The Kasr el-Ghoula here alluded to was thus described by Shaw:—
‘Among the ruins to the S.W. of the bridge, upon the narrow strip of land just now described, is the Cassir Goulah, or Castle (as they interpret it) of the Giant, consisting of three arches, the middlemost whereof is the most spacious. All the mouldings and friezes are curiously embellished with the figures of flowers, battle-axes, and other ornaments. The Corinthian pilasters erected on each side of the grand arch, are pannelled like the side-posts of the gates of the city, in a gusto, as far as I have observed, peculiar to Cirta; but the pillars of the stone order, which supported the pediment, are broken down and defaced.’[32]
This was also described by Peyssonnel, who says: ‘On the other side of the ravine is a small plain on a level with the town, where is a triumphal arch in a very good state of preservation. It is formed of three large gates; that in the middle is 25 feet wide; the others are proportionally smaller. After this arch a great wall is seen, which sustained some considerable building.’[33]
When Constantine was taken by the French, the remains of this building were discovered on the plateau of Mansourah, overlooking the ravine. They consisted of several foundations in cut stone, and two fragments of cornice of an elegant and severe design,[34] but these have all disappeared. The French have done great things for Algeria, and the world owes them a deep debt of gratitude for having converted a nest of pirates and robbers into one of the most charming countries in the Mediterranean: but it is devoutly to be wished that they would do a little more for archæology, or rather establish a strict conservancy of all their venerable ruins, which otherwise will soon disappear everywhere as completely and as unnecessarily as they have done at Cherchel and Constantine.
FOOTNOTES:
[27]Ravoisier, Expl. Sc. de l’Alg., Beaux Arts, i. p. 10.
[28]Shaw, p. 127.
[29]Expl. Scien. de l’Alg., Beaux Arts, vol. i. plates 4 and 5; Archeol., plates 114-118.
[30]Fer. Rev. Afr., vol. xii. p. 131.
[31]Vaysettes, Ann. Arch. Const. vol. xii. p. 368.