It appears to have been of greater importance than Lambæsis; its population was as great, if not greater, to judge by the size of its public buildings, especially the theatre and the area covered by its remains, while its architecture is undoubtedly older and purer. There is nothing at Lambessa to equal the triumphal arch here.
The explanation of this probably is that Lambæsis was the great military station of the country, and that Thamugas was rather the centre of commercial and agricultural activity.
It is mentioned by Ptolemy under the name of Thanutada; in the Itinerary of Antoninus as Tamugadi, and it occurs in various inscriptions as Thamugas. It is elsewhere described as Colonia Marciana Trajana Thamugas, and Colonia Ulpia Thamugas, and on an inscription still in perfect preservation near the forum there is an allusion to the thirtieth legion, Ulpia, and a celebration of the victories of Trajan over the Parthians.
From this M. Léon Renier concludes, that the Emperor wishing to recompense the veterans of the thirtieth legion, Ulpia Victrix, for their participation in the war against the Parthians, established them at Timegad, not only as being a vast and fertile country, but a position of great military importance, from which they might be able to suppress the turbulence of the neighbouring mountaineers.
It is mentioned in the Acts of Saint Mammarius,[75] and in the Theodosian Code.[76] It subsequently became the great focus of religious agitation during the fourth century. Its bishop, Optatus, was considered as the head of the Donatists; he attached himself to the fortunes of Count Gildon in his revolt against the Emperor Honorius. By means of his soldiery, the Bishop was enabled to exercise great cruelty against the Catholics of his neighbourhood, until in 398 he was involved in his patron’s ruin, and died in prison. St. Augustine, who often alludes to Gildon, says that during ten years Africa trembled under his yoke. Amongst its bishops were Novatus, who assisted at the Council of Carthage in 255; Sextus, who lived in 320; Faustinianus, who was present at the Conference of Carthage in 411, and Secundus, who was exiled by Huneric in 484.[77]
When Solomon arrived for the first time in the Aures in 535 he found the city ruined, so that we may assume its destruction to have taken place between these dates. He restored the citadel at least, in the same style as the other fortresses throughout the country; the proof of this is evident, but the other public buildings bear no trace of a restoration posterior to their original construction. At the time of the Arab invasion it was a Christian city, as in 646, under the government of Gregory, a Christian church was built, the ruins of which still exist.
The ruins occupy a large and undulating plain cut into two portions by a watercourse, which has evidently been considerably deepened by winter torrents since the destruction of the city. Some of its course has been embanked, and perhaps covered over to admit of easy communication between the two portions of the city; perhaps also irrigational works existed to divert its waters to the gardens round about.
This stream runs nearly north and south, eventually turning towards the east. On the west side are numerous ruins of buildings, but the only one of importance is the Basilica above mentioned. It is a square building with a circular apse at the east end. It is divided into a nave and two aisles by columns of rose-coloured marble, three on each side, the centre of which only is free; the others are engaged in the walls right and left of the apse and entrance. Over the lintel of the door was inscribed in white marble
IN TEMPORIBUS CONSTANTINI IMPERATORIS FL. GREGORIO PATRICIO IOANNES DUX