420 THE DECLINE AND FALL [Chap, xliii were still more conspicuous in a Moor ; and, while he laid Adrumetum in ashes, he calmly admonished the emperor that the peace of Africa might be secured by the recall of Solomon and his unworthy nephews. The exarch led forth his troops from Carthage ; but, at the distance of six days' journey, in the neighbourhood of Tebeste, 10 he was astonished by the superior numbers and fierce aspect of the barbarians. He proposed a treaty, solicited a reconciliation, and offered to bind himself by the most solemn oaths. " By what oaths can he bind himself ? " interrupted the indignant Moors. " "Will he swear by the gospels, the divine books of the Christians ? It was on those books that the faith of his nephew Sergius was pledged to eighty of our inno- cent and unfortunate brethren. Before we trust them a second time, let us try their efficacy in the chastisement of perjury and the vindication of their own honour." Their honour was vindi- cated in the field of Tebeste, 11 by the death of Solomon and the [ad. 5«] total loss of his army. The arrival of fresh troops and more skilful commanders, soon checked the insolence of the Moors; seventeen of their princes were slain in the same battle ; and the doubtful and transient submission of their tribes was cele- brated with lavish applause by the people of Constantinople. 10 Now Tibcsh, in the kingdom of Algiers. It is watered by a river, the Sujerass, which falls into the Mejerda (Bagradas). Tibesh is still remarkable for its walls of large stones (like the Coliseum of Rome), a fountain, and a grove of walnut-trees : the country is fruitful, and the neighbouring Bereberes are warlike. It appears from an inscription that, under the reign of Hadrian, the road from Carthage to Tebeste was constructed by the third legion (Marmol, Description de l'Afrique, torn. ii. p. 442, 443. Shaw's Travels, p. 64, 65, 66). [The road was constructed in a.d. 123. See C. I. L., 8, p. 865 and inscr. No. 10,048 sqq. Theveste (the name suggested Thebes, and hence the town was known as Hecatompylos ; cf. Diodorus 4, 18) was rebuilt by Justinian after the Moorish victories of Solomon, as the following inscription records (C. I. L., 8, 1863) : — Nutu divino feliciss. temporib. piissimor. dominor. nostror. Iustiniani et Theo- dora Augg. post abscisos ex Africa Vandalos extinctamque per Solomonem gloriosiss. et exoell. magistro militum ex consul, prafeet. Libya ac patricio universam Maurusiam gentem provi (dentia ejus) dem arninentissirni viri Theveste (civitas) a (f)undament. adificata est.] 11 [The battle was fought near Cillium, or Colonia Cillitana (now Kasrin), S.E. of Theveste, and a little north of Thelepte. See Victor Tonn. in the improved text of Mommsen (Chron. Min. 2, p. 201) : Stuzas tyrannus gentium multitudine adunata Solomoni magistro tnilitia ac patricio Africa oeterisque Romanre militia ducibus Cillio occurrit. ubi congressione faota peccantis Africa Roinana reipublica militia superatur, Solomon utriusque potestatis vir 6trenuus proelio moritur. (For Cillium cp. C. I. L., 8, 210.) Solomon was assisted not only by his two nephews but by Cusina, chief of a Moorish tribe which, driven out of Byzacium by Solomon in 535 (Procop. B. V. 2, 10), was now established in the neighbourhood of Lambae- sis. Cp. Corippus, Job.., 3405 sqq. For a full account see Partsch, Procem. p. xviii.-xx.]
