- Cherchell is a Mediterranean seaport town 55 miles (90km) west of Algiers in the Tipaza Province of Algeria, and was known to the Romans as first Lol and then Caesarea Mauretaniae.
- It was the capital of first the Kingdom of Numidia, then the Roman Province of Mauretania Caesariensis.
History
- The Phoenicians built Lol around 600 BCE.
- Between 202 BCE-40 CE Lol was part of the Roman Client Kingdom of Numidia.
- In 44 CE Lol became Caesarea Mauretaniae and capital of the new Province of Mauretania Caesariensis.
- After the Rise of Vandal Naval Power and conquest of Carthage in 435 CE, Caesarea Mauretaniae became an important naval harbour in the Vandal Kingdom.
Roman Sites
- Theatre
- Amphitheatre (rectangular, not oval)
- Baths
- Basilica
- Forum
- Column
- Aqueduct
- A copy of a Roman Fountain stands in Roman Square (the original is in the museum courtyard)
Group of Monuments Nearby
- Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania
- Located on the road between Cherchell and Tipaza, it is the Resting Place of King Juba II and his wife Cleopatra Selene II, the daughter of Queen Cleopatra VII and Mark Anthony.
- Other Monuments
- from the Phoenician and Roman Periods lie along this road. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Museums
- Archaeological Museum of Cherchell
- Located at J55R+8FF, Cherchell.
- The museum holds a collection of Finds excavated from Caesarea including fine mosaics, such as the Mosaic of the Vine workers.
- It also holds marble sculptures such as the Bust of Cleopatra Selene II and a Roman Fountain with four lion heads in the museum courtyard.
Roman Roads
- North African Roman Road
- Rabat-Cherchell-Egypt
Cherchell, Algeria