Souk Ahras

Infobox Algerian Municipality
map1 = DZ-41.svg
map2 = Sin mapa.svg
name1 = Souk Ahras
name2 = سوق أهراس
code = 4101
postal = 41000
province = Souk Ahraslocal media =
note1 = (seat)
district = Souk Ahras
note2 = (coextensive)
seats = 23
president =
alt1 = 699
alt2 = 2296
area1 =
area2 =
population = 116 745
year = 1998
density1 =
density2 =
photo = Former city hall of Souk Ahras.jpg
caption = Former city hall of Souk Ahras, now used as a municipal teather

Souk Ahras (.

Etymology

The name derives from the Arabic word "souk" which means "market", and the Chaoui word "ahra" (plural "ahras") which means lion, in reference to the Barbary lions which existed in the neighboring forests until their extinction in 1930; hence "Souk Ahras" means "market of lions".

History

The Numidian city of Thagaste on whose ruins Souk Ahras was built, was situated in the northeastern highlands of Numidia, short afterwards, it becomes Roman. It was about sixty miles from Hippo Regius, now called Annaba, and about 150 miles from Carthage (on the coast of present day Tunisia). It was the birthplace of Augustine of Hippo. [CathEncy|wstitle=Thagaste] The city was mentioned by Pliny the Elder. Besides Saint Augustine, there were many other bishops who served Thagaste, among them are:
*Saint Fermin
*Saint Alype, a friend of Augustine
*Saint JanuariusIn the nineteenth century it was a French colonial settlement. In the twentieth century mining and the railway brought some signicance and prosperity to the town. Today, Tagaste is in the province of Souk Ahras in Eastern Algeria.

References

local media :

External links

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