Editing Lambaesis

{{Short description|Roman archaeological site in Algeria}}
{{Redirect|Lambesis|the heavy metal vocalist|Tim Lambesis}}
{{Infobox ancient site
 |name = Lambaesis
 |native_name = 
 |alternate_name = Lambaesa (Lambese)
 |image = File:ArcAR.jpg
 |alt = 
 |caption = Arch of Septimius Severus
 |map_type = Algeria
 |map_alt = 
 |coordinates = {{coord|35|29|20|N|06|15|21|E|display=inline,title}}
 |location = Tazoult, [[Batna Province]], Algeria
 |region = 
 |type = Settlement
 |part_of = 
 |length = 
 |width = 
 |area = 
 |height = 
 |builder = 
 |material = 
 |built = 
 |abandoned = 
 |epochs = [[Roman Empire]]
 |cultures = 
 |dependency_of = 
 |occupants = 
 |event = 
 |excavations = 
 |archaeologists = 
 |condition = In ruins
 |ownership = 
 |management = 
 |public_access = 
 |website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
 |notes = 
}}

'''Lambaesis''' ('''Lambæsis'''), '''Lambaisis''' or '''Lambaesa''' (''Lambèse'' in [[French Algeria|colonial]] French), is a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] archaeological site in [[Algeria]], {{convert|11|km|abbr=on|0}} southeast of [[Batna City|Batna]] and {{convert|27|km|abbr=on}} west of [[Timgad]], located next to the modern village of [[Tazoult District|Tazoult]].<ref>[[René Cagnat]]. ''Lambèse.'' Lerous, Paris 1893 ([http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/cagnat1893 Original in French])</ref> The former bishopric is also a [[Latin Catholic]] [[titular bishopric]].

== History ==
Lambaesa was founded by the Roman military. The camp of the third [[Roman legion|legion]] ([[Legio III Augusta|Legio III ''Augusta'']]), to which it owes its origin, appears to have been established between AD 123–129, in the time of [[Roman emperor]] [[Hadrian]], whose address to his soldiers was found inscribed on a [[column|pillar]] in a second camp to the west of the great camp still extant.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=110}} However, other evidence suggests it was formed during the [[Punic Wars]].{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

{{Blockquote|''The town is built 622 m above sea level in the plain and on the spurs of the Djebel Asker''<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Stilwell |editor-first1=Richard  | display-authors=etal| title=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites |date=1976 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0006%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DL%3Aentry+group%3D1%3Aentry%3Dlambaesis |access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref>}}

By AD 166 mention is made of the [[Decurion (administrative)|decurion]]s of a ''[[Vicus (Rome)|vicus]]'', 10 ''[[curia]]e'' of which are known by name; and the ''vicus'' became a ''[[municipium]]'' probably at the time when it was made the capital of the newly founded province of [[Numidia]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=110}} Lambaesis was populated mainly by Romanized Berbers and by some Roman colonists with their descendants: Latin was the official and commonly used language (even if local Berbers spoke their own language mixed with Latinisms).

III Augusta was disbanded by [[Gordian III]] and the legionaries dispersed among the North African provinces. But the legion was restored in the AD 250s by [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerianus]] and [[Gallienus]] and from then on the legion was known as Augusta Restituta. Its final departure did not take place until after AD 392  (the town soon afterwards declined). 
[[File:Septimius Severus' African conquests1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Roman Lambaesis was located at the centre of Berber Africa (in an AD 200 map)]]
[[File:Legion1PW.jpg|thumb|217x217px|Members of the [[French Foreign Legion]] marching through the barracks in 1958]]
Indeed, under [[Septimius Severus]] (AD 193 ), Numidia was separated from [[Africa Province#History|Africa Vetus]], and governed by an imperial [[procurator (Roman)|procurator]]. Under the new organization of the empire by [[Diocletian]], Numidia was divided in two provinces: the north became ''Numidia Cirtensis'', with capital at [[Cirta]], while the south, which included the [[Aurès Mountains]] and was threatened by raids, became ''Numidia Militiana'', "Military Numidia", with capital at the legionary base of Lambaesis.

Subsequently, however, Emperor [[Constantine the Great]] reunited the two provinces in a single one, administered from Cirta, which was now renamed ''Constantina'' (modern [[Constantine, Algeria]]) in his honour. Its governor was raised to the rank of ''[[consularis]]'' in AD 320, and the province remained one of the seven provinces of the [[diocese of Africa]] until the invasion of the [[Vandal]]s in AD 428, which began its slow decay, accompanied by [[desertification]]. The province remained under Vandal rule, but was effectively limited to the coastal areas by Berber raids. It was restored to Roman rule after the [[Vandalic War]], when it became part of the new [[praetorian prefecture of Africa]].

The Byzantines occupied Lambaesis and vicinity from the sixth century but around AD 683 the Arabs conquered the area, naming what remained of the city '''Bar-el-Molouk''' in the 10th century.

== Ecclesiastical history ==
Lambaesis was an episcopal see during late Ancient times as part of the [[Roman province]] of [[Numidia]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Frend|first=W.H.C.|title=The Rise of Christianity|year=1984|publisher=Fortress Press|isbn=0-8006-1931-5|page=313|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-6tv70jqk8C&q=Bishop+of+Lambaesis&pg=PA1008}}</ref> For such an important town, its bishopric is surprisingly absent from the historical record. Lambaesis did not send a representative to the [[First Council of Nicaea|Council of Nicaea]]<ref>Heinrich Gelzer, Patrum Nicaenorum nomina Latine, Graece, Coptice, Syriace, Arabice, Armeniace.   (In aedibus B.G. Teubneri, 1995 ).</ref> nor [[Council of Chalcedon|Chalcedon]]<ref>Richard Price, Michael Gaddis, The Acts of the [[Council of Chalcedon]], Volume 1 (Liverpool University Press, 2005).</ref> and is not mentioned by LeQuinn .<ref>Michel Lequien,  ''Oriens christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus', Paris 1740, Volume I.</ref>
 
Saint [[Cyprian]] mentions a [[heretic]] [[bishop]] of Lambaesis who was condemned by a local [[synod]] of bishops around the year 240.<ref>Dictionnaire d’Archeologie Chretienne et de Liturgie, volume 8 columns 1067-1075</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Burns|first=J. Patout|title=Cyprian the Bishop|year=2002|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=0415238498|pages=106–108|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=egbXJlUgAW8C&q=Januarius+of+Lambaesis&pg=PA107}}</ref>

=== Titular see ===
The extinct diocese was nominally restored as a [[titular bishopric]]. Initially revived as Lambaisis, it was renamed Lambaesis in 1925.

It has had the following incumbents, of the lowest (episcopal) rank :
* Jan Dembowski (1759.09.24 – 1790)
* Hieronim Stojnowski (Stroynowski) (1804.08.20 – 1814.09.26)
* Mateo José González Rubio (1836.02.01 – 1845.06.15)
* Eduardo Vásquez, [[Dominican Order]] (O.P.) (1853.12.30 – 1856.12.12)
* Thomas O’Callaghan, O.P. (1884.06.29 – 1886.12.03)
* Jean-Marie-Michel Blois (衛忠藩), [[Paris Foreign Missions Society]] (M.E.P.) (1921.12.29 – 1946.04.11), as Apostolic Vicar of [[Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Manchuria|Southern Manchuria]] 南滿 (China) (1921.12.19 – 1924.12.03) and as Apostolic Vicar of [[Apostolic Vicariate of Shenyang|Shenyang]] 瀋陽 (China) (1924.12.03 – 1946.04.11), later promoted first Metropolitan Archbishop of Shenyang 瀋陽 (China) (1946.04.11 – 1946.05.18)
* James Moynagh, S.P.S. (1947.06.12 – 1950.04.18)
* Vincenzo Maria Jacono (1950.09.08 – 1955.02.02)
* Thomas Edward Gill (1956.04.11 – 1973.11.11)
* [[John Stephen Cummins]] (1974.02.26 – 1977.05.03)
* John Joseph Paul (1977.05.17 – 1983.10.14)
* Cardinal [[Marian Jaworski]] (1984.05.21 – 1991.01.16), while [[Apostolic Administrator]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv|Lviv]] (Ukraine) (1984.05.21 – 1991.01.16), later Metropolitan Archbishop of the same Lviv (Ukraine) (1991.01.16 – 2008.10.21), President of Episcopal Conference of Ukraine (1994 – 2008.10.21), Apostolic Administrator of Lutsk (Ukraine) (1996 – 1998.03.25), [[Cardinal-Priest]] of S. Sisto (2001.02.21 [2001.05.20] – ...)
* [[Michel Pierre Marie Mouïsse]] (2000.03.10 – 2004.03.05)
* Carlo Roberto Maria Redaelli (2004.04.08 – 2012.06.28), (later Archbishop)
* David Prescott Talley (2013.01.03 – 2016.09.21), [[Auxiliary Bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta|Atlanta]] (USA)
* Marc Pelchat (2016.10.25 – ...), Auxiliary Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Québec|Québec]] (Canada)

== Remains ==
The remains of the Roman town, and more especially of the Roman camp, in spite of wanton vandalism, are among the most interesting ruins in northern Africa.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=109}}
[[Image:Vue-aérienne-Lambèse.jpg|thumb|left|250px| Aerial view of Lambaesis ruins]]
The ruins are situated on the lower terraces of the [[Aures Mountains]], and consist of [[triumphal arch]]es (one to [[Septimius Severus]], another to [[Commodus]]), [[temple]]s, [[aqueduct (Roman)|aqueducts]], vestiges of an [[amphitheatre]], [[bathing|bath]]s and an immense quantity of masonry belonging to private houses. To the north and east lie extensive [[cemetery|cemeteries]] with the stones standing in their original alignments; to the west is a similar area, from which, however, the stones have been largely removed for building the modern village.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=109}}

Of the temple of [[Aesculapius]] only one column is standing, though in the middle of the 19th century its façade was entire. The capitol or [[temple]] dedicated to [[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]], [[Juno (mythology)|Juno]] and [[Minerva]], which has been cleared of debris, has a [[portico]] with eight [[column]]s. On level ground about two-thirds of a mile from the centre of the ancient town stands the camp, its site now partly occupied by the penitentiary and its gardens. It measures {{convert|1640|ft|m}} by {{convert|1476|ft|m}}, and in the middle rise the ruins of a building commonly called, but incorrectly, the [[praetorium]]. This noble building, which dates from 268, is {{convert|92|ft|m}} long by {{convert|66|ft|m}} broad and {{convert|49|ft|m}} high; its southern façade has a splendid [[peristyle]] half the height of the wall, consisting of a front row of massive [[Ionic column]]s and an engaged row of Corinthian pilasters.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=109}}

[[File:GM Lambese Algeria01.jpg|thumb|Lambaesis 2005]]
Behind this building (which was roofed), is a large court giving access to other buildings, one being the [[arsenal]]. In it have been found many thousands of [[projectiles]]. To the southeast are the remains of the baths. The ruins of both city and camp have yielded many [[inscriptions]] ([[Leon Renier|Renier]] edited 1500, and there are 4185 in [[Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum|CIL]] viii); and, though a very large proportion are [[epitaph]]s of the barest kind, the more important pieces supply an outline of the history of the place.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=109}}

Over 2500 inscriptions relating to the camp have been deciphered. In a museum in the village are objects of antiquity discovered in the vicinity.<ref>René Cagnat. ''Musée de Lambèse.'' Leroux, Paris 1895 ([http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/cagnat1895 Original in French])</ref> In addition to inscriptions and statues, there are some fine mosaics found in 1905 near the arch of [[Septimius Severus]]. The statues include those of [[Aesculapius]] and [[Hygieia]], taken from the temple of Aesculapius.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|pp=109–110}}

About {{convert|2|mi|km}} south of Lambessa are the ruins of Markuna, the ancient [[Verecunda]], including two triumphal arches.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=110}}

<gallery>
File:Mosaico della ninfa cirene, II-III secolo, dal museo di lambèse 01.JPG|Mosaic at Lambaesis
File:Quartier général de la Legio III augusta 1.JPG|Groma, gate to the principia
File:Une arène près de Lambèse 5.JPEG|Amphitheatre at Lambaesis
File:Ruines dans la ville de Tazoult, Wilaya de Batna 3.jpg|Ruins at Tazoult
File:Pont romain à Lambèse.JPEG|Roman Bridge at Tazoult
File:Arc sur le territoire de l'antique Lambaesis.JPG|Roman Era Arch
File:Lambaesis-etching.png|Arch of Septimius Severus 1850s
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Ancient Rome}}
* [[Legio III Augusta]]
* [[Timgad]]
* [[Cuicul (Djémila)|Djémila]]
* [[Cirta]]
* [[Caesarea of Mauretania|Caesarea]]
* [[Auzia]]
* [[Rapidum]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
*S. Gsell, ''Les Monuments antiques de l'Algerie'' (Paris, 1901) and ''L'Algérie dans l'antiquité'' (Algiers, 1903);
*L. Renier, ''Inscriptions romaines de l'Algérie'' (Paris, 1855);
*Gustav Wilmann, "Die rm. Lagerstadt Afrikas", in ''Commentationes Phil. in honoreni Th. Mommseni'' (Berlin, 1877);
*Sir L. Playfair, ''Travels in the Footsteps of Bruce'' (London, 1877);
*A. Graham, ''Roman Africa'' (London, 1902).
*{{EB1911|wstitle=Lambessa|volume=16|pages=109–110}}

== Source and External links ==
{{Commons category|Lambese}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041030032135/http://www.york.ac.uk/depts/arch/staff/sites/lamb.htm Joint Anglo-Algerian excavations of Lambaesis] — ''archaeological team since 1985''.
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/former/t0967.htm GigaCatholic with titular incumbent biography links]
* [http://archeorom3.site.voila.fr/page3.html Archeorom3.site: Photos from Lambaesis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041219002739/http://archeorom3.site.voila.fr/page3.html |date=2004-12-19 }}
* [https://www.manar-al-athar.ox.ac.uk/pages/collections_featured.php?parent=5968 Images of Lambaesis (Tazoult)] in Manar al-Athar digital heritage photo archive

{{Romano-Berber cities in Roman Africa}}
{{Batna Province}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Roman towns and cities in Algeria]]
[[Category:Roman legionary fortresses in Algeria]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Algeria]]
[[Category:Catholic titular sees in Africa]]
[[Category:Former Roman Catholic dioceses in Africa]]
[[Category:Roman fortifications in Roman Africa]]
[[Category:120s establishments]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 2nd century]]
[[Category:Ancient Berber cities]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Algeria]]
[[Category:Communes of Batna Province]]
[[Category:Numidia (Roman provinces)]]
[[Category:Roman amphitheaters in North Africa]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Batna Province]]