Rapidum
Map showing the location of Rapidum, south of Iconium (actual Algiers)
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 Shown within Algeria
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| Location | Algeria |
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| Region | Médéa Province |
| Coordinates | 36°08′00″N 3°26′00″E / 36.133333°N 3.433333°E |
Rapidum was a Roman settlement and fort located in Mauretania Caesariensis, nearly 100 km south of Icosium (Algiers).
The Romans built a fort in what is now Sour Djouab (south of actual Algiers) during the first century of their rule in Mauretania between Castellum Tingitanum (El Asnam) and Auzia (Sour el Ghozlane), in order to expand their control of the interior of the region. Soon under Hadrian near the fort grew up a civilian settlement called "Rapidum", on the Roman road called the Nova Praetentura, which connected Numidia with Mauretania Tingitana and passed through Rapidum.
The original castrum of Rapidum remained until 201 AD, while the town survived until emperor Aurelianus when it was destroyed by Berber nomads. The Later emperor Diocletianus rebuilt it during the late 3rd century with huge buildings which lasted until the Arab invasions.
There are two distinct parts to Rapidum: the camp and the town. The camp is rectangular with rounded corners. It dates to 122 AD(CIL VIII, 20833). The enceinte is made of two ashlar walls enclosing interior rubble fill. It is reinforced by towers standing on either side of the four gates, one on each side of the camp. The praetorium is located at the intersection of the decumanus and the cardo. It measures 28 x 24.5 m and, in accordance with the classic plan, has three parts... Five rooms open on this hall, all scholae, except for the middle one, which ended in an apse and must have been a chapel for the standards. Some meters south of the praetorium, a huge building may have served as a stable. Close by and to the south stands another large building, presumably the commander's residence (27 x 19.5 m); small private baths and seven rooms are arranged around a court. The rest of the camp was occupied by barracks and standard baths. Of note is a curious relief depicting the salutatio, encased in the west gate.The town, contiguous to the camp on the south side (but not on the W), is itself surrounded by ramparts, built in 167 AD Princeton E.
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