Chellah -The Roman Forum

Northern Morocco was part of the Kingdom of Mauritania which managed to stay neutral in the Rome- Carthage rivalry. By Augustus' time it was something of a client state and the berber king Juba II (25BCE-23CE) whose bust is in the archaeological museum lived largely in Rome.  His son Ptolemy was murdered by Caligula in 41CE allegedly on the excuse that he was wearing a brighter coloured coat than the Emperor. This allowed Morocco to become the roman province of Mauritania Tingitania. The settlement at Rabat is of a small trading post with a forum, a craftsman's quarter and a Temple. The site remained inhabited until 1154 when it was abandoned in favour of Sale.