Rapidum

Rapidum was a Roman settlement and fort located in Mauretania Caesariensis, nearly 100 km south of Icosium (Algiers) [1]. Soon under Hadrian near the fort grew up a civilian settlement called "Rapidum", on the Roman road called the Nova Praetentura [1]. The original castrum of Rapidum remained until 201 AD, while the town survived until emperor Aurelian when it was destroyed by Berber nomads [1]. The initial garrison of Rapidum fort was – according to historian M. Ruiu – the Cohors II Sardorum and protected the new limes of the Roman Empire moved south from the Mediterranean shores to a military road called Nova Praetentura [1]. This road went from Rapidum near Numidia to Altava and to Numerus Syrorum at the border of Mauretania Tingitana [1]. Rapidum was named "municipium" and had an extension of 15 hectares under Marcus Aurelius (with nearly 4,000 inhabitants, mostly romanised Berbers, like Auzia) [1].