HISTORY

The city of Leptis Magna was founded as a fenician harbour a thousand years b.C. thanks to its favourable geographical position, which included easy access to the sea and the possibility of landing due to the presence of the river Wadi Lebdan. Its more recent history began around the 6th century b.C. when the presence of Carthaginians was necessary to push back the Greeks based in Cirene. This alliance renewed for the two punic wars against the Romans, but after Annibal’s victories came the defeats by Publio Cornelio Scipione called the African. After besieging Cartago, he imposed very hard conditions to the Carthaginians. In the year 146 b.C., after Cartago’s destruction, Leptis Magna wasn’t admitted to the roman empire and lately became allied to Rome even if a certain autonomy was granted to it. In the first century b.C. the commercial exchanges grew considerably and along with them the city grew more and more beautiful until it obtained its climax in the second century b.C. under the emperors Settimio Severo and Caracalla. During this period many monuments were built up. Around the year 400 a.C. the invasion of the nearby tribes started up its decline until the Arabian conquer in 644 a.C.

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Leptis Magna stayed covered by the sand for centuries and just at the beginning of the 20th century the first scout holes tried to discover which could be the most interesting areas. Later the excavation removed the sand dunes with the aim of taking the roads up to the surface. The arch of Settimio Severo allowed two road axes to be discovered and in a short time the road was cleared away as far as the sea.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"Leptis Magna" di Rosanna Cappelli MONDO ROMANO/AFRICA

"Leptis Magna" di Renato Bartoccini LE MERAVIGLIE DEL PASSATO ed. Mondadori

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