1.

the Mausoleum - Zahrat Al Imaine & Hassan (the Writer’s

children) beside the Monument
2.the Mausoleum – the Historic commemorative plaque
3.The Mausoleum- Zahra & Hassan near the Monument’s main door
4.the Mausoleum- a general view of the Monument
5.the Mausoleum- from the monument a view of the Mitidja valley
 IN THE NAME OF GOD THE COMPASSIONATE THE MERCIFUL

*SUBJECT: UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

*THE MAURITANIAN ROYAL FAMILY MAUSOLEUM
*SIDI-RACHED, WILAYA OF TIPASA-ALGERIA.

The Mausoleum of the royal family of Mauritania or the tomb of the

Christian girl or in Arabic “Kabr Arroumia” is a monument from the
Numidic period probably dating from the beginning of the Christian
era it is situated 65 km west of Algiers.

True to say that this Historic masterpiece is one of the most

interesting archaeological sites. It is believed that this large
construction dates back to 100 BC. It is in surprisingly good
condition, especially when compared to the younger Roman ruins in
other parts of Algeria.

Furthermore and only six kilometres away from Tipasa on a hilltop,

260m above sea level, overlooking the region, stands this impressive
Mausoleum of the Royal Family of Mauritania. It is 32 meters high, 61
meters diameter and contains 80'000 cubic meter of stone blocks.
There are 60 columns running around the cylindrical structure, and it
has been constructed 4 fake doors into the interior, while the real
door was not discovered until 185, when it was discovered that it
leads into a chamber, that proved to be empty.
It was built for King Juba II and his wife Cleopatra Selena, daughter
of the famous Cleopatra of Egypt. Juba II reigned from 25 BC to 23
AD over Mauritania which had its capital in Iol (presently Cherchell),
Juba II was of Berber origin and the Kingdom of Mauritania covered
what is now Morocco and Algeria.

The genuine monument’s entrance, ignored for such a long time is

situated in the bedrock or the basement of the wrong eastern door.
It was discovered through the excavation campaign in 1865 led by
Adrien Berbrugger, the Historic monument’s Inspector at the request
of Napoléon III.

It is a low door of 1.1 m high, narrow which leads on a stoneware

sliding paving stone and which was found wrecked, also it exists an
access corridor very low that leads to the lion’s vestibule it is called
as such because on the wall, a lion and lioness are sculpted in
highlight above the internal corridor’s access, this arched vestibule
has a 5.33m long, a 2.52 m wide and a 3.20 m high.

Moreover, it is noteworthy to mention that a similar monument is to

be found in eastern Algeria it is called “the Medracen” near the city
of Batna whereas it has only 18.5 meter high.
 ‫محمد بوكريطة‬
‫كاتب مستقل و مستشار في السياحة الثقافية‬
mbokreta@maktoob.com

MOHAMED BOKRETA
FREELANCE WRITER &
CULTURAL TOURISM CONSULTANT
mohbokreta@yahoo.com