The famous inscription engraved on a hexagonal cippus was discovered in Lambèse (Batna) in October 1866. It is a dedication by the Governor of Mauretania Caesariensis, studied for the first time by A. Charbonneau in 1866. This cippus was transferred to Béjaia to adorn the fountain symbolizing the grandeur of the aqueduct. The latter was inaugurated in 1896. Engineers Imbert and Roux used the same source and the same tunnel of the Roman aqueduct to supply water to the city of Béjaia.
In a first letter, the Governor of Mauretania Caesariensis had asked the Legate of Numidia to send him the Librator Nonius Datus, a veteran of the 3rd Augustan Legion. Indeed, the construction of the Aqueduct had begun, but the execution presented difficulties and the special knowledge of the Librator was needed. In another letter, the Governor asks (again to the Legate of Numidia) in the name of the city of Saldae and its inhabitants to send Nonius Datus again to complete the aqueduct. Indeed, the builders of the tunnel had not respected the plans of the Librator. The teams in charge of drilling the tunnel, starting from each of the two ends of the mountain, had not met. The Librator made calculations and allowed the junction.
« Nonius Datus made the leveling, indicated the layout, and prescribed what had to be done according to the plans that I had given to the Governor. I also completed the work. After the arrival of the water, the latter inaugurated it. »
The Roman cippus was classified as a national heritage on December 31, 1991 (J.O. N° 22 of March 22, 1992).
The famous inscription engraved on a hexagonal cippus was discovered in Lambèse (Batna) in October 1866. It is a dedication by the Governor of Mauretania Caesariensis, studied for the first time by A. Charbonneau in 1866. This cippus was transferred to Béjaia to adorn the fountain symbolizing the grandeur of the aqueduct. The latter was inaugurated in 1896. Engineers Imbert and Roux used the same source and the same tunnel of the Roman aqueduct to supply water to the city of Béjaia.
In a first letter, the Governor of Mauretania Caesariensis had asked the Legate of Numidia to send him the Librator Nonius Datus, a veteran of the 3rd Augustan Legion. Indeed, the construction of the Aqueduct had begun, but the execution presented difficulties and the special knowledge of the Librator was needed. In another letter, the Governor asks (again to the Legate of Numidia) in the name of the city of Saldae and its inhabitants to send Nonius Datus again to complete the aqueduct. Indeed, the builders of the tunnel had not respected the plans of the Librator. The teams in charge of drilling the tunnel, starting from each of the two ends of the mountain, had not met. The Librator made calculations and allowed the junction.
« Nonius Datus made the leveling, indicated the layout, and prescribed what had to be done according to the plans that I had given to the Governor. I also completed the work. After the arrival of the water, the latter inaugurated it. »
The Roman cippus was classified as a national heritage on December 31, 1991 (J.O. N° 22 of March 22, 1992).
