The Royal Mausoleum of Medracen in Batna

Near the city of Batna, a heavy monument of stone rises from the dust of the earth. This is the royal mausoleum of Medracen, also known as Madghacen, a resting place forged by the Berber Numidian Kingdom. Carved during the fourth century BC or in the days of King Masinissa, it stands as the eldest of many great funerary monuments from the era of ancient Berber kingdoms in Classical antiquity.

The mausoleum is a massive tumulus built of well-cut ashlar masonry. An architect who knew the secrets of classical architecture surrounded the vertical section of the wall at the base with engaged columns in the Doric order, showing smooth shafts and a cavetto cornice. The exterior was draped in a stone facing, most of which survives today, while the straight cone of the upper part was formed into steps like the Pyramids of Egypt.

Though the Numidian kingdom walked as an independent power, it was pulled into the tangled politics of the Mediterranean. Now, the monument remains a site of archaeological interest, yet it has suffered the cruelty of major repair work. These modern hands did not respect the value of the monument or its authenticity, leaving a scar upon its ancient face.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons