Archaeological site in Tunisia
Acholla (Ancient Greek : Ἀχόλλα , Akhólla )[ 1] also latinised as Achilla or Achulla , was a Roman -Berber city on the sea-coast in the ancient province of Africa Propria (Byzacena ) in modern Tunisia . It was located little above the northern extremity of the Lesser Syrtis , and about 20 Greek miles south of Thapsus .[ 2] It was a colony from the island of Melita (Malta ), the people of which were colonists from Carthage . Under the Romans, it was a free city. In the African War , 46 BCE, it submitted to Julius Caesar , for whom it was held by Messius ; and it was in vain besieged by the Pompeian commander Considius .[ 3] [ 4]
Its location is identified as at Ras Botria (Henchir Botria).[ 5] [ 6] Among its ruins, of a late style, but very extensive, there has been found an interesting bilingual inscription, in Phoenician and Latin , in which the name is spelt Achulla.[ 7] The name appears as Anolla in the Tabula Peutingeriana .
The city was also the seat of an ancient Christian diocese , which survives today as a titular bishopric of the Roman Catholic Church . The current bishop is Eusebio L. Elizondo Almaguer of the United States.[ 8]
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain : Smith, William , ed. (1854–1857). "Achilla". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography . London: John Murray.