Tamentfoust

Tamentfoust (in Arabic تمنتفوست), also known as La Pérouse, is a port in the Dar El Beïda district of Algiers, Algeria. The former Roman city and bishopric of Rusginiae is now also a Latin Catholic titular see.

Geography

Tamentfoust forms a cap on the Algiers bay - its position on the righthand side of this bay gave rise to the Amazigh name "Tamentfoust" meaning "right hand" or "right side".

Different names

The port has had many names over history:

Name Origin Meaning
Rusguniae Punic Bush Cape
Rusgunia Latin from Punic Rusguniae
Tamentfoust Amazigh Right hand / Right side
Matifou Spanish (approx 14th century) Alteration of "Tamentfoust"
La Pérouse Colonial from the name of French explorer; Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse

History

Rusguniae was important enough in the Roman province of Mauretania Caesariensis to become a suffragan bishopric of its capital Caesarea Mauretaniae's Metropolitan Archbishopric. It would later fade.

Titular see

The diocese was nominally restored as a Latin Catholic titular bishopric .

It has had the following incumbents, all of the lowest (episcopal) rank :

Monuments and edifices

The city has a series of historical buildings, such as Tamentfoust Castle (now a museum) built by Ramdhan Agha in 1661, and the vestiges of the ancient Roman city of Rusguniae. Maritime history is represented by the "Naval Academy of Tamentfoust" known as the biggest naval academy on the continent. The views from the harbour are also a big attraction for visitors.

Sources and External links

Coordinates: 36°48′21″N 3°13′48″E / 36.8058°N 3.2301°E / 36.8058; 3.2301

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