The land on which the Algerian city of Guelma now stands was once a Roman city in Numidia known as Calama. It is believed to have been founded in 198 AD by the Phoenicians, then known as Malaka, and when the area was conquered by the Romans, they renamed the settlement Kalama. As part of the Roman Empire, Calama became an important urban center, later receiving the high status of a "colony". Under the leadership of Septimius Severus, Calama grew into one of the most prosperous cities of the Roman Empire, with thermal baths and a magnificent theater, the remains of which remain Guelma's landmarks today.
Calama continued to flourish during the rise of Christianity, and Saint Posidius (a close friend of St. Augustine of Hippo) was the bishop of the city in the 5th century. The Vandal invasion devastated the area, which was later settled by the Byzantines, who built walls around the city to prevent further invasion attempts. Following the Islamic conquest of Algeria in the 7th century and subsequent Ottoman rule between 1517 and 1830, the area was largely abandoned. When the French invaded Algeria in 1830, Guelma was restored as a settlement and given "city" status, and a communal constitution was formalized in 1836.
The Byzantine city walls were restored, and soon a large city developed, spreading beyond the city walls. The Roman theater was restored in 1905. At this time, many European settlers lived in the city, and there was both a synagogue and a Christian church for the community. The citizens of Guelma and nearby Setif suffered greatly from the riots of May 8, 1945, which became known as the Setif massacre. When Algeria gained independence, European settlers and indigenous Jews left the city en masse, and the church and synagogue were converted into mosques for the predominantly Muslim population.
Today, visitors to the city of Guelma can see the ancient Roman theater and baths, and visit hot springs. springs at Hammam Debag and Hammam Ouled Ali outside the city, as well as enjoy the scenic surroundings, including the snow-capped Mount Mauna.
Source: algeria.com
Read also: Commercial Translation of Contracts: Ensuring Precision in International Deals