Leptis Magna: The Severan Period

Libya has many fascinating ancient sites but one stands out above the rest. Situated on the Mediterranean coast 75 miles east of Tripoli are the immense ruins of Leptis Magna, the best preserved Roman city in the world.

Leptis Magna in the spring

Founded by the Phoenicians and later controlled by Carthage, the city became a major trading centre under the Roman Republic and it was incorporated into the Roman empire by Tiberius in 23 BC.

One of the city's monumental streets

Leptis reached the peak of its prosperity during the reign of Septimius Severus (193-211 AD), who was born in the city. It declined in importance after Severus' reign but enjoyed a return to its former glory under the emperors Diocletian (284-305 AD) and Constantine (306-337 AD).

Leptis was occupied by the Vandals in 455 AD and then overrun by the Berbers in 523. The city was briefly incorporated into the Roman Byzantine empire in 533 AD before being occupied by the Arabs. After this, the site was abandoned and was gradually covered by sand.

Of all the ruins that cover the site, none compare in sheer size with those built by the Emperor Severus and his son Caracalla.

The Severan Forum

This forum is the most impressive structure on the whole site. It is enclosed by a massive wall into which are set monumental doorways.

The Severan Forum

Part of the forum wall

One of the forum's great doorways

Looking out through one of the doorways

A section of the forum's interior

The remains of an arched colonnade in the forum

The Basilica

At one end of the Severan forum is an enormous basilica, 525 feet long and 225 feet wide. The basilica, which had three aisles, had an apse at each end. (The basilica was the one of the main government buildings in a Roman city and was where legal tribunals took place.)

The curved exterior of one of the apses

Inside the basilica

Inside the basilica

Detail of a column in the basilica

Completed under Caracalla in 216 AD, the basilica was converted into a church during the sixth century recovery of the site by the Byzantines.

Pulpit in the Sixth Century AD church

The Hunting Baths

Among the most complete buildings at Leptis are the Hunting Baths, built in about 200 AD.

The exterior of the Hunting Baths

The bathhouse gets its name from the paintings of hunting scenes which grace its interior walls.

Hunting and fishing scenes inside the bathhouse

You can find more blogs about Leptis Magna immediately below this one.