Archaeological Museum of Cherchell

Sculptures in the Museum of Cherchell.

Fragments found during archaeological surveys, circa 1856.

The Archaeological Museum of Cherchell is an archaeological museum located in the center of the seaport town of Cherchell in Tipaza Province, Algeria.

Characteristics

Cherchell was established by the Carthaginians in the 4th century BC and was captured by the Romans in 25 BC who made it into the capital of the Mauritania province, naming it Caesarea in honor of Caesar Augustus. The town was ruined by the Vandals in the first century CE and later restored to its former grandeur by the Byzantines. A series of conquests by various invaders saw the city change hands a number of times before becoming a French territory in 1840.

The Cherchell Museum houses what are widely considered to be some of the best examples of Roman and Greek antiquities on the African continent.^[1] Cherchell was called Caesarea of Mauretania during the Roman empire, and was the rich capital of Roman Mauretania Caesariensis. Many artifacts from these various periods of Cherchell's former history have been uncovered by archaeologists, a large number of which are on display in the Cherchell Museum.

Exhibits include works by Byzantine silversmiths, such as ornately decorated patera (vessels used for drinking), as well as intricately designed mosaics.^[2] It was during the Roman reign over Mauritania in 25 BC, under the leadership of Juba II, that a theater, library and other buildings were established in Cherchell (Caesarea).

Juba II also gathered an impressive collection of artworks, particularly marble sculptures, some of which have landed up in museums in other parts of the world, but excellent examples are to be found in Cherchell Museum, along with a sculpture of the head of his wife, Cleopatra Selene II. Partial ruins of the Roman theater, Roman baths, and Civile Basilica are found on the outskirts of Cherchell.^[3]

Museum's Ancient famous mosaics

See also

• List of museums in Algeria
• Caesarea of Mauretania

Notes

References

• Gauckler, Paul. Musée de Cherchel. Musées et collections archéologiques de l'Algérie et de la Tunisie. Leroux, 1895
• Cherchel, Algeria. Musée de Cherchel. Catalogue du Musée de Cherchel. Adolphe Jourdan, 1902
• Rita Amedick, Heide Froning (2012), La Reorganisation Du Musee De Cherchel, Phase I: Le Royaume Numide: Actes De La Conference Du Goethe-institut Algerie Tenue a Alger, De 2 Novembre 2009; ISBN 3447066105

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archaeological Museum of Cherchell.

• Cherchell Museum, Province of Tipaza

Coordinates: 36°36′N 2°12′E / 36.600°N 2.200°E / 36.600; 2.200