Tipasa

Tipasa is a town on the coast of Algeria, and is the capital of the Tipasa wilaya. The modern town, founded in 1857, is remarkable chiefly for its sandy beach.

Tipasa was founded by the Phoenicians. It was made a Roman military colony by the emperor Claudius, and afterwards became a municipium. The Roman city was built on three small hills which overlooked the sea. Of the houses, most of which stood on the central hill, no traces remain; but there are ruins of three churches — the Great Basilica and the Basilica Alexander on the western hill, and the Basilica of St. Salsa on the eastern hill, two cemeteries, the baths, theatre, amphitheatre, and nymphaeum. The line of the ramparts can be distinctly traced and at the foot of the eastern hill the remains of the ancient harbour. The basilicas are surrounded by cemeteries, which are full of coffins, all of stone and covered with mosaics. The basilica of St. Salsa, which has been excavated by Stéphane Gsell, consists of a nave and two aisles, and still contains a mosaic. The Great Basilica served for centuries as a quarry, but it is still possible to make out the plan of the building, which was divided into seven aisles. Under the foundations of the church are tombs hewn out of the solid rock. Of these one is circular, with a diameter of 18 m and space for 24 coffins. Commercially it was of considerable importance, but it was not distinguished in art or learning.

Christianity was introduced early on, and in the third century Tipasa was a bishop's seat. Most of the inhabitants continued to be non-Christian until, according to the legend, Salsa, a Christian maiden, threw the head of their serpent idol into the sea, whereupon the enraged populace stoned her to death. The body, miraculously recovered from the sea, was buried, on the hill above the harbor, in a small chapel which gave place subsequently to the stately basilica. Salsa's martyrdom took place in the 4th century. In 484 the Vandal king Huneric (477‑484) sent an Arian bishop to Tipasa. A large number of the inhabitants fled to Spain, while many of the remainder were cruelly persecuted.

JOURNEYS trips that include Tipasa:

Ancient Algeria and Morocco from Nov. 3-17, 2007 with Will Weber

Cairo to Casablanca Overland Adventure from Oct. 13-Nov. 23, 2007 with Will Weber

Information based on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipasa