Madghacen

About

Madghacen - also spelled Medracen, Medghassen or Madghis - is a spherical mausoleum-temple crowning atop a 19 meter high plateau. The temple is essentially a large bazina, or a round structure, commonly found at the edges of African and middle eastern deserts, but the sixty Doric columns around its perimeter display a profound Hellenic influence on a Numidian architectural style. Although its name originates from Madghis, a notable ancestor of Berber tribes, radiocarbon dating actually suggests the monument was built for a Numidian king who lived in the 4th century BCE, making it the oldest mausoleum in the Maghreb. While the identity of this king is lost to history, he still commands a powerful position in the desolate Algerian landscape.