Souk Ahras

Commune of Souk Ahras
بلدية سوق أهراس
Former city hall of Souk Ahras, now used as a municipal theatre
Map of Algeria highlighting Souk Ahras Province
Map of Souk Ahras Province highlighting Souk Ahras Municipality
ONS code	4101
Postal code	41000
Province	Souk Ahras (seat)
District	Souk Ahras (coextensive)
PMA Seats	23
Altitude	699 m (2296 ft)
Population	116 745 (1998)

Souk Ahras (Arabic: سوق أهراس‎; Chaoui: ) is a municipality in Algeria. It is the capital of Souk Ahras Province.

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 (or Tagaste), on whose ruins Souk Ahras was built, was situated in the north-eastern highlands of Numidia, shortly afterwards, it became 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.^[1] 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 Januarius

In 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

External links

• Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. "Geographical information on Souk Ahras, Algeria". http://www.fallingrain.com/world/AG/37/Souk_Ahras.html. Retrieved 2008-04-27. 
• Souk Ahras Info

v • d • e Provincial seats of Algeria Adrar • Aïn Defla • Aïn Témouchent • Algiers • Annaba • Batna • Béchar • Béjaïa • Biskra • Blida • Bordj Bou Arréridj • Bouïra • Boumerdès • Chlef • Constantine • Djelfa • El Bayadh • El Oued • El Taref • Ghardaïa • Guelma • Illizi • Jijel • Khenchela • Laghouat • Mascara • Médéa • Mila • Mostaganem • M'Sila • Naâma • Oran • Ouargla • Oum el-Bouaghi • Relizane • Saida • Sétif • Sidi Bel Abbès • Skikda • Souk Ahras • Tamanrasset • Tébessa • Tiaret • Tindouf • Tipaza • Tissemsilt • Tizi Ouzou • Tlemcen

Coordinates: 36°17′11″N 7°57′4″E / 36.28639°N 7.95111°E / 36.28639; 7.95111

v • d • e Souk Ahras Province Capital: Souk Ahras Districts  · Haddada · M'Daourouch · Mechroha · Merahna · Ouled Driss · Oum El Adhaïm · Sedrata · Souk Ahras · Taoura Communes  · Bir Bouhouche · Ain Sanour · Ain Soltane · Ain Zana · Bir Bou Haouch · Drea · Heddada · Hanancha · Khedara · Khemissa · M'daourouch · Mechroha · Merahna · Oued Keberit · Ouillen · Ouled Driss · Ouled Moumene · Oum El Adhaim · Ragouba · Safel El Ouiden · Sedrata · Sid Fredj · Souk Ahras · Taoura · Terraguelt · Tiffech · Zaarouria

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