Madaure was initially a Numidian city before successively becoming Roman, Vandal, and Byzantine. The Roman city was founded under the Flavian dynasty, on the site of an ancient Numidian town. It is mentioned in texts as early as the 3rd century.
The city did not survive the Arab invasions of the 7th century. According to tradition, it was destroyed by its own inhabitants at the instigation of the Kahena, a Berber warrior queen, as part of a scorched earth strategy to deter invaders.
In the 16th century, Madaure briefly became the seat of a Catholic diocese, which was later reduced to the status of a titular see.
Cultural Importance
Madaure was famous for its university, one of the first on the African continent along with that of Carthage. The city attracted many intellectuals, including writers, philosophers, grammarians, mathematicians, and rhetoricians. Its school of philosophy was particularly renowned.
Among the personalities associated with Madaure are:
- Apuleius, a Latin writer born around 123, author of “The Golden Ass”, considered one of the first novels.
- Saint Augustine, who studied there from the age of 15.
- Maximus of Madaure, a Latin orator and grammarian of the late 4th century.
- Martianus Capella, a Roman astronomer and writer born around 439 (although some historians consider him to be from Carthage).
Archaeological Site
The remains of Madaure include several notable structures:
- A Roman mausoleum with a burial chamber on the ground floor and a statue niche on the upper floor.
- A theatre, one of the smallest in Roman Africa, measuring 33 meters by 20 meters and offering eight rows of seats. Its construction, financed by a local notable, cost 375,000 sesterces.
- Baths.
- A Byzantine-era Christian basilica with three naves separated by a double colonnade.
- Oil mills, which contributed to the city’s renown.
- A Byzantine fortress, built in 535 under the reign of Justinian, parts of which are well preserved.
Madaure was initially a Numidian city before successively becoming Roman, Vandal, and Byzantine. The Roman city was founded under the Flavian dynasty, on the site of an ancient Numidian town. It is mentioned in texts as early as the 3rd century.
The city did not survive the Arab invasions of the 7th century. According to tradition, it was destroyed by its own inhabitants at the instigation of the Kahena, a Berber warrior queen, as part of a scorched earth strategy to deter invaders.
In the 16th century, Madaure briefly became the seat of a Catholic diocese, which was later reduced to the status of a titular see.
Cultural Importance
Madaure was famous for its university, one of the first on the African continent along with that of Carthage. The city attracted many intellectuals, including writers, philosophers, grammarians, mathematicians, and rhetoricians. Its school of philosophy was particularly renowned.
Among the personalities associated with Madaure are:
- Apuleius, a Latin writer born around 123, author of “The Golden Ass”, considered one of the first novels.
- Saint Augustine, who studied there from the age of 15.
- Maximus of Madaure, a Latin orator and grammarian of the late 4th century.
- Martianus Capella, a Roman astronomer and writer born around 439 (although some historians consider him to be from Carthage).
Archaeological Site
The remains of Madaure include several notable structures:
- A Roman mausoleum with a burial chamber on the ground floor and a statue niche on the upper floor.
- A theatre, one of the smallest in Roman Africa, measuring 33 meters by 20 meters and offering eight rows of seats. Its construction, financed by a local notable, cost 375,000 sesterces.
- Baths.
- A Byzantine-era Christian basilica with three naves separated by a double colonnade.
- Oil mills, which contributed to the city’s renown.
- A Byzantine fortress, built in 535 under the reign of Justinian, parts of which are well preserved.
