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)

292 Roman Africa

This distinguished Roman has been identified, in recent _
with the owner of a princely establishment the remains of which
were brought to light in 1878 by some chance excavations that
were being made near the village of Oued-Atmenia, on the old
Roman road between Setif and Constantine.1 At a depth of
between five and seven feet from the surface, the walls of an
extensive range of buildings, with detached pavilions and
numerous enclosures, were revealed. So clearly were the build- '
ings defined, and so perfect was the mosaic flooring, that
M. Martin, an architect, was deputed to measure the ruins and
prepare drawings of the mosaics. After careful examination
it was found that these were the remains of the Baths attached
to the country seat of Pompeianus, whose official residence was
at Carthage. The arrangement of the Baths does not need
any special description. The apartments were not large, but
the fittings were of a sumptuous character, coloured marbles
and mosaics being freely used. The mosaic floors deserve
special notice on account of their pictorial character, two of
them representing the stables and racehorses of this princely
governor, while others depict in a realistic manner the daily
life and amusements of their owner and the costume of the
period. The position of the stables represented in mosaic has
been ascertained at a distance of 130 yards from the Baths.

The breeding and training of Numidian horses were much
encouraged by the Emperors, perhaps in painful recognition of
the wonderful exploits of the wild cavalry, unbridled and un-
saddled, that more than once secured victory to Hannibal
during the second Punic war. To the Carthaginians, or rather
to her Numidian mercenaries, Rome was indebted for all her
knowledge of the horse and its rider ; and the institution of
various kinds of chariot races, not only in Rome but in every
large town of the Empire, drew the attention of such wealth}
men as Pompeianus to the pecuniary and other advantages of
a breeding establishment. Some thirty years ago an inscribec
stone bearing on this subject was unearthed in Rome. It was
deciphered by M. Renan, and was the subject of a paper read

1 Ann. de Const. 1878-80 for a graphic description of these remarkable mosaic
by M. A. Poulle. The four drawings, prepared under the direction of M. Martin,
have been admirably reproduced in chromolithograph)-. These can be purchased in
Paris and are well worthy of study.