The Byzantine wall of Tébessa is a fortified complex located in the city of Tébessa, Algeria. Erected in the 6th century under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, this enclosure was built to protect the city from Moorish attacks.
History
The first fortifications of Tébessa date back to prehistoric times when humans began to build enclosures around settlements for protection. In the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Emperor Solomon rebuilt and reinforced the city’s walls around 535-538 AD to defend it against the Moors.
The wall took on a rectangular shape, approximately 320 meters long and 280 meters wide, covering an area of 9 hectares. This smaller size compared to the previous Roman city was better suited to the defensive means available to the Byzantines at the time.
Architecture
The wall was reinforced by fourteen square towers, with a thickness varying from 1.50 to 2.10 meters and a height of 16 to 17 meters. The curtains themselves were 1.30 to 2.20 meters thick and about 7 meters high. The enclosure was topped by a wide walkway protected by a crenellated parapet.
The construction mainly used limestone stones from the surrounding quarries, while reusing Roman architectural elements such as columns, capitals, and triumphal arches. The mortar was made of lime, sand, and brick debris.
Gates and features
The wall had four main gates located on each side:
- To the north, the Caracalla Gate, incorporating a Roman triumphal arch
- To the south, the Ain Challa Gate
- To the east, the Solomon Gate
- To the west, the Cirta Gate
The Solomon Gate, classified as a national monument, is still in use today and requires restoration work.
The wall was partially restored by the French military engineers during the colonial period. Unfortunately, some parts were destroyed, such as the Cirta Gate.
The Byzantine wall of Tébessa is a fortified complex located in the city of Tébessa, Algeria. Erected in the 6th century under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, this enclosure was built to protect the city from Moorish attacks.
History
The first fortifications of Tébessa date back to prehistoric times when humans began to build enclosures around settlements for protection. In the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Emperor Solomon rebuilt and reinforced the city’s walls around 535-538 AD to defend it against the Moors.
The wall took on a rectangular shape, approximately 320 meters long and 280 meters wide, covering an area of 9 hectares. This smaller size compared to the previous Roman city was better suited to the defensive means available to the Byzantines at the time.
Architecture
The wall was reinforced by fourteen square towers, with a thickness varying from 1.50 to 2.10 meters and a height of 16 to 17 meters. The curtains themselves were 1.30 to 2.20 meters thick and about 7 meters high. The enclosure was topped by a wide walkway protected by a crenellated parapet.
The construction mainly used limestone stones from the surrounding quarries, while reusing Roman architectural elements such as columns, capitals, and triumphal arches. The mortar was made of lime, sand, and brick debris.
Gates and features
The wall had four main gates located on each side:
- To the north, the Caracalla Gate, incorporating a Roman triumphal arch
- To the south, the Ain Challa Gate
- To the east, the Solomon Gate
- To the west, the Cirta Gate
The Solomon Gate, classified as a national monument, is still in use today and requires restoration work.
The wall was partially restored by the French military engineers during the colonial period. Unfortunately, some parts were destroyed, such as the Cirta Gate.
