Editing Archaeology of Algeria (section)

===Qabr-er-Rumia===
{{main|Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania}}
The '''Qabr-er-Rumia'''-- best known by its French name, ''Tombeau de la Chrétienne'' (''grave of the Christian lady''), tradition making it the burial-place of Florinda, ''[[la Cava Rumía]]'', the beautiful and unfortunate daughter of [[Count Julian]]—is near Kolea, and is known to be the tomb of the [[Mauretania]]n king [[Juba II of Numidia|Juba II]] and of his wife [[Cleopatra Selene II|Cleopatra Selene]], daughter of [[Mark Antony]] and [[Cleopatra VII of Egypt|Cleopatra]], queen of [[Egypt]].  It is built on a hill {{Convert|756|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the sea.  A circular stone building surmounted by a pyramid rests on a lower platform, {{Convert|209|ft|m|abbr=on}} square.

Originally the monument was about {{Convert|130|ft|m|abbr=on}} in height, but it has been wantonly damaged. Its height is now {{Convert|100|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}: the cylindrical portion {{Convert|36|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}, the pyramid {{Convert|64|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}}  The base, {{Convert|198|ft|m|abbr=on}} in diameter, is ornamented with 60 engaged [[Ionic order|Ionic]] columns.  The capitals of the columns have disappeared, but their design is preserved among the drawings of [[James Bruce]], the [[Africa]]n traveller.

In the centre of the tomb are two vaulted chambers, reached by a spiral passage or gallery {{convert|6+1/2|ft|m|adj=mid|broad|abbr=on}}, about the same height, and {{Convert|489|ft|m|abbr=on|adj=mid|long}}.  The sepulchral chambers are separated by a short passage, and are cut off from the gallery by stone doors made of a single slab which can be moved up and down by levers, like a portcullis. The larger of the two chambers is {{Convert|142|ft|m|abbr=on}} long by {{Convert|11|ft|m|abbr=on}} broad and {{Convert|11|ft|m|abbr=on}} high. The other chamber is somewhat smaller.

The tomb was previously looted, probably in search of treasure.  In 1555, [[Salah Rais]], pasha of [[Algiers]], set men to work to pull it down, but the records say that the attempt was given up because big black wasps came from under the stones and stung them to death. At the end of the 18th century, [[Baba Mahommed]] tried in vain to batter down the tomb with artillery.  In 1866 it was explored by order of the emperor [[Napoleon III]], the work being carried out by [[Adrien Berbrugger]] and [[Oscar Maccarthy]].