Far western and far eastern Algeria hold ruins of the ancient Numidian civilization.

The word Numidia supposedly comes from the Greek word for nomad. Some sources say that the English word nomad comes from the word Numidia. The Numidians have Berber roots. Many Numidians were nomadic in Algeria but by the 3^rd century BCE (before our common era) many had settled in the northern most part of Algeria.

Many Algerians of Berber origin are very proud of their Numidian ancestors and often name their children after famous Numidians like Massinissa, Juba, Jugurtha and Takfarinas.

The Numidians were excellent horseback riders. They hunted gazelle, cultivated oranges, dates, olives and ostrich. They also raised the North African elephant, which is now extinct.

At the turn of the 3^rd century BCE, King Syphax ruled Western Numidia.

The Roman Empire at the time was in the midst of a war with Carthage to take over as much of the Mediterranean as possible.  Carthage, located in modern Tunisia, was under the power of King Hannibal.

When King Gala of Eastern Numidia died, his son Massinissa took over. Massissina sided with Carthage against Rome and had ambitions to take Western Numidia from King Syphax, however, when he realized that Rome was probably going to beat Carthage Massinissa decided to switch sides. If Rome would help him beat Syphax he would support Rome’s invasion of Africa. Syphax, betrayed by Rome switched his alliance to Carthage and even married a Carthigian woman named Sophoniba.

Rome and Massinissa eventually won and Syphax was taken captive. To make matters worse his wife left him and married Massinissa! Syphax was taken to Italy where he died. Now, Algerians say that he is buried here in western Algeria where he was born.

In order find Syphax’s mausoleum, located in the small western Algerian village of Siga, we had to ask some townspeople waiting at a bus stop and three shepherds. The site is not very well maintained and unknown to most Algerians.