Aïn Oulmene عين اولمان | |
|---|---|
Commune and town | |
 Ain-Oulmène, Algeria | |
 | |
| Country |  Algeria |
| Province | Sétif Province |
| District | Aïn Oulmane District |
| Area | |
• Total | 200 sq mi (530 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,120 ft (950 m) |
| Population (2008)[1] | |
• Total | 73,831 |
| • Density | 360/sq mi (139/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| Postal code | 19200 |
| Area code | 1928 |
Aïn Oulmene (Arabic:عين اولمان;Berber: ⵢⵏⵓⵍⵎⴰⵏ), theclassicalZaraï, is atown andcommune inSétifProvince innorth-easternAlgeria.[2][3]
The town derives its name from the Arabic "ain" ("source") and the Berber "Oulmane" ("weaver's son").[4] The name could also mean "Fountain Elms" according toArthur Pellegrin [fr]. "Oulmen" is the plural of "Oulmou," meaning "elm" inBerber, from the Latin "Ulmus".[5]
The town is the capital of the Aïn Oulmenecounty. Located 30 kilometers southwest ofSétif, the AlgerianRoute Nationale 28 runs through Aïn Oulmene. At an altitude of 950 meters, Aïn Oulmene is situated between the high fertile plains south of Sétif and theHodna Mountains to the west. The east of the town is generally flat terrain, while its western part has small mountains. The highest of these peaks is Osmane Jebel, reaching 1,100 meters. The town had 73,831 inhabitants in 2008census.
The indigenous inhabitants of Aïn Oulmene were theZenata andSanhadjaBerber tribes.
Zaraï was aCarthaginian trading post that minted its ownbronze coins.
According toStéphane Gsell, who undertook excavations in the area in the early 20th century, the plains to the south of theSétif colony founded byNerva (96-98) were Roman-occupied. This occupation stretched all the way to Zaraï during the reign ofHadrian (AD 117-138). At the time, the plains constituted a military and fiscal territory protected by acohort stationed at Zaraï (either the1st Flavia Equilata or6th Commagenorum [de]). For centuries, Aïn Oulmene was a Roman and Byzantine eranecropolis.
In the 8th century,Uqba ibn Nafi installed a garrison nearby.
Aïn Oulmene was the capital of the township ofRirha [fr] (pronounced "ryɣa") from 1880 to 1958. The name "Aïn Oulmene" appeared for the first time in 1887 on an administrative document. Aïn Oulmene was known as "Colbert" by theFrench from 1887 and was the capital of the Colbertcommune from 1935 to 1962. The name "Aïn Oulmene" reappeared in 1962 with theindependence of Algeria.
Aïn Oulmene is located in an agricultural region.Cereal andvegetables were once cultivated here, but after thedrought of the last quarter century,tobacco,livestock andpoultry are more popular.
The town has afootball club ESAO (previously ESC) founded in 1927 whose colors are blue and white. There is aboxing club and a women's handball club which has represented Algeria in various international competitions.
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