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Locus

El-Gahra

The Roman settlement overlooked a passage between the Hodna and the Sahara via the Aïn Rich plain and the valley of the Oued Chaïr, between the Ouled-Naïl and Zab mountains.

El Gahra (or Kherbet-el-Gahra) is situated about 70km south-east of Bou-Saada, on the Oued Chaïr, which means "barley wadi", reflecting the agricultural interest of the surrounding area, which was the same in ancient times. The Roman settlement overlooked a passage between the Hodna and the Sahara via the Aïn Rich plain and the valley of the Oued Chaïr, between the Ouled-Naïl and Zab mountains. It was easy to reach the Sahara via Aïn-Kahla, to the west via Aïn-Melah and Aïn-Ograb, and finally to the north via Bou-Saada. The site was well chosen, as the perennial and fairly abundant Chair wadi had to cross a series of waterfalls through a series of almost vertical rock strata.

—Laporte (2009) Trois sites militaires sévériens en Algérie monyenne : Grimidi, Tarmount (Aras), El Gahra

Mithraic monuments of El-Gahra

 

Altar from El Gahara by Florus

This altar is dedicated to the god Sol Invictus Mithras by a certain Florus, a veteran of the Legio III Augusta.

CIMRM 153

Brothers attested in El-Gahra

Iulius Florus

Iulius Florus
(c. late 2nd – early 3rd century)

Inscriptions from El-Gahra

Altar from El Gahara by Florus

[deo] Soli invicto / Mithrae / [Gel?]lius Florus / [vet[eranus?]] leg[ionis] III aug[ustae] / ... us Pastor / [si]g[nifer] al[ae] I Pa[nn[oniorum] / [Pom]ponius Ma/[xi]mus b[ene]f[iciarius] / [co] [n]s[ulis] / [v[otum] s[olverunt]] l[ibentes] a[nimo].
To the Unconquered Sol Mithras, [Gel?]lius Florus, [veteran?] of Legion III Augusta, ...us Pastor, standard-bearer of the First Squadron of Pannonians, Pomponius Ma[ximus], beneficiary of the consul, [they] willingly fulfilled [their] vow.
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