Archaeological Public Museum of Cherchell: Preserving the Heritage of Ancient Caesarea Mauretaniae
Visitor Information
Google Rating: 4.4
Popularity: Low
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Official Website: www.musee-cherchell.dz
Country: Algeria
Civilization: Byzantine, Roman
Remains: Museum
History
The Archaeological Public Museum of Cherchell is situated in the coastal city of Cherchell, located in the Tipaza Province of northern Algeria. This city was originally known as Caesarea Mauretaniae during Roman times. It served as the capital of the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania and was influenced by Hellenistic culture before becoming a prominent Roman city.
Cherchell flourished under Roman rule beginning around 25 BCE, particularly during the reign of King Juba II. He was a client king appointed by Rome who undertook major urban development projects, including the construction of public buildings such as a theater and a library. Juba II also collected numerous marble sculptures, some of which are now part of the museum’s collection. The city maintained its importance through the Roman period, reflecting a blend of Berber, Greek, and Roman cultural elements.
After the Roman era, Cherchell continued to be inhabited through the Byzantine and Islamic periods, each leaving archaeological traces that contribute to the museum’s diverse holdings. The city’s long history is reflected in artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the Islamic era, illustrating continuous occupation and cultural change.
Archaeological interest in Cherchell increased notably after the French arrived in 1840. Early finds were kept in temporary locations until the first official museum was established in 1908, initiated by Governor General Charles Jonnart. As excavations uncovered more artifacts, a new museum building was constructed in 1979 to better house the growing collection.
Between 1921 and 1963, several important excavations took place, revealing mosaics, private baths, and residential structures. Some early digs lacked modern archaeological rigor, which affected the documentation of certain finds. The museum also preserves numerous Latin inscriptions, mostly funerary texts, along with stelae and sarcophagi bearing religious, commemorative, or honorific inscriptions.
Remains
The museum’s collection includes a wide array of Roman mosaics, totaling about 195 pieces. These mosaics were discovered in both private homes and public buildings of ancient Cherchell. They vary in size, color, and subject matter, showcasing the artistic skill of the period.
One of the most notable mosaics is the Bacchic triumph, measuring 7.08 by 3.84 meters. It depicts the god Dionysos riding a chariot pulled by two Barbary leopards. This mosaic was uncovered in two stages, in 1926 and 1934, and is made from finely cut tesserae, small pieces of stone or glass, ranging from 6 to 10 millimeters. The materials include limestone, marble, and glass paste, with nine colors and eighteen shades.
Another important mosaic, found in 1882 in the so-called “House of the Julii,” measures 2.48 by 2.07 meters. It shows the Three Graces, figures from classical mythology, rendered in tesserae sized between 8 and 20 millimeters, made of limestone, marble, and terracotta.
The “Mosaic of the Muses,” measuring 9.30 by 4.50 meters, was part of a private bathhouse. It features geometric backgrounds with medallions depicting six of the Muses, the goddesses of the arts. This mosaic uses tesserae of limestone, marble, terracotta, and glass paste in nine colors and fourteen shades.
Agricultural life is illustrated in the “Mosaic of Rural Work,” which is 5.25 by 3.50 meters. It shows detailed scenes of plowing, sowing, and vine weeding, framed by a 57-centimeter-wide acanthus leaf border. The tesserae are finely cut, ranging from 3 to 9 millimeters.
A mosaic portraying violent combats between wild animals, measuring 4 by 4.95 meters, was found in 1963 in a reception hall. It uses tesserae in seven colors and fifteen shades and dates to the 4th or 5th century CE based on the archaeological layers where it was found.
Two semicircular basins, each 2.60 meters in diameter and 60 centimeters deep, served as nymphaea—monuments dedicated to water nymphs. Discovered in 1940, they are decorated with mosaics showing Neptune’s triumph and Ulysses with the Sirens. These mosaics were restored using glass paste tesserae after damage during excavation.
The “Harvest Mosaic,” found in 1958 and measuring 4.40 by 3.70 meters, depicts a vine trellis with workers harvesting grapes. It is made of tesserae sized 3 to 14 millimeters, featuring nine colors and twenty-three shades.
Beyond mosaics, the museum holds architectural fragments such as pilaster capitals, twisted columns, and decorative motifs including floral and water-leaf designs. Sculptural reliefs and sarcophagi with inscriptions and ornamentation are also part of the collection.
The preservation of mosaics varies; some are well conserved while others have undergone significant restoration. Due to early excavation methods, some pieces lack precise archaeological context. The museum also displays busts of historical figures like Juba I, Juba II, Cleopatra Selene II, Cleopatra VII, and Ptolemy of Mauretania, alongside statues of Greco-Roman deities such as Demeter, Diana, Aesculapius, Hercules, Pluto, and Isis. Notably, the statue of Isis was featured on the Algerian 1,000 franc banknote issued in 1948.
