Did you know that in the heart of the Sahara Desert lies the remains of a mysterious Roman city? For centuries, different experts have tried to uncover the secrets of the ancient city that were swallowed up by the deserts, and buried under the sands of time.
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The ancient Roman city is Timgad. Some time ago, it was a thriving city as the southern stronghold of the Roman Empire. But one day, its Roman inhabitants seemed to just abandon the city. What could have caused its citizens to pack up and leave?
The Roman Emperor who built Timgad
The Roman Empire was very powerful back in 100 AD and this made Roman Emperor Trajan one of the most powerful men in the world. His rule lasted for 19 years and under his leadership, the Roman Empire expanded significantly.
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During Trajan’s reign, the Roman Empire expanded from Britain into Egypt. In between, Roman cities were built all over, most of them impressive and luxurious. And Timgad turned out to be one of the most majestic cities ever built.
A well-planned city
When it came to building Timgad, Trajan had the idea to build the city in the shadow of the Aurès Mountains. He decided to build a city so far south to protect the trade routes in North Africa, which were important for the distribution of grain throughout the Roman Empire.
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Trajan and his city planners put a lot of thought into it with a grid plan. The city was designed in the shape of a square and was bisected by two main roads running north to south and east to west. And where the two main roads meet, they built a forum
A military outpost
Since Timgad had the major role of defense and protection, Trajan stationed the Third Augustan Legion in Timgad. Every other year, Trajan would grant land in and around Timgad to 200 soldiers after they were released from service.
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This kept the city thriving. Timgad turned out to be a popular home for retired soldiers. And with mostly military families living there, Trajan was confident that the citizens would be in safe hands despite its distance from Rome.
A grand and majestic city
Although the city was built in the middle of the desert, Timgad had all kinds of amenities for its citizens. The city had a theater, a basilica, and a huge library, and there were numerous bathhouses spread all throughout.
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Aside from the grand architecture, there were also several beautiful mosaics – some of which are considered to be the best work of the Romans. The most noticeable structure in the ruins was the massive arch, built in honor of Trajan.
Why would they abandon a great place?
Aside from soldiers and military families, Timgad was also home to Christians and followers of older religions. It became one of the most diverse cities of the Roman Empire and for a long time, it flourished.
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But somehow, something had happened that resulted in the majestic crumbling of the city to the point that its citizens had to abandon it. By the eighth century, the city was nothing more than just a pile of stones and the sand of the desert slowly consumed it.
First discoverer
In 1763, James Bruce of Scotland was appointed to be the consul in Algiers, the capital of Algeria. Bruce was a very driven and intelligent man that made his superiors feel annoyed and insecure. In 1765, they dismissed Bruce from his position.
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But Bruce had no intention of going back to Scotland after his dismissal He decided to go on an adventure throughout Africa, with his friend Italian artist Luigi Balugani as his companion. He believed there was more to discover and see on the continent.
Running into the ruins
Bruce and Balugani wandered through the desert intending to find the remains of a rumored ancient civilization in the area. And as it happens, on December 12, 1765, Bruce stumbled into the ruins of Timgad.
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Bruce and Balugani were exploring the other side of the Aurès Mountains when Bruce caught sight of the ruins. Most of the city was now buried in sand but there were still some pillars peeking out. The two explorers found the Arch of Trajan, which stood at 40 feet.
Small but elegant
As they stepped into the ancient city, they became the first Europeans who have stepped into the area for centuries. Bruce immortalized the moment in his private diary. He wrote that it “has been a small town, but full of elegant buildings.”
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As Bruce and Balugani wandered around, they also came across the huge amphitheater. The statues of famous Roman figures were still there and they were perfectly preserved. It was like stepping into a different world.
Second discoverer
But instead of reporting his discovery, Bruce buried whatever artifacts they found and continued their adventure through Africa. It was not until he returned home in 1774 that he reported his discoveries in Africa but at that time, only a few people believed him.
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Then, in 1875, the city of Timgad was rediscovered by a British diplomat who ironically was sent to Algiers as a consul too. The diplomat was Robert Lambert Playfair, and just like Bruce, he embarked on a journey through Africa until he stumbled into the lost city.
Excavation and research begins
But unlike Bruce, Playfair did not walk away from this discovery. He started excavating and doing research himself. Playfair proclaimed that Timgad’s location was the center of where six major roads met.
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Playfair assessed that the city’s architecture was far superior compared to many other Roman cities. Because of this, Playfair believed that the city served a very important role in the Roman Empire and that it should not be ignored.
A major historical find
At the time of Timgad’s rediscovery, Algeria was under French control. By 1881, the Europeans seized the area where the Timgad ruins were. For the next eight decades, the ancient ruins of Timgad remained under the French until the Algerian War of Independence.
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While the Timgad ruins were under their control, the French immediately went to work. Experts and researchers were brought to the area to excavate and examine. It soon became clear what a major find this ancient city was for World History.
Well-preserved ruins
Unlike most ancient Roman cities that have been discovered, Timgad was not tainted with modernization. The ancient city was untouched and preserved under the desert sands. It was one of the best archaeological finds in the world.
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According to the French team, Trajan was not just a random outpost in the desert. It was intended to be a place of prosperity. This was proven by the fact that more structures had been added and restored over the years.
A rich and luxurious lifestyle
In fact, the French team concluded that life for the average Timgad citizen was most likely to be superior to the lives of average citizens in most parts of the Roman empire. Perhaps it is the distance from Rome that encouraged city planners to level up the amenities.
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It was assessed that the city of Timgad was far better than other major cities like Pompeii. The researchers also discovered private homes that came with luxuries and intricate mosaics. So, what could have caused the downfall of such a great city?
Threats to the empire
Ever since the Roman Empire rose to power, they were consistently being threatened by other conquerors such as the Vandals, the Huns, and the Goths. Among these conquerors, the Vandals from Germany became a dominating threat.
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The Vandals had managed to make their way through the Roman empire. Timgad happened to be one of the cities that were ransacked heavily by the Vandals. The fall of Timgad was a heavy blow to the Roman Empire.
Victory of the Vandals
But Timgad was the least of their worries at the moment. They had a bigger problem to face because this meant the Vandals were heading closer to the capital of the Roman Empire itself.
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The Vandals were an unstoppable force by the time they ransacked Timgad. In 455 AD, the Vandals successfully infiltrated the city of Rome. At that point, they controlled the majority of the Roman Empire, including its territories in North Africa.
Reclaiming their losses
The Romans did try to fight back but they made slow progress in subduing the Germanic tribes and reclaiming their territories. Timgad remained to be weak and was too far away from the capital. In 533 AD, the Vandalic War happened.
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The Vandalic War ended with the Roman Empire being able to take its lands in North Africa. When the Roman general arrived at Timgad, he and the army found that the once majestic city was already abandoned.
Attempt to rebuild the city
Rome considered Timgad to be one of its greatest cities and did not want to leave it abandoned. They tried to rebuild it by creating another fort on the outskirts of the city. But since it was completely abandoned now, progress was slow.
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There was also the fact that anyone who would want to stay in Timgad would have to be dependent on Rome. Considering the great distance between Timgad and Rome, it had become very difficult to stay in Timgad.
Buried in the sands of time
The Arabs made their way into the southern territories of Rome making it more difficult for the Roman Empire to support Timgad. By the eighth century, Timgad was abandoned once and for all. The sands of the Sahara desert started to cover and bury it.
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By the time the ancient city was discovered, Timgad was buried 3 feet under the sand. But it actually was a good thing. The sand helped preserve the artifacts and architecture for centuries. And thanks to this, we get to have a clearer look into the Roman Empire.
Timgad in modern times
Today, the ancient ruins of Timgad are named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Numerous architects, historians, and researchers have gone to the city and considered it to be the most detailed example when it comes to the urban planning of ancient Rome.
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It is now the hottest spot to visit in Algeria and the iconic Arch of Trajan is a famous tourist spot. You can visit the famous ancient ruins of Algiers or Constantine. There are guided tours where you will be able to walk through the streets of the ancient city.
