Iomnium

Iomnium in Algeria

Iomnium was a civitas of the Roman Empire, located on the Mediterranean coast in what is today Tizi Ouzou Province , Algeria.[1] Ancient Iomnium was an emporium and port for the nearby municipium, and was in the Roman province of Numidia. Iomnium was also the seat of an ancient bishopric of the Roman Catholic Church, which remains in titular status to the current day.

Location

The name Iomnium appears to be Punic in origin and means peninsula of fastness (strength) [2] The population was culturally Punic. Iomnium is also known as Tigzrit and تيقزيرت.

Iomnium harbor today

The town was located at 36.893024, 4.123269[3] and appears on the Tabula Peutingeriana.[4]

History

It flourished from 30 BC to AD 640,[5] when the area was taken over by the Arabs.

The remains of the city are identified with ruins near the town of Tigzirt and excavation has revealed a moderately sized Roman era settlement.[6] As the name Iomnium suggests it was located on a peninsula, and the administrative portion of the town with a forum, temple, law courts and the magistrates office were located at the tip of the peninsula. The streets were in a grid layout.[7]

Nearby public baths and an ornamental mosaic can still be seen. Inscriptions and statues are found scattered through the town.[8]

Bishopric

Iomnium was the seat of an ancient bishopric.[9][10] and the current bishop is Jaime Calderón Calderón.

The ruins of a small Christian basilica have been uncovered.[11] The building has three naves with galleries over the aisles. There was a baptistery of polyfoil plan to the NE. the town may also have been the center of a Donatist community.

References

  1. ↑ Robert A. Kaster, Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity (University of California Press, 1997). p352 & 466.
  2. ↑ P Siggers, Vestiges toponymiques de la presence phenico punique en Sardaigne, p25–35.
  3. ↑ Iomnium, a Pleiades place resource.
  4. ↑ Conrad MANNERT, Joseph DUESBERG, Louis MARCUS, Géographie ancienne des États barbaresques, d'après l'allemand de Mannert (1842) p490.
  5. ↑ Iomnium, Tigzirt.
  6. ↑ Photos of Iomnium.
  7. ↑ Richard Stillwell, The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites (Princeton University Press, 2017) p414.
  8. ↑ Richard Stillwell, William L. MacDonald, Marian Holland McAllister, Stillwell, Richard, MacDonald, William L., McAlister, Marian Holland, Ed., The Princeton]] Encyclopedia of Classical Sites IOMNIUM.
  9. ↑ Iomnium.
  10. ↑ Titular Episcopal See of Iomnium.
  11. ↑ Iomnium.
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