Leptis Magna Archaeological Museum

Archaeological Museum of Leptis Magna

Leptis Magna is the home of Punic, Phoenician and Roman remains and of the Berber Roman emperor Septimius Severus. Many of these archaeological finds are now housed in the museum, including statues of and stelaes of Tannit, Bal, El, Zeus, Mars, Isis, Serapis, Apollo, Castor & Pollux and many more characters of classical mythology, busts, inscription-bearing rocks, pottery, jewellery, coffins and metal work.

Septimius Severus was a Berber native of Leptis Magna, who went on to become the first African Roman Emperor. Under his command Leptis Magna witnessed an extraordinary burst of growth and development which earned the city its international status. His commanding personality and strong character are evident in the above sculpture.

Roman pottery and tableware.

Wadi Caam: The Greeks in Tripolitania!

Wadi Ka'am (River Cinyps)

The Greek invasions of Crete and Rhodes of the 9th century BC were shortly followed by their invasions of Egypt and Libya. Archaeology and history provide ample evidence of their colonies in Cyrenaica, Eastern Libya. But also there was a failed attempt to colonise Tripolitania on the hands of Dorieus the king of Sparta. Apparently, he reached as far west as River Cinyps, also known as Wadi Ka'am (Wadi Caam), just east of Leptis Magna, where he founded a city by that name. However, the Greeks were not welcomed by the local Carthaginians (Berbers & Phoenicians) and subsequently were driven out of the area after a short stay of three years. The archaeological finds of Wadi Caam have uncovered a Greek necropolis area dating to the 3rd century BC, consisting of a series of stone, box-shaped urns containing ashes and bones, with the lids in the shape of a sloping roof, as well as various classes of pottery and tableware.

Note the square stone urns with the pyramidal roofs, which appear to have been thrown in the hole in a hurry
either to hide them or just dispose of them as rubbish.

Marble relief showing sacrificial scenes in front of a temple.
The relief originally comes from the Arch of Septimius Severus.

A marble relief from the Arch of Septimius Severus showing the Emperor and his wife as Jupiter and Juno.

A marble relief from the Arch of Septimius Severus, showing Diana, Ceres, Selvanu and Apollo.

MARS <> WARS

Seated headless marble statue of the War-god Mars, 2nd AD.
The statue was found at the Frigidarium, in the passage to the hot rooms.

Clay Oil Lamps

Libyan Goddess Isis

Asclepius the God of Medicine

Statue of Marcus Aurelius

Misratha (Misurata) Coin Treasure

The God Serapis Seated on the Throne

Isis & Serapis