Graham, Alexander: Roman Africa: an outline of the history of the Roman occupation of North Africa ; based chiefly upon inscriptions and monumental remains in that country (London [u.a.], 1902)

The third consulate of Trajan fixes the date A.D. ioo, being
the year of the foundation of the city. The mass of the
monument is sandstone, but the principal columns and other
decorative features are of very fine white limestone, having all
the appearance of marble. The small columns flanking the
niches are of coloured marble. The weak point of the monu-
ment as an architectural composition is the lowness of the attic.
In other respects the proportions are good, and the mouldings
and decorative features of a high order. It appears to have
been surrounded by statues and dedicatory pedestals, form-
ing altogether a monumental group of which the citizens of
Thamugas might well have been proud.

Those who desire to study in detail these monumental ruins,
as well as the remains on other portions of the site, are referred
to the works already mentioned, as the most recent contribu-
tions to our knowledge of Thamugas. The arrangements of
private dwelling-houses of more or less pretensions, shops,
paved streets, and passages can now be traced, and a general
conception of the extent of the town obtained. And in an
angle of the forum will be found, in fair condition, the public
latrines, with portions of their fittings in excellent preservation.1
One at least of the Emperors paid special attention to providing
these sanitary conveniences, and regarded them as a source of
revenue, much in the same way as our municipal authorities
regard the underground arrangements of modern times, though
of a more luxurious character. If we are to believe Suetonius,
the idea of putting a tax upon urine originated with Vespasian
at a time when the imperial treasury was running dry. Sue-
tonius adds that ' Titus blamed his father for imposing such an
objectionable tax. Whereupon Vespasian applied to his son's
nose a piece of the money received in the first payment, and
asked him if it smelt badly. " No !" said Titus. " And yet,"
said the Emperor, " it comes from urine." '

Judging from fragmentary remains scattered over the site, a
variety of marbles appear to have been used for internal deco-
ration. The building stone mostly in use was a sandstone from
the adjacent hills. It was easily worked and well adapted for
rubble walling. A blue limestone was also largely employed,
especially for the paving of the principal streets, and for slabs
1 Vide M. Albert Ballu, Les Rnines de Timgad, p. 112.