Diana | |
 Ruins of Diana Veteranorum (Zana), 2016 | |
  Shown within Algeria | |
| Alternative name | Zana Ouled sbaâ |
|---|---|
| Location | Algeria |
| Region | Batna Province |
| Coordinates | 35°46′46″N6°04′31″E / 35.77944°N 6.07528°E /35.77944; 6.07528 |
Diana Veteranorum, today a village calledAin Zana (Aïn Zana), was an ancientRoman-Berber city inAlgeria. It was located around 40 km northwest ofLambaesis and 85 km southwest ofCirta.[1]
Diana Veteranorum was founded in the connection with the settling of Roman veterans of theLegio III Augusta in northern Africa under the emperorTrajan (98-117).[2] Originally probably only Romanvicus with a police station and a community council (described asrest publica Dianensium in an early inscription).[3][4] It was later promoted to amunicipium, but there's some debate, when that actually happened. While it is established that Diana Veteranorum was a municipium latest by 162, a later discovered inscription suggests that it has been a municipium in 149 already and Jacques Gascou concludes from this inscription that the original promotion happened under Trajan even.[1]
Around 161/162 AD, during the governorship ofD. Fonteius Frontinianus the city of Diana Veteranorum was granted the status of amunicipium. In 164/165 AD thelegateC. Maesius Picatianus issued the construction of a memorial arch for the emperorsMarcus Aurelius andLucius Verus.[4] During these years, Diana Veteranorum saw various construction and renovation measures, however, it is not entirely clear which actual buildings were subject to them. In 217, atriumphal arch was erected for the emperorMacrinus.[1]
A Christian community with abishop existed since the middle of the third century.[3]
In thePeutinger Table, a map of the Roman empire from the late 4th century, the city is calledAd Dianam.[5] Later, it came under the control of theByzantine Empire. During the Byzantine period, the city underwent significant changes, and some of the Roman buildings were replaced by or reused for new constructions. A church was built on the forum, and the triumphal arch for Macrinus was integrated into a small fort.[6][7] In the second half of the 7th century, the city was captured by the expandingArab empire.[5]
Archeological excavations at the site have yielded a large paved rectangularforum and anaqueduct. In the southeastern area, there are also the remains of a temple that may have been dedicated to the goddessDiana. Two arches have been found, the larger one of which features three openings. An inscription on it indicates that it was erected for the emperor Macrinus in 217. A number of other inscriptions have also been discovered, and in the western part of the city several mausolea have been found.[6]
Three buildings from theByzantine period have been identified. A small fort (20.2 x 16. m) that had been attached to the arch of Macrinus, and a larger fort (61 x 53 m) about 100 m east of the original forum. Finally a Christian church (33 x 17.1m), that had been built on top of the forum.[6]
Romano-Berber cities in Roman North Africa | ||
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| Related articles | ||
1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites2 Proposed | ||
