Something About Of Hippo

Hungry, hungry Augustine.

Today's the birthday of Saint Augustine, a theologian, philosopher, and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia in North Africa. But have you ever wondered about the "of Hippo" part? The name of the city possibly relates to the word ûbôn, meaning "harbor". The Romans referred to this maritime city as Hippo Regius ("the Royal Hippo") because it was one of the residences of the Numidian kings.

Today the ruins of Hippo Regius are part of the modern city of Annaba, Algeria. Lonely Planet walks you through the ruins:

You enter from what was the seafront, the water having receded several hundred metres over the millennia. The district near the entrance and seafront was residential and the remains of several villas can be visited, their courtyards marked by columns and some of the walls and floors still visible. The so-called Villa of the Labyrinth and Villa of the Procurateur are the most impressive. Here too are the remains of the smaller southern baths.

The path continues to the Christian quarter where the 42m-long outline of the grand basilica can still be traced, especially its central apse, which unusually faces north, while its floors are still covered with mosaics. This may well have been the basilica where Saint Augustine was bishop – the date is right, but there is no other evidence to prove the possibility.