Leptis Magna



The spectacular ruins at Leptis Magna are the best Roman archaeological site in the Mediterranean area. The original city was quite big and used to be a Phoenician port where slaves, ivory, gold and other precious metals were traded. The rich agricultural land of the surrounding area only added to leptis' enormous wealth. After the third Punic War, the Roman's ousted the Carthaginians and the city continued to flourish until it was destroyed by the Vandals in 455. The Romans returned in 533 and repaired the damage, but local resistance against them, finally drove them away and the area reverted to Berber dominated nomadic life. The invading Arabs destroyed whatever Roman was left and Leptis Magna was abandoned completely around the 11th century. The sand of the Sahara desert slowly covered the ruins and it was not until the 20th century when excavations started to dig it all up again.

The desert sand preserved the ruins very good, so nowadays there is a lot to see there. Immediately after entering the site, you will see a large museum where numerous artifacts discovered on the site are displayed. Outside, the first thing you'll see is the Severan Arch that was built to honor the visit of Emperor Septimus Severus to in 203 AD. The Hadrianic Baths are the largest outside Rome. They are decorated with marble and granite panels. The nymphaeum is a partly covered shrine dedicated to nymphs and their worshipping. There are also two forums on the site. They are built in similar design and grandeur as the ones in Rome. Other interesting ruins include a beautifully decorated basilica and of course the theatre that is always found at Roman sites. An amphitheatre and circus, where chariot races and other spectacles were held are located about 700 m (2100 feet) to the west of the main site.

Accommodation is available in nearby Misratah. Leptis Magna is about 200 km east of Tripoli, on the Mediterranean coast.


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