Timgad

A BURIED CITY REVEALS ITS SECRETS

HE intrepid explorer could not believe his region of what is today northern Algeria. Later,
T eyes. There, partly buried in the sands of the
Algerian desert, stood a Roman triumphal arch!
they built the city of Timgad, but for a very dif-
ferent purpose.
When Scotsman James Bruce made this discov- Ocially, the Romans founded Timgad for re-
ery in 1765, he did not realize that he was actu- tired veterans, but they really built the city with
ally standing above the ruins of the largest Ro- a view to weakening the resistance of the local
man settlement ever built in North Africathe tribes. Their plan was successful. The comfort-
ancient city of Thamugadi, now called Timgad. able way of life in Timgad soon began to appeal
Over a century later, in 1881, French archae- to the local people who came to town to sell
ologists began uncovering Timgads well- their products. Hoping to be accepted in Tim-
preserved remains. They concluded that in spite gad, where only Roman citizens were allowed to
of the barren and harsh surroundings, its inhab- live, many natives willingly joined the Roman
itants enjoyed a very comfortable and luxurious Legion for a 25-year term in order to obtain Ro-
lifestyle. But what moved the Romans to build a man citizenship for themselves and their sons.
prosperous colony in such a place? And what les- Not content with merely having Roman cit-
sons can we learn from this ancient city and its izenship, some Africans eventually even
inhabitants? achieved prominent positions in Timgad or oth-
er colonial cities. The subtle scheme of the Ro-
A HIDDEN POLITICAL PURPOSE
mans to assimilate the locals was so successful
When the Romans extended their rule over
that only half a century after its founding, Tim-
North Africa in the rst century B.C.E., they en-
gad was inhabited mostly by North Africans.
countered erce opposition from some nomadic
tribes. How would the Romans establish peace HOW ROME SEDUCED HEARTS
with the local people? At rst, soldiers from How did the Romans succeed in seducing the
the Third Augustan Legion built many fortied hearts of the indigenous people so quickly? For
camps and guard posts in the vast mountainous one thing, they promoted equality among cit-

8  THE WATCHTOWER
izensa principle taught by Roman statesman Timgad prospered under Roman rule. In time,
Cicero. The land was divided equally among Ro- the population of Timgad grew, and the city ex-
man veterans and citizens of African origin. The panded far beyond its fortied walls.
city was carefully laid out, with housing blocks The city dwellers and landowners prospered
65 feet (20 m) square that were separated by nar- from the trade with Rome, but little bene-
row streets. Such an equal and orderly arrange- t trickled down to the local farmers. In the
ment was no doubt most appealing to the inhab- third century C.E., social injustice and excessive
itants. taxes gave rise to revolts among small farmers.
As in many Roman cities, inhabitants could Some of them, who had adopted the Catholic
meet at the forum on busy market days to hear faith, joined the Donatistsa group of professed
the latest news or to play games. Natives from Christians who rose up against corruption with-
the nearby arid mountains could no doubt imag- in the Catholic Church.See the box The Dona-
ine themselves walking under shaded colon- tistsNot a Pure Church.
nades on a hot and dry day or relaxing in one of After centuries of religious conicts, civ-
the many free public baths to the sound of trick- il wars, and barbarian invasions, Roman civ-
ling water. They could probably see themselves ilization lost its grip on North Africa. By the
seated around refreshing water fountains, chat- sixth century C.E., Timgad was burned to the
ting with friends. All of this must have seemed
like a dream to them.
The open-air theater also played a key role in
seducing the hearts of the people. With a seat-

ing capacity of over 3,500, it accommodated the 
Timgad
boisterous crowds from Timgad and neighbor-
ing towns. On stage, actors introduced the audi-
ence to Romes taste for salacious entertainment
through plays that often featured immorality or
violence.
Roman religion also played its part. The oors
and walls of bathhouses were richly decorated
with colorful mosaics showing scenes from pa-
gan mythology. Since bathing was an important
part of daily life, the inhabitants gradually be-
came acquainted with Roman gods and religion.
The attempt to assimilate the Africans into Ro-
man culture was so eective that funerary steles
were often adorned with triads of both the local
and the Roman deities. Marketplace with elegant
colonnades and stalls
THE BEAUTIFUL CITY SINKS INTO OBLIVION
After Emperor Trajan founded the city in
100 C.E., the Romans encouraged the produc-
tion of grain, olive oil, and wine throughout A funerary stele topped
North Africa. The region soon became a granary with a triad of deities
for Rome, supplying the empire with these es-
sential commodities. Like other colonial cities,

DECEMBER 1, 2014  9
 The DonatistsNot a Pure Church

5 Neurdein/Roger-Viollet
On the western side of Timgad are separated from the world. Regret-
the ruins of an impressive basilica tably, their actions proved other-
with a baptistery, or baptism pool. wise. The Donatists became
This is a silent reminder that by involved in social and political
the fourth century C.E., the city struggles and supported small
had become a stronghold of the farmers in their violent rebellion
Donatistsa Christian group against landowners and Roman
that broke with the Roman church. tax collectors, actions that
Timgads baptistery The Donatists did not approve of brought ocial censure upon
reects the citys them. In spite of their claim, the
Christian heritage
the interference of Roman emper-
ors in church aairs. They saw Donatists did not turn out to be a
themselves as a pure church, pure church.John 15:19.

ground by local Arab tribes and eventually sank for tomorrow we are to die. Though they were
into oblivion for over 1,000 years. religious, the Romans lived for the pleasure
THATS LIVING!
of the moment, with little thought of the ulti-
mate meaning and purpose of life. Paul warned
Archaeologists who unearthed Timgads re-
his fellow Christians to guard against such peo-
mains were amused by a Latin inscription found
ple when he said: Do not be misled. Bad asso-
at the forum. It reads: Hunting, bathing, play-
ciations spoil useful habits.1 Corinthians 15:
ing, laughingthats living! One French histori-
32, 33.
an said that this echoes a philosophy that per-
Though the people of Timgad lived some
haps lacks ambition, but one that some will not
1,500 years ago, views on life have not changed
fail to consider as the secret of wisdom.
very much. Many people today live with only
Actually, the Romans had been pursuing such
the present in mind. To them, the Romans view
a way of life for some time. The rst-century
Christian apostle Paul mentioned people whose of life makes perfect sense, whatever the con-
philosophy of life was Let us eat and drink, sequences. The Bible, however, oers a suc-
cinct and realistic assessment when it says: The
scene of this world is changing. It therefore
Latin inscription urges us not to be making use of the world to the
at the forum, full.1 Corinthians 7:31.
which reads: The ruins of Timgad bear witness to the fact
Hunting,
bathing, playing, that the secret of a happy and meaningful life
laughing does not lie in heeding that inscription long-
thats living! buried in the sands of North Africa. Rather, it
lies in heeding the Bibles reminder: The world
is passing away and so is its desire, but the
one who does the will of God remains forever.
1 John 2:17.

10  THE WATCHTOWER