is before Timgad one of the last
settlements of deduction in Roman Africa.
Under the Antonines
(96 to 192) the city was embellished with a forum, a capitol,
several temples, a curia, a market and a theater. With the
construction of the great thermal baths, the reign of Commodus marks
the extension of the city to the south.
Under the Sévères
(192 to 235) new districts were organized to the south of the forum,
around a vast square, new streets are laid out, and the city
gradually becomes a city where life is good, where the luxurious
homes.
Towards the middle of the third century, an economic
crisis following bad harvests paralyzed trade and hampered the
development of the city.
Late Antiquity saw Cuicul continue a
dynamic urban life. In the fourth century, the conversion to
Christianity of the population instilled renewed activity and urban
expansion with the erection of a Christian quarter. A baptistery and
a basilica are located at the southern end of the city, a civil
basilica is built on the Sevérien square. The luxurious houses of
the notables are constantly being developed, reaching considerable
surface areas, equipping themselves with private baths and giving
themselves considerable reception areas (private basilicas). The
house of Europe or that of Castorius reveal this art of living of
the rich local notables and have preserved an important mosaic
decoration.
Cuicul was occupied in 431 by the Vandals who
persecuted Christians there until their departure after the
agreements concluded with Genséric in 442.
When the city was
reconquered by the Byzantines, it regained some semblance of
stability and activity, but fell into oblivion at the end of the
sixth century.
It was in 1909, after the construction of an
access road, that methodical excavations were undertaken by the
Historical Monuments service. Mme de Cresolles, archaeologist,
managed the clearing of the ruins until 1941. Mlle Y. Allais, who
summarized the history of the city, succeeded him in 1942 until his
retirement in 1956.
In view of the state of conservation of
the ruins, the city was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1982.
Cardo maximus
The cardo maximus, which merges with the road to
Lambèse, presents an eccentric situation hugging the western edge of
the spur. At the height of the forum, it crosses the decumanus
maximus. The paving is remarkably preserved, but a few broken slabs
allow the sewage pipes to be seen. The pillars and columns bordering
the cardo had at the time a roof that sheltered passers-by.
Djemila Theatre
Djemila Theatre used unique layout of the local terrain. Roman engineers preferred not to waste much time and material so local theatre was constructed on a side of a mountain, thus reducing the cost of any supporting structures.
Djemila Baptistery
Djemila Baptistery is one of the earliest Christian churches in Djemila and the whole Roman Empire. It is hard to tell then did Christianity first appeared in the city. Early Christians were persecuted for three centuries by the Roman emperors. So little evidence have been left behind out of fear they would be tortured or killed. However after Edict of Milan in 313 by emperor Constantine Christianity became tolerated within borders of the Roman Empire. Baptistery that was constructed in the fourth century AD is a clear evidence that by the time Constantine became head ruler Christianity was already well established in the city with many prominent city elders among its followers.