Ancient and mysterious places in Libya

🇱🇾 Libya · Temple complex

Temple of Croxton Forge

Moche (100–800 CE) · Moche

Temple of Croxton Forge in Fezzan, Libya is a Moche (100–800 CE) temple complex attributed to Moche culture.

🇱🇾 Libya · Ancient port

Sabratha — Roman Harbour Peristyle Seafront Triple-Temple drowned forum

Phoenician (500 BCE) → Punic → Roman Septimian basilica 2nd c. CE urban expansion Severus, 365 Crete quake partially submerged 1 m · Punic → Roman Antonine Severan harbour theatre 108 m diameter with 3-storey scaenae

Sabratha Guidi 1923 Severan theatre of Severus 150.

🇱🇾 Libya · Ancient village

Qasr Al-Haj

Medieval to Modern (12th c. CE–20th c.; peak 13th–19th c.) · Berber (Nafusi) / Islamic

Qasr Al-Haj (near Gharyan) is a circular Berber granary (aghadir/ qasr) 12th c. CE, 30 m diameter ring of 114 ghurfas (cells) four storeys high around central courtyard, built of rock and gypsum…

🇱🇾 Libya · Temple complex

Cyrene — Sanctuary of Apollo and Fountain of Apollo Terrace

Greek (630 BCE Cyrene Battus I → Apollo Temple 550 BCE; fountain Hellenistic 300 BCE) · Greek Cyrene (Theraean Greek colony 630 BCE Battus I oracle)

Cyrene sanctuary Smith & Goodchild, 630 Theran Battus delphi oracle.

🇱🇾 Libya · Ancient city

Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic

Hellenistic (Ptolemy III 246 BCE) → Roman, Palace of Columns 1st c. CE · Hellenistic Ptolemaic port palace and Roman later

Ptolemais Kraeling 1960s, Palace Columns 165 m peristyle.

🇱🇾 Libya · Fortified city

Zinchecra — Garamantian Ridge Citadel above Germa

Garamantian Early (900–500 BCE pre-Garma) · Early Garamantian hillfort → Garamantian state origin

Zinchecra excavated by Mattingly 1990s, earliest Garamantian fort prior to valley Garama.

🇱🇾 Libya · Rock art

Uan Muhuggiag Rock Shelter Pastoral Phase

Upper Palaeolithic to Iron Age (30000 BCE–500 CE) · Multi-period rock art

Uan Muhuggiag Rock Shelter Pastoral Phase in Fezzan, Uan Muhuggiag, Libya is a Upper Palaeolithic to Iron Age (30000 BCE–500 CE) rock art attributed to Multi-period rock art.

🇱🇾 Libya · Rock art

Wadi Mathendous — Ancillary Panel North (Messak, Libya)

Upper Palaeolithic to Iron Age (30000 BCE–500 CE) · Palaeolithic to Iron Age

Wadi Mathendous — Ancillary Panel North (Messak, Libya) in Fezzan, Wadi Mathendous, Libya is a Upper Palaeolithic to Iron Age (30000 BCE–500 CE) rock art a…

🇱🇾 Libya · Rock art

Messak Settafet — North Escarpment Engraving Panel

Upper Palaeolithic to Iron Age (30000 BCE–500 CE) · Palaeolithic to Iron Age

Messak Settafet — North Escarpment Engraving Panel in Fezzan, Messak Settafet, Libya is a Upper Palaeolithic to Iron Age (30000 BCE–500 CE) rock art attrib…

🇱🇾 Libya · Ancient port

Leptis Magna — Hannibal's House? no — harbour and Hippodrome submergence

Phoenician 1100 BCE → Roman Septimian 211 CE Arch of Septimius, harbour 200 CE Severan 600 m lighthouse 35 m high · Phoenician Leptis (Neapolis) → Roman Septimius Severus hometown (Emperor 193 CE) harbour built hometown glory

Leptis Magna harbour Italian 1920s, Severus hometown 200.

🇱🇾 Libya · Rock shelter