Rhapsody Shore & Land Excursions > Libya - AL Khums > Half Day Leptis Magna

Half Day Leptis Magna

Al-Khums, also spelled Homs, or Khoms is located on the Mediterranean coast about 100 kms southeast of Tripoli.

The town was founded by the Turks and gained importance after 1870 by exporting esparto grass used for cordage, shoes, and paper. Modern economic activities in Al-Khums include tuna processing, esparto pressing, soap manufacture and the marketing of dates. It’s a 15 minutes drive thru the tiny town of Al Khums to Leptis Magna.

Leptis Magna has deservedly earned a reputation of having the most complete and impressive Roman ruins in the entire North Africa.

Originally a Berber settlement, it was made into a trading centre by the Phoenicians. From the 6th century BC Leptis Magna was probably subdued by Carthage and became part of the Roman Empire in 111 BC. Leptis Magna had as much as 80,000 inhabitants, and its splendour profited from the love the emperor Septimus Severus (193-211) felt for his native town.

Much of the best at the present site dates back to this period. The town had a steady base of income from slave trade, gold, ivory, metals, plus agriculture, which was richer in those days.

The number of great monuments of Leptis Magna makes it a bit difficult to point out highlights. But the theatre is clearly one, and it has a splendid view from its upper tiers. Its diameter is 70 meters. Large parts of the structure have kept on to its ornamentation with some statues still adorning the theatre.

The Hadrianic Baths are still impressive, and one of the pools, measuring 28 X 15 meters, remains intact. This bathhouse was one of the largest ever built outside Rome itself.

Visit also the Severan Arch, the Palaestra or Sports Ground, the Nymphaeum, the Colonnaded Street, the Severan Forum, the Severan Basilica, the Arch of Trajan, the Arch of Tiberius and the Market.

The Museum provides background information and documentation that makes everything more meaningful.

The Circus which remains partly excavated is a 5-minute drive from the museum. With its size of 450 X 100 meters it was one of the largest in the entire Roman world and the only one of its kind in Libya today.

A short final stop for photographs at the silted and overgrown, yet clearly visible old port of Leptis will be made before returning to the ship.

 

Special Notes:
Tour is suitable for elderly people who can walk and stand for long intervals. Not wheelchair accessible.

Uneven stone roads throughout the site with several steps at various parts of the site.

Comfortable walking shoes, sun hat and bottle water recommended.

Buses are a/c but not toilet equipped.

Toilets are available at the entrance of Leptis Magna.

 

Tour Timings:

Tours begin at times suitable for the ship's arrival in port. The breakdown of the excursions is as follows:

00hr00 -> Excursion departs from Al Khums Port

00hr00 -> 00hr15 Drive to Leptis
00hr15 -> 01hr15 Visit the Museum
01hr15 -> 02hr45 Visit Leptis
02hr45 -> 02hr50 Drive to the Circus
02hr50 -> 03hr45 Visit Circus with photo stop at old harbour
03hr45 -> 04hr00 Drive to the port

 

 

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