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·🇱🇾 Cyrenaica, Ptolemais (Tolmeitha) coast east Cyrenaica, near Al Marj, Barca plateau, Libya
About
About Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic
Ptolemais Kraeling 1960s, Palace Columns 165 m peristyle. Recorded context — Period: Hellenistic (Ptolemy III 246 BCE) → Roman, Palace of Columns 1st c. CE; Culture: Hellenistic Ptolemaic port palace and Roman later; Field status: excavated; Materials: limestone palace, peristyle column 7 m, cistern waterproof plaster; Condition: ruins.
Why it mattersKey Hellenistic Ptolemaic port palace and Roman later ancient-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Elite residence
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 246 BCE Ptolemais foundation; Palace Columns 1st c. CE
- Period
- Hellenistic (Ptolemy III 246 BCE) → Roman, Palace of Columns 1st c. CE
- Culture
- Hellenistic Ptolemaic port palace and Roman later
- Purpose
- Palace of Columns (Palazzo delle Colonne 165 m × 90 m peristyle 70 m cistern) — Hellenistic palace 165 m with 100 cisterns and water capture 30 km aqueduct to Barca
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1919
- Excavation
- Excavated
1890 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic
246 BCE Ptolemais foundation; Palace Columns 1st c. CE
Initial construction / first occupation at Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic
c. 400 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic
On the ground
Structures & features
32.7040° N · 20.9300° E · 15 m · 3 mapped features
- Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic — primary structure32.7028° N · 20.9316° E
- Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic — primary structure32.7026° N · 20.9302° E
- Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic — Southern Rock Artrock artrock art at Ptolemais — Palace of Columns Cliff Peristyle Hellenistic — primary structure32.7029° N · 20.9283° E
Gallery