Tébessa

Tébessa (Berber language: Tbessa or Tibesti, Arabic: تبسة‎), is the capital city of Tébessa Province, in the Shawi region of Algeria, 20 kilometers west from the border with Tunisia. Nearby is also a phosphate mine. The city is famous for the traditional Algerian carpets in the region, and is home to over 634,332 people (in 2007).

History

For the Ancient Greeks the city was known as Theveste, Θεβέστη or Hekatompyle, Ἑκατομπύλη (meaning hundred gates). In 146 BCE Tbessa it became part of the Roman Empire with the name Theveste.

During the 1st century CE, the Legio III Augusta resided there before being transferred to Lambaesis. It was made a colonia probably under Trajan.

There is mention of a council held there by the Donatists. Among its saints were St Lucius, its bishop, who in 256 assisted at the Council of Carthage and died as a martyr two years later; St Maximilianus, martyred 12 March 295; St Crispina, martyred 5 December 304. Some of its bishops are known: Romulus in 349; Urbicus in 411; Felix exiled by the Vandals in 484; Palladius mentioned in an inscription.