Gezicht op de Boog van Caracalla in Tébessa before 1894

This is an anonymous engraving of the Arch of Caracalla in Tébessa, created at an unknown date. The print captures the remnants of Roman imperial presence in North Africa. Erected in 214 AD in what is now Algeria, this four-faced arch, dedicated to Emperor Caracalla, his father Septimius Severus, and mother Julia Domna, reminds us of the Roman Empire’s vast reach and its complex interactions with local populations. The monumentality speaks to Roman power, yet its location in Tébessa highlights the integration of Roman culture within existing African societies. Caracalla's reign was marked by extending Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire. Consider this arch not just as a symbol of Roman authority but as a testament to the intertwined histories of empire, identity, and belonging. What did it mean for the people of Tébessa to live under Roman rule, and how did they experience the privileges and oppressions of Roman citizenship?