Volubilis – the ruins of the Roman Empire in Morocco
Volubilis is located in Morocco, 31 km from the city of Meknes and a stone’s throw from the city of Moulay Idris. The word is in Latin and means “generous”, denoting the fertility of the local lands. In the I-III centuries of our era, an ancient Roman city was on this place, and now there are ruins left from it, on which life was once in full swing. But they also attract with their majestic beauty.
The exact date of the emergence of this city is unknown. The first settlements were here in the Neolithic period, but in 45 AD, Emperor Claudius included it in the Roman Empire. Almost all the remaining buildings go back to the II century. Since 1997 Volubilis has been protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Attractions of the city of Volubilis
During their time, rich townspeople, who knew a lot about luxury. And the poor, who huddled in small houses on the outskirts, lived here. The triumphal arch of Caracalla decorates the entrance to the city, which has been completely preserved to this day without any change. A strikingly flat ancient road paved with stone stretches across the city.
In ancient times, houses of wealthy patricians were necessarily decorated with various mosaics depicting scenes from life and legends. For example, through the centuries, many mosaics showing scenes of hunting or fishing have been very well preserved. Portraits of the Romans themselves were often depicted on the mosaics. Mosaics were usually used to layout the floor and walls in the houses of noble townspeople, and they were also used to decorate public baths. One of these noble houses has survived to this day, this is the house of Orpheus, as stated in the inscription in Latin above the entrance. One of the central mosaics of this once noble house depicts the ancient Greek god Orpheus with a lyre.
The center of Volubilis
In the center of the city, there was a forum with several venues. The sites once housed statues. But in the III century, they were taken out by the Romans, and now only pedestals remain in their place.
The city has preserved pipelines that brought water to houses and baths-thermal baths. There was a sewerage system and an aqueduct here. I would like to note that nothing human was alien to the ancient Romans. And even in those distant times, they did not forget about carnal pleasures, as evidenced by the ruins of the house of tolerance and a rectangular stone pedestal signpost with a phallus carved on it.
All judicial and administrative premises were located in the Basilica. A stately structure with two rows of tall columns with arches. All important state affairs and issues were resolved there
There is another interesting building in the center of the ancient city. It resembles a basement, and in the middle there is a large round stone container with millstones. Most likely, olive oil was pressed in it, and functionally it was a press.
The majesty of the Volubilis columns in Morocco
It is impossible not to notice a large number of columns in the city. Despite their impressive height, almost all of them are well preserved. Their abundance is simply amazing. There are columns made of bricks, and there are ones carved from solid stone, and you can only wonder what technologies were used at that time to precisely cut symmetrical patterns, to make perfectly even carvings along with the entire height of the columns or a capital. Columns crown the entrances to the buildings and are located inside the courtyards.
At the bottom of the columns, very small figures of animals, fishermen, hunters, and various ornaments are carved. In addition to the columns, the empire inherited numerous stone slabs with inscriptions in Latin. It is difficult to say why these slabs were used, perhaps they were tombstones on the graves of the dead of the ancient Romans.
The city of Volubilis has experienced more than one earthquake in its history. But not only earthquakes have changed their appearance. In the seventeenth century, Moulay Ishmael decided to build the city of Meknes, and many elite building materials were removed from Volubilis: marble, columns, decorative elements. The final tragedy with the city was played by the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. Only in 1874 began the excavation of Volubilis from under the rubble by archaeological groups. Nevertheless, on the fairly large territory of the architectural complex, you can now find many objects that make it possible to judge the layout and the former greatness of the city.
These are several high gates, quarters, the Baths of Gallienus, the Capitoline Temple, the five-nave basilica, the House-Villa of Ephesus, the House with Columns, the House of the Horseman, the House of Hercules, the House of Dionysus, the House of Nymphs, Gordian, Nereids, and of Venus.
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