Libya: Archaeology and Civilisation (Part 7)

Lying a few kilometres to the west of what is today the bustling city of Tripoli, Sabratha, like Leptis Magna knows its origin to the Phoenicians. However, once the Romance had comfortably settled in North Africa they rebuilt the city and turned it into one of the more important trading settlements of the region.
(Pictured: Theatre at Sabratha)

To the present day the ruins of Sabratha are considered a living reminder of the significant development that had taken place during these ancient years, and a testimonial to the past culture and civilisation of the region.

Although it is generally accepted that Sabratha knows its earliest origins to the times of the Phoenicians, there are several historians who believe that the city could have existed even during earlier times.

The most widespread belief is, however, that Sabratha together with Leptis Magna and Oea, which is the ancient name of Tripoli, were originally founded by the Phoenicians and called, at the time, the Three Cities.

However, there are several chroniclers who insist that when the Phoenician traders first stepped along the shores of North Africa, Sabratha was already an established town.

It is of course, very difficult to access with definite certainty the exact date of the earliest origin of Sabratha, but the fact remains that as the ruins of that ancient trading settlement suggest, the city was constructed in its most magnificent form under the Romans.

There’s also no division of opinion that Sabratha thrived during the first and the second centuries, that is under the rule of the Romans.

The prosperity which Sabratha is known to have enjoyed was largely and directly the result of the immense trade which took place there.

Sabratha was one of the most important trading settlements along the shores of North Africa. It was also a valuable link serving the caravan routes going deeper in the heart of the country to Ghadames and the border towns of Algeria.

More so, several historians record that Sabratha was also an important link in the chain of Central Africa.

In fact, many of the caravans that used to cross the inhospitable Fezzan during their journey south, often transited in Sabratha.

Although many archaeologists believe that the larger part of the city of Leptis still lies beneath the Saharan sands, in the case of Sabratha it is believed that as much as ninety per cent of the city has been brought to light.

In fact, from the ruins of the general plan of this once great and ancient city, Archaeologi-cal experts have been able to piece together most of its houses, its shops and its magnificent public buildings.

Not that these magnificent examples of a civilised past have been recovered in their intact form, but enough of the ancient city has been unearthed that no doubt remains of its past grandeur and prosperity.

JOSEPH CUTAJAR

(to be continued)