Souk Ahras (Arabic: سوق أهراس; Chaoui: 
) is a municipality in Algeria. It is the capital of Souk Ahras Province.
[edit] Etymology
The name derives from the Arabic word "souk" which means market, and the Chaoui word ahra (plural ahras) which means lion, in reference to the Barbary lions which existed in the neighboring forests until their extinction in 1930; hence Souk Ahras means market of lions.
[edit] History
The Numidian city of Thagaste, on whose ruins Souk Ahras was built, was situated in the northeastern highlands of Numidia, shortly afterwards, it became Roman. It was about sixty miles from Hippo Regius, now called Annaba, and about 150 miles from Carthage (on the coast of present day Tunisia). It was the birthplace of Augustine of Hippo.[1] The city was mentioned by Pliny the Elder. Besides Saint Augustine, there were many other bishops who served Thagaste, among them are:
In the nineteenth century it was a French colonial settlement. In the twentieth century mining and the railway brought some signicance and prosperity to the town. Today, Tagaste is in the province of Souk Ahras in Eastern Algeria.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 36°17′11″N 7°57′4″E / 36.28639°N 7.95111°E / 36.28639; 7.95111
