Rhapsody Shore & Land Excursions > Libya - Al Khums > Leisurely Leptis Magna

Leisurely Leptis Magna

On Libya’s northwestern Mediterranean coast 100 kms from Tripoli lays the small town of Al-Khums also known as Homs or Khoms. Founded by the Turks it gained importance after 1870 by exporting esparto grass used for cordage, shoes and paper. Modern economic activities in Al-Khums include tuna processing, esparto grass pressing, soap manufacture and the marketing of dates. A short drive through the small town will bring you to the most amazing site of Leptis Magna.

Leptis Magna has deservedly earned a reputation of having the most complete and impressive Roman ruins in the entire North Africa. Leptis Magna was originally a Berber settlement turned into a trading post by the Phoenicians. From the 6th century BC Leptis Magna was probably subdued by Carthage, becoming part of the Roman Empire in 111 BC.

As many as 80,000 inhabitants lived in the city and its splendour profited from the love emperor Septimus Severus (193-211) felt for his native town.

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

The number of great monuments in Leptis Magna makes it difficult to point out highlights. Undoubtedly the theatre is clearly one, having splendid views from its upper tiers. Its diameter is 70 meters and large parts of the structure have kept their ornamentation with statues still adorning the theatre.

The Hadrian 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.

Visit 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.

Return to the ship for lunch and afterwards continue with a visit to the Leptis museum at the ancient site providing background information and documentation making everything seen earlier much more meaningful.

A short drive to the site’s partly excavated last monument, The Circus, will be the next stop. With its size of 450x100 meters it was one of the largest ever built in the entire Roman world and it is the only one of its kind in Libya today.

A final short stop for photographs at the Old Port of Leptis near the Circus will take place 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 -> Depart from Al Khums Port
00hr00 -> 00hr15 Drive to Leptis
00hr15 -> 02hr15 Visit Leptis
02hr15 -> 02hr30 Drive to the ship
02hr30 -> 03hr30 Lunch onboard the ship
03hr30 -> 03hr45 Drive back to Leptis
03hr45 -> 04hr45 Visit Leptis Museum
04hr45 -> 04hr50 Drive to the Circus
04hr50 -> 05hr45 Visit Circus with a photo stop at old harbour
05hr45 -> 06hr00 Drive to the port

 

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