Germa

The Ancient Capital of The Garamantes

The Gates to Ancient Germa, The Capital of The Garamantean Kingdom, Classical Phazania, Southern Libya.

Protected Archaeological Site.

The Ancient City of Germa

The Garamantian Period

( " Some years ago Diole wrote: " The name of the Garamantes . . . does little more, really, than designate our ignorance. "   C. Daniels.)

The prehistoric drawings and engravings found in Fezzan were said to be at least 12,000 years old; although, according to other sources, the dating process needs to be revised. However, the archaeological artifacts and stone tools discovered in various sites from Fezzan, which were dated to the late Acheulean and the Aterian cultures (circa 100,000 - 30,000 BC.), confirm the existence of human cultures well before 12000 BC. Hence it is not surprising that many archaeologists believe that the Garamantes and their descendants [and/or ancestors] were responsible for the rock art of Tadrart Acacus, the Messaks and the surrounding areas. As described and illustrated in Germa Museum, local studies of prehistoric burial chambers suggest that the graves date from the Late Stone Age (around 50,000 years ago). Of course, as a number of scholars had pointed out, the amount of research needs to be done in the area is phenomenal and therefore conclusions based on the scarce data published in the past are now outdated.

The Garamantes were placed by Pliny twelve days   journey from the Augilae, and ten days by Herodotus,   in the interior of Libya. They occupied the most habitable region of the Sahara: Wadi Al-Agial and Wadi Ashati (Sciati) and the oases from Murzuk to Zuila.   According to some sources, the Garamantes had been living on the shores between Zwara (Libya) and Gabes (in Tunisia), an area that includes the legendary Lake Tritonis where Libyan Poseidon allegedly ruled sunken Atlantis, in total agreement with  lbn Khaldun who stated that Germanah (Germa) was first settled by the Lauta  tribe, who also inhabited the coastal regions of Tripolitania.

Ancient Garamentes of Libya.

A Garamatian Chief (or King) commands obedience and respect from a Libyan subject. The king is accompanied by the usual royal body guards: a sword bearer, an expert shooter (using arrow & bow), and probably a magician or what we now know as the "royal astrologer", whom the chief must consult before making important decisions.

 

The Garamantes were considered to be Libya's first indigenous empire. They initially run their kingdom from the nearby capital Zinchecra (on the hills of Messak Settafet), then from Germa or Garama (today's Jerma or Germa) in the first century AD, so named after their eponymous ancestor Garamas ("the first of men") who was, according to Greek mythology, the son of the glorious Sun, and who, according to Libyan Berber mythology, offered Mother Earth a sacrifice of the sweet acorn. Herodotus informs us that the Garamantes were a very numerous tribe of people, who spread soil over the salt to sow their seeds in, and hunt in four-horse chariots. Archaeological discoveries indicate the Garamantian cities were thriving urban centres, with markets and public entertainment forums.

The Garamantean Hand Altars

The Garamentes appear to have had an advanced   system of religion and mythology, in which sacrificial stones and pyramid-like burial chambers played an important role. Most of the Garamantian architecture is now in ruins, except the royal pyramid tombs of Ahramat al-Hattia, which, like the pyramids of Egypt, are designed to stay. From the archaeological remains of Germa, the city appears to have had six towers and a square market, used as a transit point for caravans and for the horses the Garamantes then exported to Rome.

The Ancient City of Germa.

The above inscriptions, written in the Berber script Tifinagh, were collected from sites in the vicinity of Germa, the Garamantian capital of what is now   known   as Fezzan. According to Charles Daniels, they comprise the first collection of Garamantian inscriptions ever to be attempted. They were found inscribed, or cut or painted on dark grey amphorae, in the tombs of Garamentian cemeteries, such as those of Saniat ben Howedi. The tombs were badly destroyed, but a number of vessels survived in the graves. But despite having been discovered long time ago, no   one has, yet, managed to decipher them. Many of Germa's archaeological finds can also be found in Germa Museum, famous for the time-graph, showing the different periods of cave art in the area.

Perhaps one of the best achievement of the Garamentians, namely their agricultural genius, was said to have brought their downfall. The hundreds of underground channels, known as foggara, which were used to direct water from underground reserves to their farms, were said to have ultimately drained underground reserves. But, according to other sources, the disappearance of the Garamantes around the fifth century coincides more with the invasions than with drying up of underground reserves.   Soon After the Garamentes came in contact with the Romans and Byzantines, and after they were subdued by Oqba-ibn-Nafi, they appear to have mysteriously disappeared into the Upper Niger, where they may have survived today, as Graves was the first to point out, in the village of Koromantse.

The Pyramids of Germa