Juba Ii
Juba II ( Tifinagh : II) is a Berber king of Mauretania (western part of Barbary , from the current Morocco, through the entire north of modern Algeria , to the borders of the present-day Tunisia). Son of Juba I. , born about 52 BC. AD and died around 23 AD. BCE , he reigns in the Roman tutelage from his capital Caeserea ( Caesarea , today Cherchell central northern Algeria in the Berber region Chenoui ).
Summary |
Biography
After the defeat of Juba I,Caesar made a triumphal entry into Zama. It's in the house of Aguellid (Berber king) decides that the deceased partition of Africa and the fate of the royal family. Juba II who was then just five years is sent as a hostage in Rome where it appears thereafter behind the triumph of Caesar Vercingetorix in Gaul and Arsinoe , sister of Cleopatra of Egypt.
We do not know what happened to other family members of Juba, it is certain that Juba II was brought up in a gilded captivity by Octavia , sister of Octavian, the future emperor Augustus. Juba attracts the friendship of his patron who offers him opportunities to distinguish themselves and rise to the rank of other princes. Octavian granted him Roman citizenship and Juba takes names and surnames of his patron: Gaius Iulius and forward before his freedmen, but he is not to wear after having won the title of king.
It probably contributes to the Eastern campaign of 31 to 29 against Cleopatra and Mark Antony , and certainly to that of Spain from 26 to 25 where Octave appreciates his loyalty and his address. It's the return of this campaign that he receives a reward of some states Bocchus and Bogud in addition to what was left of his father's kingdom.
At the sixth year of his reign in 19 BC. BC , he married Cleopatra Selene (the Greco-Egyptian), daughter of Cleopatra Queen of Egypt and Marc Anthony , who had been brought up with his twin brother Alexander Helios by the sister of Octavian. This same Octavia , wife of divorced Marc Anthony , who had high Juba II. Cleopatra Selene was crowned in turn because of her maternal ancestry and is officially associated with power but without any territorial division of authority. This territory, despite some amputations in favor of Roman colonies, thus extends from the Atlantic to the west, at the mouth of the Ampsaga (Oued el Kebir) to the east and includes the regions of Setif south and part of the territories of Getulians southeastern Algeria and Tunisia.
The restoration of this vast kingdom, higher surface area than Massinissa in its great days, does not mean a decline in the Roman colonial policy. It marks only a pause. Augustus abandons the property unless in Juba that the usufruct of his kingdom, with territories, dividing, fragmenting them at will, without the king Numidian not manifest any resistance, so his mind, by education which had been given, was obsessed with obedience to Rome.
But his background Berber did not disappear, and Juba II still interested in its origins and the study of Libyan and Punic languages of culture of his ancestors. In waiving the annexation of Mauretania , the Emperor knows what he is doing with Juba II as head of these vast territories which are embedded numerous Roman colonies independent of the king, he may, without fear, give the administration of indigenous leader "native" which, more deftly than Roman officials, can keep the peace. Africa therefore continues to fill Rome's other products in general and agriculture in particular.
The Greeks built a statue to him at the library's gymnasium Ptolemy to Pausanias. His reign was marked by his sense of democracy and the attention he had for his people.
His son and successor Ptolemy of Mauretania continues in part the policy of his father, but will not inherit the virtues of it.
A man of science and letters
Leisure that he leaves the administration of his kingdom, Juba II devoted to the study, and soon he acquired in science and in letters a great reputation.
Always eager to know his origins, he traces his ancestry to Heracles who married the Libyan Ting (Tendja), widow of Antaeus of Greek legend.
It built many public buildings, squares or forums , the theater , the baths , temples, public gardens ... Many vestiges confirm the size of Juba II, who has a great capacity for work and assimilation ( sculpture , architecture ...) His work is of great value but is not retained by the time although it has allowed several Greek and Latin writers to draw from their documentation as she was rich.
It sends many copyists in the capitals of the civilized world to bring her findings thinkers of the time, he organizes expeditions responsible explore the sources of the Nile and explore the archipelago of the Canaries.
He wrote a treatise on his native title Libuca; in three volumes, containing geography , natural history, mythology , beliefs of all kinds ...
He leaves messages on the Assyrians , the Saudi , the plants (spurge, according to Pliny, the story Roman ...)
It is known to the Greeks and Romans as a scholar, artist, writer, author of several treatises on letters, painting , drama, the history , the geography and medicine. He is responsible for the discovery of the spurge (which it gave its name, which was her personal physician) and his treatise on the plant inspire later, several Greek physicians. The scientific name of coconut Chile , Juba chilensis, paid tribute to him.
His manuscripts are many references to several Greek historians such as Livy , Alexander of Miletus , Diodorus of Sicily. Pliny the Elder , who mentions in his books and told him "he was still best known for its expertise for his kingdom. "
Tomb
His wife Cleopatra Selene , she never forgot about his Greek and Egyptian origins, she won Juba both are buried in a funerary building similar to the pyramids of Egypt and the Macedonian royal burial mounds.
Bringing the king to build this tomb near Tipasa called these days (probably because of the subsequent inclusion of false doors with crosses) the " tomb of the Christian. " It combines the mound at the funeral Berber pyramids of Egypt by its external shape (cylindrical shape covering a square base and topped by a stepped cone).
External Links
- Juba II, a Moorish king / Encyclopaedia Universalis
- Volubilis (Mekns) capital of Juba II / Encyclopaedia Universalis
- Ethnic Moors / Encyclopedia Universalis
Tomb of Juba II, the story suffered a rough translation. The monument is called in Arabic Qabr erroumia (include the tomb of the Roman) and not Christian.
Bibliography
- Charlier Berthier, The Punic sanctuary of El hofra Constantine, Fournier edition, 1844.
- Mouloud Gaid, Aguellids and Romans Barbary editions NMCS, Algiers, 1972.
- Stphane Gsell, History of North Africa, Edition Hachette, 1920.
- Josiane Lahlou, I, King Juba of Mauretania, Paris-Mditerrane, 1999 , ISBN 2-84272-059-8. ( historical novel )
- Jean Mazard, Corpus Numrum Mauretanieque, Arts and Crafts Graphics, 1955.
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