:: :.
Leptis magna was founded by the Phoenicians (Canaanites) at the mouth of Wadi Libda in about 1000 B.C and it was known by this name to distinguish it from Leptis in Tunisia.
Libda considered as one of the oldest Phoenician settlements in North Africa. It prospered through a lively trade in gold. Ivory and wild animals. Libda lies 3 km east of the city of Al-Khums.
In pre-Islamic times it was the capital of the three cities known as Tripolis: Leptis Magna, Sabratha and Tripoli (Oea). For six centuries, the city of Leptis Magna was used as an anchorage by Canaanite ships from tyre and Sidon during their voyages in the Mediterranean… after the Canaanites, came the Romans (75 B.C) who built monuments and various public buildings, including a market place, theatre, temples, baths, a race track, a wrestling arena, triumphal arches and decorated mosaic floor.In the Byzantine era (533 A.D) an outer wall and some churches were built.
Most of the ruins that can be visited today show a Roman architectural design. The two main roads of the city, (Cardo Maximus) running north south and (Decama Maximus) running east west are bordered on either side by the various square and rectangular shaped districts.
The principal material used in construction was hard limestone from the surrounding areas, while marble was imported from Roma. Greece and Asia Minor, and granite columns came from Egypt.
The peak of Leptis Magna's architectural splendor, can be placed at about the 2nd century A.D when Septimius Severus was elected Emperor and raised his native city to the dignity it deserved.
During the war between Rome and Ugarta, Leptis Magna remained loyal to Rome, a choice which was to link it to the Empire, and lead to its slow and inevitable decline.
Precious collections from the various civilization that existed around the city of Leptis Magna are portrayed in the museum that forms part of the archaeological site.
