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CHAP. 2. (3.)—NUMIDIA.

At the river Ampsaga Numidia begins, a country rendered illustrious by the fame of Masinissa. By the Greeks this region was called Metagonitis1; and the Numidians received the name of "Nomades" from their frequent changes of pasturage; upon which occasions they were accustomed to carry2 their mapalia, or in other words, their houses, upon waggons. The towns of this country are Cullu3 and Rusicade4; and at a distance of forty-eight miles from the latter, in the interior, is the colony of Cirta5, surnamed "of the Sitiani;" still more inland is another colony called Sicca6, with the free town of Bulla Regia7. On the coast are Tacatua8, Hippo Regius9, the river Armua10, and the town of Tabraca11, with the rights of Roman citizens. The river Tusca12 forms the boundary of Numidia. This country produces nothing remarkable except its marble13 and wild beasts.

1 It was not only Numidia that bore this name, but all the northern coast of Africa from the frontiers of the kingdom of Carthage near Hippo Regius to the Columns of Hercules. It was thus called from the Greek metagonos, a "descendant" or "successor;" as the Carthaginians established a number of small towns and villages on the coast, which were thus posterior in their origin to the large cities already founded there.

2 Hardouin says that the Moors in the interior still follow the same usage, carrying their houses from pasture to pasture on waggons.

3 Now Chollum or Collo.

4 The modern Sgigada or Stora, according to Mannert, D'Anville, and Shaw.

5 The modern Constantina occupies its site. Numerous remains of the ancient town are still discovered. Sitius was an officer who served under Cæsar, and obtained a grant of this place after the defeat of Juba.

6 Called Urbs, or Kaff, according to D'Anville and Shaw; the latter of whom found an inscription there with the words Ordo Siccensium.

7 Or 'Royal Bulla'; which epithet shows that it was either a residence or a foundation of the kings of Numidia, and distinguishes it from a small place called Bulla Mensa, south of Carthage. Bulla Regia was four days' journey south-west of Carthage, on a tributary of the river Bagrada, the valley of which is still called Wad-el-Boul. This place was one of the points of Ptolemy's recorded astronomical observations, having its longest day fourteen hours and one-eighth, and being distant from Alexandria two hours to the west.

8 The modern Tamseh, according to Shaw and Mannert, and Tagodet, according to D'Anville.

9 Its ruins are south of the modern Bona. It received the name of Regius or 'Royal' from being the residence of the Numidian kings. It was also famed as being the see of St. Augustine. It was a colony of Tyre, and stood on the bay now forming the Gulf of Bona. It was one of the most flourishing cities of Africa till it was destroyed by the Vandals A.D. 430.

10 Now the Mafragg, according to Mannert.

11 Still called Tabarca, according to Hardouin.

12 Now the Zaina, according to Marcus.

13 For the character of the Numidian marble, see Pliny, B. xxxvi. c. 7.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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  • Cross-references to this page (22):
    • The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, IULIA TRADUCTA (Tarifa) Cádiz, Spain.
    • The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, JIBILA (“Cotta”) Morocco.
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    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), AMPSAGA
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