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| THE RACE - ISSUE 49 |
January 2002 |
The City-Fortress
Situated on top of a gorge can be found one of the most interesting cities in all of Algeria, Constantine. Presently Algeria’s third largest city, Constantine has always played an important role in Algeria and North African history.
It is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Algeria. Constantine was probably established in pre-historic times by the Carthaginians and became the prosperous capital of Numidia under the powerful King Massinissa. Known as Cirta Regia at that time, Constantine was renamed in honor of the Roman Emperor Constantine I, who had rebuilt the city after it had been destroyed in the war preceding his accession to the throne. Constantine was contested by various Muslim dynasties, conquered by the Turks in the sixteenth century, and then occupied by the French in 1837.
Huge chalk cliffs supporting the elevated city accentuate its beauty and the Rhumel River dramatically cuts it off from the surrounding plateau on three sides. Four bridges give access to the city, a true natural fortress.
Today, Constantine is a center for Islamic teaching in Algeria as well as a commercial center for the northeast area of Algeria.
But the city remains a fortress.
A fortress not barriered by deep gorges or high cliffs . . . but by the power of “the god of this world.”
Please, pray for the people of Constantine. Pray that they may discover Jesus Christ as the Bridge between them and eternal life & peace.
The Algerian Team
therace@therace.ws
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