The city of Tagaste, now the present Souk-Ahras in Algeria, was situated in the northeast highlands of Numidia. It was about sixty miles from Hippo Regius, now called Annaba, and about 150 miles from Carthage on the coast of present day Tunisia. Numidia was an ancient African Berber kingdom and later a Roman province on the northern coast of Africa between the province of Africa (where Tunisia is now) and the province of Mauretania (which is now the western part of Algerias coastal area). ... Hippo Regius was the ancient name of the modern city of Annaba (or Bône), Algeria. ... Annaba (ِArabic عنّابة, formerly Bône) is a city in the north-eastern corner of Algeria near the river Wadi Seybouse and Tunisian border. ... A map of the central Mediterranean Sea, showing the location of Carthage (near modern Tunis). ...
The mountain in the base suggests Tagaste (modern Souk Ahras in Algeria), the small town in North Africa where St. Augustine was born in the year 354.
The African type of yew tree, with its short, thick trunk, also represents physical features of Augustine's birthplace, which was likewise the site of his first religious community, established in the year 388.
The Shield of Tagaste Monastery was commissioned by Mrs.
Augustine was born at Tagaste on 13 November, 354.
Tagaste, now Souk-Ahras, about 60 miles from Bona (ancient Hippo-Regius), was at that time a small free city of proconsular Numidia which had recently been converted from Donatism.
But, unfortunately, it required several months to collect the necessary means, and Augustine had to spend his sixteenth year at Tagaste in an idleness which was fatal to his virtue; he gave himself up to pleasure with all the vehemence of an ardent nature.
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