Dear Reader (2025-10-20 – posted simultaneously to FB)
Today’s post is a continuation from yesterday’s post (Algeria – 05, 2025-10-19). You and I will begin where we left off in the museum, and then we’ll go explore the grounds of Cuicul. Construction began around somewhere in the C 1st AD, and lasted into the C 4th AD. The earliest buildings are at the top of the hill, and the town grew down the hill. It is also worth noting that this valley was wetter, greener, and more fertile than it is now.
Note on Photos
~ 01 – I filled in the grey triangles in the bottom right and left, as there was empty space created when I corrected the original image’s perspective.
~02 – In the bottom right there is a model of Cuicul.
~ 06, 07 – If this was in Europe, there would be queues of buses laden with tourists all with sun umbrellas, all clambering for the identical image. Here in Algeria, there are no bus loads. Instead, there may be a dozen or so other travelers or Algerians visiting a site. As a result our site visits have a sense of surrealism where time becomes a liquid. These places were vital some time in the past, and I can still walk on remnants of mosaics that only a few present day craftspeople can recreate. Even the ghosts of these places have found resting places. I wonder what if anything of this era will survive once Gaia has reclaimed her land.
~ 09 – A town’s amphitheater could seat the town’s population. This one could seat about 3,000 people.
~ 12 – When Helvia first opened her grain stall in the market, no one knew her, and she was not trusted. Claudia was initially one of her more annoying customers. Claudia would come to Helvia’s stall and then complain that she had been given a short measure. Both Claudia and Helvia would then go to the master of measurements at the head of the market and have the volume checked. The master of measurements could check for 3 volumes and also length. Helvia was always in the right, and maybe she was even a little on the generous side. Over time, Claudia stopped checking and as she was inclined to talk too much, Claudia helped spread the word that Helvia gave good measure. Eventually the two became friends. After all, it was only a small town.
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Cheers, Sean
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All rights for all material on any media reserved – © Sean P Drysdale 2017-2025
When looking at old structures like these I can’t help but think how much work it must have been to create them. How long it must have taken given the tools available. How long they’ve lasted in the face of all the challenges of time and human predation. I can’t help but think that none of our modern steel and concrete structures will last anywhere near so long.
You mentioned few tourists. A blessing and a curse. While I like to have photos without people in them, unless it’s a portrait, that is almost impossible. At the Hopewell Rocks I didn’t even try to get photos without people. I told myself the people gave the rocks scale.
Thank you for such a cascade (Algeria 01-06) of comments. It is always a pleasure reading your comments.