10-07-2019, 12:38 PM
I have suspected for a while that the monument at Chemtou (Roman Simitthus) was dedicated to the victory over Vermina, for which Livy gives Gnaeus Octavius the credit.
Livy 30.36
...He then sailed back to Utica and recalled Octavius thither also. As the latter was on his way to Tunis he was informed that Vermina, the son of Syphax, was coming to the aid of the Carthaginians with a force consisting mainly of cavalry. Octavius attacked the Numidians whilst on the march with a portion of his infantry and the whole of his cavalry. The action took place on December 17, and soon ended in the utter rout of the Numidians. As they were completely surrounded by the Roman cavalry all avenues of escape were closed; 15,000 were killed and 1200 taken prisoners, 1500 horses were also secured and 72 standards. The prince himself escaped with a few horsemen.
The similarities between the two monuments.
Facing west, the Kbor Klib monument overlooks the possible battlefield of Zama at the junction of the Siliana and Sers valleys.
(google image)
Ferchiou`s reconstruction of Kbor Klib`s west fascade:
The Simitthus monument faced east with a view of a potential battlefield where the Bagradas flowed close to the hills, causing a choke point and possible ambush site that conforms to Livy`s description above,
(google image)
Reconstruction of the monument in the Chemtou Museum:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:...hemtou.jpg
There is a map at: https://mapcarta.com/W274188296
So, Livy gives the date of the battle that Gnaeus Octavius defeated Vermina as the 17th December, the first day of Saturnalia and a day of public festivities.
A Numidian tradition of holding an annual ceremony at the Simitthus monument in mid-December may have been appropriated and adapted by Roman colonists after 146 BC when they dedicated the structure as a shrine to Saturn.
Livy 30.36
...He then sailed back to Utica and recalled Octavius thither also. As the latter was on his way to Tunis he was informed that Vermina, the son of Syphax, was coming to the aid of the Carthaginians with a force consisting mainly of cavalry. Octavius attacked the Numidians whilst on the march with a portion of his infantry and the whole of his cavalry. The action took place on December 17, and soon ended in the utter rout of the Numidians. As they were completely surrounded by the Roman cavalry all avenues of escape were closed; 15,000 were killed and 1200 taken prisoners, 1500 horses were also secured and 72 standards. The prince himself escaped with a few horsemen.
The similarities between the two monuments.
Facing west, the Kbor Klib monument overlooks the possible battlefield of Zama at the junction of the Siliana and Sers valleys.
(google image)
Ferchiou`s reconstruction of Kbor Klib`s west fascade:
The Simitthus monument faced east with a view of a potential battlefield where the Bagradas flowed close to the hills, causing a choke point and possible ambush site that conforms to Livy`s description above,
(google image)
Reconstruction of the monument in the Chemtou Museum:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:...hemtou.jpg
There is a map at: https://mapcarta.com/W274188296
So, Livy gives the date of the battle that Gnaeus Octavius defeated Vermina as the 17th December, the first day of Saturnalia and a day of public festivities.
A Numidian tradition of holding an annual ceremony at the Simitthus monument in mid-December may have been appropriated and adapted by Roman colonists after 146 BC when they dedicated the structure as a shrine to Saturn.