Tipasa

Tipasa is a town on the coast of Algeria, capital of the Tipasa wilaya. Tipasa was founded by the Phoenicians. It was made a Roman military colony by the emperor Claudius, and afterwards became a municipium. The Roman city was built on three small hills which overlooked the sea. Of the houses, most of which stood on the central hill, no traces remain; but there are ruins of three churches — the Great Basilica and the Basilica Alexander on the western hill, and the Basilica of St Salsa on the eastern hill, two cemeteries, the baths, theatre, amphitheatre and nymphaeum. Commercially it was of considerable importance, but it was not distinguished in art or learning. Christianity was early introduced, and in the third century Tipasa was a bishop's see. In 484 the Vandal king Huneric (477‑484) sent an Arian bishop to Tipasa; whereupon a large number of the inhabitants fled to Spain, while many of the remainder were cruelly persecuted. After this time the city disappears from history; and, whether or not its ruin was caused by the Arabs, they seem to have made no settlement there.


Sports Arenas . Byzantine Empire and Civilization . Phoenician world .

Reviews

Hannah (UK):
When I was a kid we lived in Algiers, and used to go out to Tipasa fairly often at the weekends. I remember very clearly wandering around the site - it's incredibly beautiful, right by the sea, and somehow timeless. The memories have stayed with me always, and the place holds s pecial meaning for me now. I'd love to return and someday, hopefully, I will.
Date posted: July 2006
dave behee (usa):
while working for an oil company based at algeris back in 1993, we went to tipasa one week end, took our own self guided tour. we enjoyed it, but during our little tour a local came out of the brush and tried to sell us some very old bronze coins, from the 3 rd centry or so. a couple of the guys started to buy some of them, but it did'nt feel right, so i got the guys to "huddle" and warned them that that guy could be a dirty cop trying to get us to buy artifacts to throw us in jail then extort money from us. well needless to say none of us took the bait, and went home free men. we did take home some "desert rose" a rock formation found in the sahara.......dave behee of artesia, nm
 


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