When you set foot in the ancient city of Hydra in the state of Kasserine - on the border with Algeria - you stand on ruins of Tunisia's ancient history that refuse to disappear.

When you wander around the landmarks of the archaeological site, far from Carthage, in the middle of the deserts of western Tunisia, you will hear the hoofs of the horses of the Roman army - which camped for years in this area - and the shouts of its soldiers.

The Holy Third Legion of the Roman Army

Lotfi El Nadari, Professor of Ancient History at the Tunisian University, says, "The city of Hydra entered history with the concentration of the Third Holy Legion in the Roman army, and it became its first camp during the reign of Emperor Augustus (6-14 AD). Many Latin inscriptions that immortalize the names were later discovered. Soldiers and Veterans.

And Nadari explained - in statements to Anadolu Agency - that "the number of that corps amounted to about 6 thousand recruits, in addition to twice that number of auxiliary unit soldiers recruited from the locals, especially during the revolution of the barbarian leader Takfarinas in the center-west of Tunisia (a Numidian recruit in the Roman army revolted against the rule of Rome for North Africa from 17 AD to 24 AD).

And he continues, "the military garrison set out to the west to Tebessa, Algeria, around the year 75 AD, and "Amidra" (the Roman name for Hydra) became a shelter for ancient soldiers, and then the city was founded and gained a kind of fame.

And Nadari explains that "during the rule of the Flavian emperors (69-96 AD), Amidra experienced economic and social prosperity and an important urban renaissance. One of the most important factors of this qualitative shift is the city's presence in a distinctive strategic location linking it to several regions of the Roman province of Africa, such as the road linking Carthage. Tebessa (Fast, Algeria).

roman settlement

Al-Nadari points out that "through the inscriptions found at the archaeological site of Amedra (with an area of ​​150 hectares), we find that the city became a Roman settlement, the highest rank that Roman cities could obtain at the time, which means that all its residents (were) have the right to citizenship in The empire, and that all its institutions, laws, landmarks, and religions are primarily Roman.”

Majd Omrani

Al-Nadari says that "Amedra developed rapidly, as many Roman monuments were constructed and built, which reflect the urban and economic prosperity of the city, which gradually took the form of the classic Roman city."

Regarding the urban development that Amidra witnessed at the time, Al-Nadari explains that "the triumphal arch was built at the eastern entrance to the city during the period of the Roman emperor of African descent, Septimius Severus, in 195 AD, and it is still standing today."

The Arch of Triumph was erected at the eastern entrance to the city (Anatolia).

As for the city center, "it is dominated by the forum (the public square), which is overlooked by several important landmarks, such as the Capitoline Temple dedicated to the Roman official religion, and the basilica landmark dedicated to official meetings and trials," according to Al-Nadari.

He added, "In the center of the city is a market, the effects of which are still visible through a paved central square surrounded by small shops and arcades, and next to it were found the remains of Roman baths consisting of several halls, cold and warm."

Al-Nadari pointed out that "on the northern side of the city, the remains of a theater and houses decorated with mosaic panels were discovered, the most important of which is the "Mediterranean Islands" painting, a unique painting with an area of ​​about 30 square meters, and representing the image and names of the islands of the eastern basin of the Mediterranean."

Christian heritage... and cultural life

Concerning the city's Christian heritage, Al-Nadari says that "it is possible to mention a number of churches in the middle of Amidra, and others on the right bank of the Hydra Valley that divides the city."

"As for the most famous landmark in the city, it is the Byzantine fortress, which covers about 2.5 hectares, and was built at the beginning of the sixth century AD," according to Al-Nadari.

The Byzantine fortress was built at the beginning of the sixth century AD (Anatolia)

He points out that "Haidara was known for the presence of an elite who mastered both Latin (the language of everyday communication) and Greek (the language of science and literature). Several poetic inscriptions were found in the city, written in these two languages."

Excavations to value the antiquities of the city

Adel Al-Saadi, representative of the National Heritage Institute in Hydra, says that "in 2003 and 2004, following joint Tunisian-French excavations, a trade route dating back to the Roman era was discovered linking Carthage and Hydra to Tebessa, the most important official road in North Africa during the Roman era." .

Al-Saadi added - in an interview with Anatolia - that "there is another road linking Hydra and Gabes (southeast) through Tlabt (Kasserine state) and Gafsa (southwest), all of which are commercial, military and administrative routes."