I am here in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, participating in the National Theatre Festival. During my stay I will visit two different sites built by the Romans. The first site is located in the town of Tipasa over looking the Mediterranean and was built in the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries CE. The Roman Empire expanded into North Africa after the Punic Wars with Carthage. Rome and Carthage fought for power in the Mediterranean. More land meant more power! The Emperor Trajan is the most well known

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