Cherchell

History

Phoenicians established their first major wave of colonies on the coasts between their homeland and the Strait of Gibraltar in the 8th centuryBC, but Iol was probably established around 600BC and the oldest remains so far discovered at Cherchell date from the 5th centuryBC. By that time, Carthage had already taken control of the Phoenicians in the western Mediterranean. Punic Iol was one of the more important trading posts in what is now Algeria. In the 3rd centuryBC, it was fortified and began issuing Numidia's first coins in bronze and silver, bearing Punic text, Carthaginian gods, and images of local produce, particularly fish. After the Punic Wars, Carthage's holdings in northwest Africa were mostly given to Rome's local allies. Iol was given to Micipsa, the king of Numidia, who first established it as a royal court. It was defended by auxiliary units and was the harbor of Rome's Mauretanian Fleet, It was surrounded by suburban villas whose agricultural mosaics are now celebrated. It had its own school of philosophy, academy, and library. It received a new forum and further patronage from the African emperor Septimius Severus and his dynasty, possibly reaching as many as 100,000 inhabitants. Its native son Macrinus and his son Diadumenian became the first Berber and lower-class emperors, reigning in 217 and 218. (Their predecessor's wastefulness and wars required unpopular financial adjustments that led to their overthrow in favor of Elagabalus.) Juba's theater was converted into an amphitheater sometime after the year 300. but it went into decline and its city center was given over to ramshackle housing for the poor. The first duke was named John; that he was given an infantry unit rather than cavalry implies that he was meant to hold the port without much…

Most-observed species

• common arisarum

  Arisarum vulgare O.Targ.Tozz. · Liliopsida
  4
• Squirting Cucumber

  Ecballium elaterium (L.) A.Rich. · Magnoliopsida
  4
• Bermuda-buttercup

  Oxalis pes-caprae L. · Magnoliopsida
  4
• Woolly Clover

  Trifolium tomentosum L. · Magnoliopsida
  4
• umbratree

  Phytolacca dioica L. · Magnoliopsida
  4
• Thekla's Lark

  Galerida theklae A.E.Brehm, 1857 · Aves
  4
• Eurasian Kestrel

  Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4
• White Wagtail

  Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4

Most recent

• M 5 — 2024-12-16
  17 km ENE of Sidi Akkacha, Algeria
• M 4 — 2022-12-07
  northern Algeria
• M 4.8 — 2022-11-12
  24 km NE of Berrouaghia, Algeria
• M 4.1 — 2022-03-18
  16 km ENE of Berrouaghia, Algeria
• M 4.4 — 2021-07-31
  5 km NNW of El Abadia, Algeria
• M 3.6 — 2020-08-29
  36 km WNW of Hadjout, Algeria