Archeologica Travel

01/04/2015

The Elephants trained by the Carthagenians and used mainly for warfare are known as forest type elphants, scientific name : Loxodonta-Cyclotis. This endemic specy used to be in the Atlas mountain chains, now an extinct sub specy in North Africa, but some close parents still endemic in some parts of some sub-saharian countries like Mali and Chad.The Carthagenians, knew that they could benefit from their extra-ordinary capacity in the warfare as armored tanks would be used today in the modern wars. Historians were reporting that these magnificient mamals were kept in the ramparts around Carthage city( which was made of double walls in certain areas), where stables and fudder along with the special personel to take care of them, on the obverse of the coin, a person is depicted wearing a special coat, riding the elphant, which was known to have a bad temper, from time to time, aware of this the person in charge of the elphant , had to neutralize the animal by thrusting a hammer at its head. The difference we see today between the African Elephant and its cousin the Asian one, apart from the size of the ears, smaller in the Asian one, the wild temper of the African Elephant makes it a very difficult animal to apprehend if not to dominate.
The myth, made it that the last ones perished during Zama ( hypothetical) battle. These coins are Roman, but the previous ones( see my previous post) are Carthagenian. Fawzi Zaga.

01/04/2015

What was the specy of the elephants used by the Carthagenians ?
Did really the Carthagenians raised , bread and trained elephants for the war fare ?
Where they were from?
Are the elephants depicted on Carthagenian coins, accurate zoologically ?
Why can’t we find them today?

28/03/2015

Water Cult and rituals in modern day Tunisia.
The Cult is pagan, the place is Roman and the myth is performed by Muslims.
What about the saint name “Mokholla”?
If it happens during your visit to Tunisia, that you have accidentally dropped a glass of water on yourself or on others, do not panic, just relax, because it is a very good sign to start your day, it is rather a sign for prosperity and abundance, some Tunisians would even tell you:” maouma معومة” for literally “submerged” (by water). Traditionally, if somebody is leaving home for studies or business, sparkling some fresh water behind , just after the first foot steps, would be a prophylactic ritual that most ladies of my mother’s generation would not miss!
Needless to mention the importance of fresh water in the three monotheistic religions, particularly in Islam, using fresh water for the ablutions prior of performing the five time daily prayers, is a must.
But what retains my attention here, is not the official religious ceremonies as much as an ancestral ritual practice, linked to fresh water, that still surviving in modern day Tunisia despite thousands of years. Following an annual ritual ceremonial procession in one of modern day Tunisia’s small village: Dougga (a Unesco world site heritage 100 km distant ,north west of Tunis) it seems that this practice, has been there for thousands of years without losing its vigour, the inhabitants are using literally an ancient name place to identify a muslim female saint: (Lalla Mokhola or Mokhoula) Arabic: “مخولة للا “. Latin: [M]ocolla, according to the Tunisian famous epigraphist A.Baschaouch.(1) this word is mentioned in a latin epigraphic Roman text, designating an aquaduct, conducting fresh water up to Dougga Roman cisterns ,precisely in the specus (the main water conduct outlet to supply the cisterns, founded during the reign of Roman Emperror Commodus 184/187 AD), the local inhabitants are still perpetuating an ancient cult, the celebration of “Lalla Mokholla” or “Mokhoula” procession.
Every year in spring, an ancient man from the village, is charged of raising funds among the inhabitants in order to select and buy a bull, to be sacrificed in the sanctuary in honour of the saint, believed to be in the specus of the Roman fresh water cistern. The eve of the event, according to the locals, the bull’s head is believed to be ointed with olive oil, as a sign of benediction of the saint “Lalla Mokholla”.
After being decorated, the bull would be leading the crowd’s procession thru the streets of the village and on the sight of the procession coming close to their homes, some ladies, come out of their homes thrusting some fresh water on the bull and as the procession is evolving across the village towards the sanctuary where the bull will be sacrificed amidst chants and songs, are regularly interrupted by sounds of sharp you you’s from the ladies.
Bibliography : 1/ une cite de droit Latin sous Marc Aurèle. Etudes épigraphiques, textes réunis par M. Khanoussi et L.Maurin, Paris 1997, p.61-73).
Fawzi Zaga

28/03/2015

09/03/2015

http://www.afar.com/places/tunis-tunis-6

Pottery, potters and ceramic in Tunisia, is a tale of art to be told to eveyone who is looking for a genuine art story.I have paid a visit recently to the oldest ceramic workshop still opened in the world, it is in Tunis, Sidi Kacem Jillizi a tiny 15th century museum and an art ceramic workshop f...

09/03/2015

A Roman pilow vendor.

17/11/2014

16/11/2014

The time was set and the famous Clock, starts to work work again after 300 years !
We are not really sure if this Unique clock have worked one day ,in this Andalusian Minaret's Mosque in Testour's seventeenth century village, even though several Oral accounts state the fact of beeing actually seen working,
To know about this puzzling story and more , Archeologica Travel will satrt very soon, field lectures on different Topics in sevral archaeological sites in Tunisia under the guidance of eminent Tour Guide / Lecturers. Follow us and subscibe for small group field trips.