A stormy looking day as we drive from Tripoli to Sabratha in December 2010 |
Sabratha - UNESCO World Heritage Site |
Ruins of the Ancient Roman City of Sabratha - World Heritage Site since 1982 |
LIbyan post box - Sabratha |
View of the ruined city of Sabratha looking west from the top of the Roman theatre |
Ruins of the Theater Baths adjacent to the ancient Roman Theater |
The Forum of Sabratha's tallest colums standing out against the blue Mediterranean Sea |
A forest of columns marks the site of the ancient Roman forum of Sabratha |
A break in the clouds illuminates the Seaward Baths on a small cliff overlooking the Mediterranean |
Lone column with the sea near the theater, Sabratha |
The Romans arrived in Sebratha in the 2nd-3rd C. AD |
Ancient residential quarter of left outside when the Byzantine walls were constructed in the 6th C. |
The Roman Cardo leads to the center of ancient Sabratha |
Temple of Liber Pater (Temple of Dionysos), Sabratha |
Ruins of Sabratha's forum overlooked by the Capitoleum, the Temple of Jupiter |
A pair of columns in the old Residential Quarter |
Path leading from the Residential Quarter towards the Mausoleum of Bes |
Original plaster and a pair of alcoves inside the ruins of a house |
Roman mosaic floor left in situ, Residential Quarter, Sabratha |
Roman mosaic floor, Sabratha |
Detail of the mosaic floor in the Residential Quarter of Sabratha |
Ruins of the Residential Quarter, Sabratha |
Near the Residential Quarter is the Mausoleum of Bes, a well known monument in Sabratha |
The Mausoleum of Bes, dismantled by the Byzantines, was re-erected by 20th C. archaeologists |
Mausoleum of Bes, 2nd C. BC - Punic |
Mausoleum of Bes at Sabratha, 24m tall |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Eroded figure of Bes after which the mausoleum is named (copy-original in museum) |
The lions on the Mausoleum of Bes are modern copies - the originals are in the Punic Museum of Sabratha |
Lion protecting the Mausoleum of Bes |
Lion guardian, Mausoleum of Bes |
Lion guardian, Mausoleum of Bes |
Ruins at the base of the Punic Mausoleum (B), Sabratha |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
A highly eroded relief of Hercules is in the center |
Column detail, Mausoleum of Bes |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Another monument near the Punic Mausoleum of Bes |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Mausoleum of Bes, Sabratha |
Ruins of the Residential Quarter, Sabratha |
The excavated street level of Sabratha is below the level of the modern walkway, Sabratha |
Crossing the Byzantine Walls (6th C.) you enter Sabratha's town center |
The center of Sabratha with the forum and numerous temples |
The four columns easily identify the Temple of Liber Pater (Dionysos) |
Sabratha was established by the Phoenicians around 500 BC |
The Temple of Liber Pater was destroyed by earthquake in 365 AD and never rebuilt |
An ancient Roman road leads to the center of Sabratha |
An ancient Roman road leads to the center of Sabratha |
Ancient Sabratha's forest of pillars |
Fallen capital, Sabratha |
The center of Ancient Sabratha |
The Southern Temple of Sabratha, dedicated to an unknown divinity |
Marble brick floor with a herringbone pattern, Sabratha |
An ornately carved stone panel, Sabratha |
A capital which has lost its column, Sabratha |
A section of floor paved with large marble slabs |
To the east of the forum is the Antonine Temple |
The elevated Antonine Temple dedicated to the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius (r. 138-161) |
Headless statue of Flavius Tullus, 2nd Century benefactor of Sabratha |
Statue of Flavius Tullus, Sabratha |
Statue of Flavius Tullus, Sabratha |
A heavily restored column, Sabratha |
Temple of Liber Pater, Sabratha |
Cracked paving tiles of one of the Sabratha temples |
A ray of light shines through the dark clouds behind the silhouette of a lone column at Sabratha |
Maybe the sun will come out today! |
Temple of Liber Pater from atop the Antonine Temple, Sabratha |
Statue and original Roman roads, Sabratha |
Temple of Liber Pater, Sabratha |
An arch segment left standing, Sabratha |
Looking southeast with Temple of Liber Pater on the left |
Temple of Liber Pater, Sabratha |
Archway of the 4th Century Curia, Sabratha |
Latin inscription at the Curia, Sabratha |
After the devastating earthquake of 365 AD, Sabratha became a much smaller city, only partially rebuilt by the Byzantines |
The House of Leda, 2nd C. AD, Sebratha |
The House of Leda is on the left side of the road |
Panoramic view of the central ruins of Sebratha |
Steps leading up to the Basilica of Justinian to the north of the Curia, identified by its arch |
Steps leading up to the Basilica of Justinian |
After the Arab conquest of North Africa, Sabratha faded into obscurity |
The Basilica of Justinian, 527-565 AD, Sebratha |
Ruins of the city center of Sabratha |
Column of the Basilica of Justinian, Sebratha |
Column of the Basilica of Justinian |
Curia Arch with the Punic Mausoleum in the distance |
Oil Press Street, Sabratha |
Stone vat, Oil Press Street, Sabratha |
Oil Press Street, Sabratha |
Seaside Ruins by the Old Port, Sabratha |
Oil Press Street, Sabratha |
Oil Press Street, Sabratha |
Oil Press Street, Sabratha |
Oil Press Street, Sabratha |
Temple of Liber Pater, Sabratha |
Temple of Liber Pater, Sabratha |
Ancient Latrine, Sabratha |
Ancient Latrine, Sabratha |
Ancient Latrine, Sabratha |
The Romans apparently invented the sit-down toilet |
Roman road passing by the ancient Latrine, Sabratha |
Seaward Baths (Ocean Baths), Sabratha |
Eroded arch of the Seaward Baths, Sabratha |
Eroded arch of the Seaward Baths, Sabratha |
Seaward (Ocean) Baths, Sabratha |
Seaward (Ocean) Baths, Sabratha |
Seaward (Ocean) Baths, 2nd C. AD |
Seaward (Ocean) Baths, Sabratha |
Statue overlooking a pool of the Seaward Baths, Sabratha |
Statue overlooking a pool of the Seaward Baths, Sabratha |
Seaward Baths, 2nd C. AD, Sabratha |
Female statue in flowing garment, Seaward Baths |
Mosaic floor, Seaward Baths |
Mosaic floor of the Seaward Baths, Sabratha |
Mosaic floor of the Seaward Baths, Sabratha |
Seaward Baths, Sabratha |
Seaward Baths, Sabratha |
Looking east along the coast of Sabratha towards the Temple of Isis |
Roman Road near the Seaward Baths |
Roman Road, now mostly dirt path, Sabratha |
Interesting white stones, perhaps a highly eroded statue, Sabratha |
Theater District of Sabrtha |
Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Mosaic floor, Theater Baths |
Mosaic floor, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Stone bench and mosaic floor, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Stone bench and mosaic floor, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Mosaic floor, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Theater Baths, Sabratha |
These must have been grand back in the Roman times |
Mosaic floor missing a portion, Sabratha |
Small pool, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Small pool, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Mosaic floor, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Mosaic floor, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Mosaic floor, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Roman mosaic with a swastika, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Mosaic floor, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Mosaic design, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Well or cistern, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Well or cistern, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Mosaic floor, Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Theater Baths, Sabratha |
Carved bust near the theater, Sebratha |
Carved bust near the theater, Sebratha |
Stairs leading to an upper level no longer in existence, Sabratha |
Peristyle House, Sabratha |
Peristyle House, Sabratha |
Peristyle House, Sabratha |
Peristyle House with mosaic, Sabratha |
Mosaic of the Peristyle House, Sabratha |
Mosaic of the Peristyle House, Sabratha |