Roman Volubilis, Morocco

While on a business trip to Morocco in 1980, my hosts took me to see the Roman city of Volubilis, which is situated between Rabat and Fez.

Originally founded by the Carthaginians in the 3rd Century BC, the city was incorporated into the Roman Empire in about 40 AD. It became the administrative capital of the province of Mauretania Tingitana and grew rich through the export of olive oil, grain and wild animals.

The main public buildings

Although much of the city was destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th Century AD, it was not abandoned until the Arab invasions in the late 7th Century. The remaining buildings were destroyed by the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755. Archaeological excavations began in the early 1900s and several major buildings have since been restored.

These days, the site attracts large numbers of visitors, drawn mainly by its imposing public buildings and by the mosaic floors contained in several mansions.

The Public Buildings

The main public buildings are a triumphal arch, a basilica and a capitol, all built under the Emperor Caracalla in the early 3rd Century AD.

The triumphal arch was originally topped by a bronze chariot

The basilica

Monumental arches in the basilica wall

The steps and columns of the capitol

Water was supplied by an aqueduct , which ran along the side of the main street.

Remains of the aqueduct

As everywhere in the Roman Empire, the public baths were heated by hot air channelled under the floors and behind the walls.

The underfloor heating system

Private Houses and Mosaics

The city's streets are lined with the mansions of wealthy landowners and merchants, and many of these mansions still contain fine examples of mosaic floors.

Several of the mosaics show scenes from mythology.




Others show animals of the types exported to be displayed - and killed - in Roman arenas.

Others have more prosaic subjects, such as local hunting trips.




Some are comparatively crude and less colourful.




Olive Oil Factories

Throughout the city there are remains of factories where olive oil was produced.

The photo below shows the round stone plate on which baskets of olive mash were placed and then crushed by a heavy stone block lifted and lowered by a pulley system.

The oil ran into the channel around the stone plate and through a groove into a square pit (centre left in the photo). Water was poured into the pit and then the oil was scooped off the surface into earthenware jugs ("amphorae").

The slots in the foreground held the pulley supports

This factory used a square pressing plate (bottom right)

Note:
As is often the case with ancient ruins, some of the smaller features are among the most interesting ones. At Volubilis my eye was caught by this simple yet beautiful drain cover in one of the streets.