Taggou-Zainah is, as Bruce shows, only the combination of two names, Taggou and Zana. The latter is the ordinary modern name of the district, and is evidently a corruption of the word Diana. The Itinerary of Antonine simply calls this city Diana. In the tables of Peutinger it is called Diana Veteranorum, and beside the name is the figure of a temple dedicated to Diana, the remains of which are still visible.[36]
The site of this city was found by Peyssonnel, in 1725, who thus described it:[37]—
‘The 14th, we arrived at the camp of the Bey, situated near to Izana. Izana is the ancient Diana. It was situated at the foot of a great mountain, now called Arquet,[38] near a beautiful spring . . . the situation is fine, and the city must have been considerable. Two triumphal arches still remain; one faces the east, and has a single gate with four small Corinthian columns. The other is at a little distance, and has also a single gate, but grander and more superb, with two great columns of the Corinthian order. The gate is about 25 feet wide and 38 high, and with the cornice and a great inscription above it, about 50 feet, all in good taste.
‘The inscription is:—
IMP. CAES. M. AVRELIO SEVERO . . . FELICI
AVG. PONT. MAX. TRIB. POTEST. COS. DESIGN. . . .
PROVIDENTISSIMO ET SANCTISSIMO PRINCIPI . ET ANTONINO
NOBILISSIMO CAESARI PRINCIPI JVENTVTIS DIANENSIVM
EX DECRETO . D.D. P.P.
‘These gates are detached works, four feet thick, and well preserved. Beside them is a large building quite destroyed; it was square, and at the four corners was a pavilion or square bastion. This must have been a very fine palace.