2006.03.26 - Sunday - Leptis Magna - We travel the 120km to the Leptis Magna ruins from Tripoli today. It looks like Fatid (from Numidia Tours) will be our tour leader throughout our stay in Libya, and again, we also have a member of the Tourist Police on board. Part way to Leptis Magna we pass through a check point, and papers are given to the officials before we proceed.

Like Sabrata, Leptis Magna is a huge ancient city located on the Mediterranean Sea. It is a much bigger city than Sabrata. There is a huge arch at the entrance to the city erected by Septimus Severus, who was the emperor of the Roman Empire for several years, and who was a resident of the city at the time.

The Severan Basilica is 40m by 92m and was built by Septimus Severus and his son Caracalla in AD 216. The basilica is adjacent to the Severus Forum, and was used as a House of Justice. The pillar decorations honour Hercules and Liber Patre (Dionysius).

The theatre at Leptis Magna is the second largest in the Roman Empire; the largest being the one at Sabratha. It was built in the era of Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161). The stage was decorated with hundreds of statues of important people of the time. Note the three semi-circular recesses at the back of the stage area.

The Harbour originally had a 35m high lighthouse.  The eastern quay's buildings are relatively intact, mainly because they saw little use. The harbour silted up only a few years after it was built, so it seems the Romans had the engineering to build a harbour, but not to dredge it!

The museum at Leptis Magna is excellent, however the more impressive statues and other artifacts are held the Jamahiriya Museum in Tripoli, so I have only posted a few photos from the Leptis Magna museum on this page.

Next >>>  Jamahiriya Museum, Tripoli

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