Oran City Map Poster

About Oran

The name Wahran is derived from the Amazigh (Berber) words wahr (meaning "cave") and n (meaning "place of"), thus meaning "Place of caves". The history of Oran began in the 10th century, when it was founded as a small fortress. It became part of the kingdom if Numidia under Jugurtha and reached its zenith during Roman times, being made it capital city by emperor Septimius Severus around 200 AD. In 202 AD, however, it was occupied by an invading army sent by Clodius Albinus who massacred many inhabitants until his death in 203 at which time Rome restored Oran to Numidia. The town's prosperity continued unabated through Byzantine times; but after conquest by Arabs from Spain in 708-709 AD ,it gradually declined until only a shadow remained that survived into modern day Algeria .