DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0065
Africa under the Caesars
29
architecture, the stiles of the four-panelled stone doors being
mistaken for crosses. Hence it was inferred that such a tomb
must have been that of a Christian ! ' The name is preserved,'
says Dr. Judas, ' but nevertheless we must protest against its
absurdity.' Leaving this tangle of French and Arabic, we turn
with satisfaction to the pages of Pomponius Mela, a geographer
of the first century who had seen this monument, probably in
the lifetime of Juba II., and we find it described in simple
language as 1 Monumentum commune regice gentis? That it was
intended as the common sepulchre of Juba and his descendants
is clear enough ; but his dynasty, as we have said, was short-
lived. It is worthy of mention, in concluding an account of
this edifice, that vegetation is so luxuriant on its conical top
that some years ago M. Jourdain, the naturalist, found ample
matter for a pamphlet entitled Flore murale du Tomheau de la
Chretienne.
Mention should here be made of a similar tomb about
fifty-two miles south of Constantine, called by the Arabs the
Medrassen, probably after a tribe known as the Madres, who
occupied a neighbouring territory on the northern slopes of the
Aures mountains. By some it has been thought to be the
sepulchre of Syphax, and there is a tradition that the monument
was raised by the Emperor Probus in honour of the African
chief Aradion, who fell bravely in his last struggle with the
soldiers of the Empire. We may pass by these conjectures, for
it is tolerably certain that the edifice was built by Masinissa as
a sepulchre for himself and his descendants, or by his son and
successor Micipsa. Its situation in the centre of his kingdom,
and at a convenient distance from his new capital Cirta, favours
this supposition. There is no sufficient ground for supposing
it to have been built by Syphax, for it must be remembered
that, till the last year of his reign, his capital was at Siga, on
the western frontier of his dominions. Moreover, Syphax was
led captive to Rome and died in prison.
The form of the tomb is cylindrical, surmounted by a trun-
cated cone composed of a series of steps, each being 21 inches
high. The cylinder, having a diameter of about 190 feet, is
ornamented by 60 engaged columns with a frieze and cornice,
and stands on three steps forming a base to the entire monu-
ment. The material of the facework is a fine sandstone, but
29
architecture, the stiles of the four-panelled stone doors being
mistaken for crosses. Hence it was inferred that such a tomb
must have been that of a Christian ! ' The name is preserved,'
says Dr. Judas, ' but nevertheless we must protest against its
absurdity.' Leaving this tangle of French and Arabic, we turn
with satisfaction to the pages of Pomponius Mela, a geographer
of the first century who had seen this monument, probably in
the lifetime of Juba II., and we find it described in simple
language as 1 Monumentum commune regice gentis? That it was
intended as the common sepulchre of Juba and his descendants
is clear enough ; but his dynasty, as we have said, was short-
lived. It is worthy of mention, in concluding an account of
this edifice, that vegetation is so luxuriant on its conical top
that some years ago M. Jourdain, the naturalist, found ample
matter for a pamphlet entitled Flore murale du Tomheau de la
Chretienne.
Mention should here be made of a similar tomb about
fifty-two miles south of Constantine, called by the Arabs the
Medrassen, probably after a tribe known as the Madres, who
occupied a neighbouring territory on the northern slopes of the
Aures mountains. By some it has been thought to be the
sepulchre of Syphax, and there is a tradition that the monument
was raised by the Emperor Probus in honour of the African
chief Aradion, who fell bravely in his last struggle with the
soldiers of the Empire. We may pass by these conjectures, for
it is tolerably certain that the edifice was built by Masinissa as
a sepulchre for himself and his descendants, or by his son and
successor Micipsa. Its situation in the centre of his kingdom,
and at a convenient distance from his new capital Cirta, favours
this supposition. There is no sufficient ground for supposing
it to have been built by Syphax, for it must be remembered
that, till the last year of his reign, his capital was at Siga, on
the western frontier of his dominions. Moreover, Syphax was
led captive to Rome and died in prison.
The form of the tomb is cylindrical, surmounted by a trun-
cated cone composed of a series of steps, each being 21 inches
high. The cylinder, having a diameter of about 190 feet, is
ornamented by 60 engaged columns with a frieze and cornice,
and stands on three steps forming a base to the entire monu-
ment. The material of the facework is a fine sandstone, but