Algeria (Bradt Travel Guides) [Paperback]

The ultimate companion.... quite possibly! During ym time in Algeria this book never left me - i couldn't do without it! For making you feel comfortable and at home in a country i knew next to nothing about it was just brilliant. It really highlighted the beauty that Algeria has as well as providing up to date and accurate info on the specifics of travelling the country. Thanks Bradt!

I believe this is a good guidebook when it comes to information about hotels and restaurants and transport from A to B. But when it comes to historical background and presentation of the ancient sites, there are many mistakes and misunderstandings. For reasons of space I can only mention some of them here:

(1) On page 173 we read about Hippo: "The city flourished under the Romans who annexed it to Africa following the defeat of Jugurtha in 146 BC."

This information about Jugurtha is not true. Jugurtha is also mentioned on page 154. Here the author says that Jugurtha was defeated by the Romans in 107 BC. This is better, but still not correct. Jugurtha was betrayed in 105 BC and killed by the Romans on the first day of 104 BC.

On page 173 we hear that Augustine was the bishop in Hippo 396-430. In fact, he was a priest from 391 and the bishop from 395.

Augustine appears again on page 182: "St. Augustine had his bishopric from AD 391-430." Wrong.

We should not refer to him as "St. Augustine" when we are talking about his life. The sainthood came only after his death.

Augustine appears again on page 183: "... becoming bishop from AD 396 until his death in 430." Wrong.

The author does not mention the famous Roman author Gajus Svetonius Tranquillus who was (probably) born in Hippo Regius around AD 69.

(2) Madauros is covered on page 186: "It was founded in AD 125 by Septime Sévère and as such is one of the oldest Roman colonies in Africa."

The town was founded in Flavian times, i.e. 69-96. The emperor in AD 125 was Hadrian (117-138). Septimius Severus (the author gives us the French version of the name) was emperor 193-211.

The author does not mention the famous Roman author Apuleius, who lived ca. 123-ca. 180. Apuleius was born in this town. He is the author of the Latin novel The Golden Ass (Penguin Classics)

(3) Lambaesis is covered on page 165: "The site was founded in the 1st century AD by Romans from Tébessa ... it was built on the orders of Marc-Aurèle..."

In fact, Lambaesis was founded during the reign of Titus (79-81). The emperor mentioned in the text is Marcus Aurelius, who ruled 161-180. The author gives us the French version of the Latin name.

"The dominant building is the council building in the camp of Hadrian which remains in remarkable condition."

Hadrian's camp dates to 128. It was probably built for his visit to Africa in that year. The dominant building mentioned in the text is the quadrifrons (a four-way arch) of the grand camp which dates from around 129.

Read about Hadrian's visit to Lambaesis in 128 in M. P. Speidel, Emperor Hadrian's speeches to the African Army: A New Text.

"Just outside the gated area are the large amphitheatre and the arch of Commode. Further up the hill past Tazoult village itself is the site of the city of Marc-Aurèle. Here you will find the large temple of Esculape."

Commodus ruled 180-192. "Commode" is the French version of his name.

"Esculape" is the French name for the ancient god of health and medicine. The Romans called him Aesculapius. The Greeks called him Asklepios.

(4) Tiddis is covered on page 161. The author does not mention Quintus Lollius Urbicus who was born in this town. There is a mausoleum for this family about 4 km from the ancient town.

Read about Tiddis in Jean-Marie Blas de Roblès & Claude Sintes: Sites et monuments antiques de l'Algérie pp. 125-134.

Read about Quintus Lollius Urbicus in Serge Lancel: L'Algérie antique : De Massinissa à Saint Augustin pp. 164-167.

(5) Tébessa is covered on pp. 186-188: "The city was founded under the Romans by Hadrian and his 3rd legion of Rome. Tébessa was the largest city in Algeria in AD 75, and it was a prosperous place, holding great influence as a place of learning."

In fact, this place was founded by Vespasian (69-79) as a military camp for Legio III Augusta. It was turned into a civilian municipium in 81 when the legion moved to Lambaesis. Hadrian was born in AD 76. He ruled 117-138.

"In Tébessa there is also an amphitheatre to the east of the medina dating from the 4th century, though access is limited."

The amphitheatre dates from Flavian times, i.e. 69-96. It was rebuilt several times until the 5th century.

(6) Timgad is covered on pp. 165-167: "Going back to the main street heading further up the hill to your left is the library. Just after here you meet the cardo, the principal axis of the city."

Actually, you are on the cardo (which usually follows a north-south line) right from the start when you enter the north gate. The street you meet after the library is the decumanus (which usually follows an east-west line).

"Just to the right is the large amphitheatre."

There is no amphitheatre in Timgad. There is a theatre. It is not to the right, but straight ahead, i.e. south of the forum.

There is a map of Timgad on page 166. On this map one monument is labelled "Capital." It should be "Capitol" - which is the English version of the Latin word Capitolium.

I have told the publisher about these mistakes and misunderstandings. I hope they will be corrected when a second edition appears.

PS. Lonely Planet has published a guidebook about Algeria: Algeria (Lonely Planet Country Guide). Bradt Travel Guides has published a book about the Roman sites in North Africa. This book includes a section about Algeria: North Africa: The Roman Coast (Bradt Travel Guides).