The ministry of Augustine was centred on Hippo. That town is now in ruins, near Annaba (and sometimes called Bone).
Because of name changes over the centuries, an understanding of these places can be confusing. Look at the following map of Algeria and Tunisia today:
Destroyed by the Vandals in the fifth century, Annaba was rebuilt by the Arabs. It was subsequently occupied by Italians, Spaniards, and Genoese before being captured by the French in 1832. The French Government departed at the time of the civil war in Algeria soon after 1950.
The population of the city of Annaba (Bone) in the year 2002 was 124,000 in the city itself, and 620,000 in the local government district of the same name. It is the third-largest city in Algeria.
Major industries include an iron and steel complex, railway workshops, and aluminium and chemical works. Iron ore, phosphates, and other minerals, extracted in Tbessa to the southeast, are exported, as are wine and cork.
For Annaba photos, past and present go to:
By the time of Augustine, the city of Hippo had already existed for over one thousand years. The town was surrounded by rich fields of corn, which was important to the Roman Empire.
The area also had vineyards and olive groves. Hippo was blessed with a great harbour.
Site visits to Hippo in April 2001, and also to Tagaste, Madauros and Calama by Professor James O'Donnell, Augustinian scholar. This web site contains good images and descriptions.
Baptistry at Hippo. Photo of the baptistery in former cathedral used by Augustine at Hippo. Click on pictures to enlarge them.
Scenes from Hippo/Annaba. An excellent gallery of photographs of the now-ruined church that Augustine used in Hippo church and the present Annaba basilica (cathedral).
Nine images of the ruins of Hippo. From Australian National University.
Francais: (This web page was written in the French Language.)
Souk Ahras: ville natale de Saint Augustin. ID2062
