Mactar
| Maktar | |
|---|---|
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 Maktar
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| Coordinates: 35°51′38″N 9°12′21″E / 35.86056°N 9.20583°ECoordinates: 35°51′38″N 9°12′21″E / 35.86056°N 9.20583°E | |
| Country |
 Tunisia
|
| Governorate | Siliana Governorate |
| Population (2014) | |
| • Total | 13,576 |
| Time zone | CET (UTC1) |
Maktar (Arabic: مكتر, Latin: Mactaris), or Makthar, is a town and Roman–Berber site in Siliana Governorate, Tunisia. It is located at 35°51′38″N 9°12′21″E / 35.86056°N 9.20583°E, around 140 km (90 mi) southwest of Tunis and 60 km (40 mi) southeast of El Kef. The population in 2014 was 13,576.
The ancient town was founded by the Numidians as a defense post against the Carthaginians. It was settled by Punics after the destruction of Carthage by the Romans in 146 BC. Numerous inscriptions are recorded through the ruins.
Under Roman and Byzantine control, it served as a defense against the local Berber tribes. The Roman town at Maktar was known as Colonia Aelia Aurelia Mactaris or simply Mactaris. It was the seat of a bishopric in pre Islamic times. It is in the provence of Byzacena, and mentioned by the Notia Africae. In 46 BC, it obtained status as a free city and by 146 AD was established as a Roman colony, when it saw its greatest development. The town appears on the 4th century Peutinger Map.
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Wikipedia