Sabratha

Sabratah صبراتة Sabratha
Country	Libya
District	Az Zawiyah 2001–2007 Sabratha Wa Surman
Time zone	UTC + 2

Archaeological Site of Sabratha

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Cultural: iii
Reference	184
Inscription	1982 (6th Session)

Sabratha, Sabratah or Siburata (Arabic: صبراتة), in the Az Zawiyah District in the northwestern corner of modern Libya, was the westernmost of the "three cities" of Tripolis. From 2001 to 2007 it was the capital of the former Sabratha Wa Surman District. It lies on the Mediterranean coast about 65 km (40 miles) west of Tripoli (ancient Oea). The extant archaeological site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

Ancient Sabratha

Sabratha's port was established, perhaps about 500 BC, as a Phoenician trading-post that served as a coastal outlet for the products of the African hinterland.The Phoenicians gave it the Lybico-Berber name 'Sbrt'n', which suggests that there may have been a native town built there prior to the Phoenicians' arrival. Sabratha became part of the short-lived Numidian Kingdom of Massinissa before being Romanized and rebuilt in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The Emperor Septimus Severus was born nearby in Leptis Magna, and Sabratha reached its monumental peak during the rule of the Severans. The city was badly damaged by earthquakes during the 4th century, particularly the quake of AD 365. It was rebuilt on a more modest scale by Byzantine governors. Within a hundred years of the Arab conquest of the maghreb, trade had shifted to other ports and Sabratha dwindled to a village.

The archaeological site

Map of Sabratha

Besides its magnificent late 3rd century theatre that retains its three-storey architectural backdrop, Sabratha has temples dedicated to Liber Pater, Serapis and Isis. There is a Christian basilica of the time of Justinian and also remnants of some of the mosaic floors that enriched elite dwellings of Roman North Africa (for example, at the Villa Sileen, near Al-Khoms). However, these are most clearly preserved in the coloured patterns of the seaward (or Forum) baths, directly overlooking the shore, and in the black and white floors of the Theatre baths.

There is an adjacent museum containing some treasures from Sabratha, but others can be seen in the national museum in Tripoli.

Modern Sabratha

Al Wefaq Sabratah is the football club, playing at Sabratah Stadium.

In 2011 the town became involved in the 2011 Libyan uprising. At first seeming to have rebelled against the government, with sword-wielding townspeople fighting against soldiers with guns, as of 2 March it had been retaken by pro-Ghadaffi forces. However the town was recaptured by the rebels in August.

Panorama

Panoramic image of a part of the archaeological site

Panoramic image of the theatre of the archaeological site

Photo gallery

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  Theater in Sabratha city 2nd century A.D.
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  Theater
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  View of the Sabratha theater
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  Marble facing on the wall of theater
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  One of many ways inside of theater
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  Inside ways of theater
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  Ruins of theater
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  Theater
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  Theater
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  One the few entrys to theater
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  Theater
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  Bas-Relief (on bottom of stage), theater
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  Bas-Relief (on bottom of stage), theater
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  Bas-Relief (on bottom of stage), theater
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  Bas-Relief (on bottom of stage), theater
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  Bas-Relief (on bottom of stage), theater
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  Bas-Relief (on bottom of stage), theater
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  Bas-Relief (on bottom of stage), theater
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  Bas-Relief (on bottom of stage), theater
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  High relief, theater
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  High relief, theater
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  Theater
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  Plinth and capital of columns, theater
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  Capital of column, theater
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  Theater
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  Theater
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  Stairs to the stage, theater
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  Theater
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  The gate, theater
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  Architrave and capital, theater
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  Back side of theater
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  The gate decor element, theater
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  Nymphaeum
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  Nymphaeum
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  Seaside therms
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  Latrines
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  Latrines
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  Сouncil chamber
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  Curia 4 A.D.
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  Mosaic in the Peristyle house
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  Mosaic in the Peristyle house
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  Peristyle house
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  Peristyle house
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  Seawards bath mosaic
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  nscription in front of the Capitolium, 2nd century B.C.
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  Basilica of Apuleus, Byzantine baptistery
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  Basilica of Apuleus, Pylone
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  Fontain of Flavius Tullus at the Antonine Temple
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  Podium at the Antonine Temple
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  Antonine Temple
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  Podium at the Antonine Temple
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  Torso of the Emperor Vespasian, or his son Titus. 1st century A.D. Museum courtyard
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  Mosaic. Museum
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  Mosaic. Museum
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  Mosaic. Museum
• Mosaic. Museum
  Mosaic. Museum
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  Mosaic from theater baths. Museum."Salvom Lavisse" - "Washing it's well!"
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  Mosaic. Museum
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  Mosaic. Museum
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  Head. Museum
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  Marble figure of a satyr. From the Forum. Museum
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  Bust of Jupiter. From the Temple of Jupiter. Museum
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  Bust of Goddess Concordia from the Temple of Jupiter. Museum
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  Marble candelabrum showing Orpheus and the animals. From Theathre Baths 3rd century A.D. Museum
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  Head. Museum
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  Decor element of Insula (house). Museum
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  Mosaic. Museum
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  Basilica of Justinian reconstructed in the Site Museum
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  Mausoleum of Bes, 2nd century B.C.

Further reading

• Matthews, Kenneth D. (1957) Cities in the Sand, Leptis Magna and Sabratha in Roman Africa University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, OCLC 414295
• Ward, Philip (1970) Sabratha: A Guide for Visitors Oleander Press, Cambridge, UK, ISBN 0-902675-05-2

External links

• UNESCO archaeological site of Sabratha
• Complete photo coverage of the archeological site
• "Sabratah, Libya" Falling Rain Genomics, Inc.
• Sabratha, image from the BSR Library and Archive digital collections. Ward-Perkins photographic collection