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Sabrata
Location: 40 miles west of Tripoli, 140 miles
south-east of Djerba (Tunisia)
Settled in the late 5th/early 6th century BC by the
Phoenicians, Sabrata's development as a Roman city
began in the latter half of the 1st century AD. It
reached its zenith in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD,
particularly during the reign of Septimus Severus,
who was born in nearby Leptis Magna. Much of the
city was destroyed by earthquakes during the 4th
century, particularly that which took place in 365
AD.
A rebuilding program followed but the city was now
to occupy a much smaller area. The Vandals ruled in
the 5th century but they were expelled under the
Emperor Justinian and further building
projects took place in the Byzantine era. Sabrata
was to survive for a hundred years following the
Arab invasion of the mid 7th century AD.
The most spectacular site in Sabrata is the Theatre,
probably built during the reign of the Emperor
Commodus (161-192 AD), with its three-storey
backdrop of columns. Other monuments and areas of
interest include the Temple of Liber Pater, the
Basilica of Justinian, the Mosaics of the House of
Jason Magnus, the Capitolium, the Temple of Serapis,
the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Isis |
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Tripoli
Location: 180 miles app. east of Djerba (Tunisia),
130 miles app. west of Misrata
Tripoli, the site of Phoenician Oea founded circa
500 BC, is the capital of Libya. Although no
vestiges of the Phoenecian settlement remain, there
are traces of Roman times including the Arch of
Marcus Aurelius (163 AD) constructed entirely of
marble. Other sites of interest include the
wonderful National Museum, located within Tripoli
Castle, and the old medina, within which is a
crossway notable for Roman pillars embedded in each
corner building. The medina contains interesting
souks and mosques, of which the interior of
Karamanli Mosque is particularly beautiful |
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Leptis Magna
Location: 75 miles east of Tripoli
World famous as arguably the best preserved and most
extensive Roman city in the world. Originally a
Phoenician settlement probably founded in the 6th
century BC under the aegis of Carthage, Leptis Magna
became a great metropolis under the Romans,
particularly during the reign of Septimus Severus
(193-211 AD), who was born in the city. Following
the end of the Severan dynasty, with the
assassination of Alexander Severus in the year 235
AD, the city fell into decline although a period of
rejuvenation occurred under Diocletian (284-305 AD)
and Constantine (306-337 AD). When the Vandals
conquered Tripolitania in the mid-5th century AD, it
fell upon the Emperor Justinian to reclaim the land
for Byzantium, which he achieved. In the 7th
century, Tripolitania was conquered by the Arabs,
and Leptis Magna never revisited its former glory.
Among the many sites of interest at Leptis Magna are
the Severan Arch, the Palaestra or Sports Ground,
the Nymphaeum, the Hadrianic Baths, the Colonnaded
Street, the Severan Forum, the Severan Basilica, the
Theatre, the Harbour, the Circus, the Temple of
Liber Pater, the Temple of Rome and Augustus, the
Arch of Trajan, the Arch of Tiberius and the Market |
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Ghadames
Location: 75 miles east of Tripoli
Described as the Pearl of the Desert, Ghadames is an
attractive oasis town on the edge of the Sahara near
the border with Algeria. It was once the southern
outpost of the Roman Empire although there is now
little evidence other than tombs. The old town of
Ghadames is very picturesque, notable for its "cake
and icing" architecture and its labyrinthine
streets. Interesting sites include the cultural
Museum, the Traditional House richly decorated in
local style, the Great Mosque, and the Main Square
once used as a slave market. Outside of town is to
be found Ain al-Dibana Lake (which, although
inviting on a hot day, is not recommended for a swim
as it is a salt lake and there are no showers
available!). There is also a grand sand dune area
for those who will not be venturing into the desert
proper and who would like a taste of the Sahara |
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Ghat
Location: 450 miles south of Ghadames
A Tuareg desert town at the entrance to the Acacus,
deep in the Libyan Sahara, Ghat once enjoyed
prominence as a trading post for caravans crossing
the desert, and was active a thousand years ago. The
old town is now mainly deserted, the population
having moved into a newer area of Ghat, and is
dominated by a picturesque Italian fort. Ghat may be
reached by either a tarmac road from Sebha or
through the desert from Ghadames alongside the
Algerian border. (See under Ghadames for pictures of
this route.)
An annual festival takes place in Ghat during
December, a colourful ritual of Tuareg song and
dance |
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Benghazi
Location: 600 miles east of Tripoli
Libya's second city Benghazi is famed in military
history as a supply base during World War II. It was
also the headquarters of the Italian forces during
their occupation of Libya from 1911 onwards, and
this is reflected in much of the Italian style
architecture. In the city centre is the monument to
Omar al-Mukhtar, the great Libyan resistance leader
who fought against the Italian occupation. There is
also an extensive and interesting market, Souq al-Jareed |
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Cyrene
Location: near to Al-Bayda, 115 miles app.
north-east of Benghazi
The most important Greek city in North Africa,
Cyrene was founded in the 7th century BC by a party
of immigrants who had fled the drought-inflicted
island of There in the Aegean Sea. Its early history
was a volatile one, characterized by murder and
conflict among the ruling families. Under King
Battus IV (515-470 BC), it enjoyed a period of
relative calm and prosperity, although his
successor, Arcesilaus IV, was assassinated. From 322
BC, Cyrenaica came under the control of the Greek
general Ptolemy I and his dynasty.
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APOLLONIA
Ancient Apollonia was Cyrene's port for over a
thousand years and its ruins form an essential part
of the whole archeological complex.
Location 235Km from Benghazi 820Km to Cyrene.
Established in the 7th century Bc, Apollonia served
as the port for Cyrene, and remained so for more
than millennium. Its importance was such that during
the roman period it remained autonomous of Cyrene
site of interest the theatre which sited in
particulary picture sque location by the sea, the
eastern central and western Basilicas, the Roman
baths and the Byzantine
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Ptolemais
Location: 65 miles north-east of Benghazi
Named after Ptolemy III, in whose reign it was
founded during the 3rd century BC, Ptolemais was
originally a Hellenistic mercantile city. Its
importance increased following the acquisition of
Cyrenaica by the Romans in 96 AD, and enjoyed the
prosperity that characterized Rome of the period,
with extensive public works programmes. Excavations
indicate that the population of Ptolemais enjoyed
wealth and a high standard of living. During the 3rd
century AD, following a decline in the importance of
Cyrene, it became the capital city of the region.
Like Cyrene, it suffered the earthquake of 365 AD
which was followed by a programme of reconstruction.
However, in the sixth century AD, Ptolemais suffered
a reversal when Apollonia became the capital of
Upper Libya and entered a period of near
destitution, aggravated by a water supply system
that had fallen into disrepair, causing the
population to move away. Despite aid from the
Emperor Justinian which returned the city to a
relative state of well-being for a while, its death
knell was sounded by the Arab conquest of Cyrenaica
in the 7th century AD.
Buildings of interest in Ptolemais include the small
but excellent Museum, the Western Basilica, the
Columned Palace, the Theatre and the underground
Cisterns. |
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Qasr Libya
Location: 30 miles west of al-Bayda, 115 miles
north-east of Benghazi
Site of a Byzantine fort and church dating back to
the reign of the Emperor Justinian (6th century AD).
A floor of stunning mosaic panels was discovered in
1957, the majority of which are now housed in the
on-site museum. The collection of mosaics is
considered one of the world's finest and,
intriguingly, depicts pagan subjects as well as
human and animal figures. One panel depicts the
Pharos Lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the
world. |
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Tobruk
Location: 250 miles east of Benghazi
Forever linked with the name of the great German
commander, Marshall Rommel, who laid siege to and
captured the city during World War II. Here you may
visit his underground headquarters, also used by
Montgomery during British control of the city. There
are cannons and tanks on display while, close by,
are the remains of the WW2 American plane Lady Be
Good which crash landed in the desert - the crew
perished in the Sahara after walking immense
distances and their bodies were not discovered until
the early 1950s. Here you may also visit the World
War II cemeteries including the Allied Cemetery, the
French Cemetery, Knightsbridge Cemetery and the
German Cemetery. Near to the town, still rooted, is
the famous fig tree which was used as a shelling
locator during the war. |
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LIBYAN SAHARA
The
major Oases are far to the south, the most
accessible being Ghadames "The Jewel of the desert"
650 km. from Tripoli. Much further south, Ghat is
the usual base for expeditions to see the
extraordinary prehistoric rock art. Not all is
parched and dry; the northern uplands catch enough
rain to grow wheat, olives and fruits |
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AKAKUS MOUNTAINS
The open museum of the desert; engravings and
paintings in rock-shelters of Akakus, Tadarat,
Matchandoush mountains
and Wadi Berguge described
by some of explores as evidence |
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