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 town of Moulay Idris. Volubilis translates from Latin as “generous,” denoting the fertility of the local lands. An ancient Roman city stood on this site in the 1st-3rd centuries AD, and now its ruins remain, once bustling with life, but still captivating with their majestic beauty.
The exact date of this city’s foundation is unknown; the first settlements here occurred in the Neolithic period, but in 45 AD, Emperor Claudius incorporated it into the Roman Empire. Almost all the buildings that have survived to this day were constructed in the 2nd century. Volubilis has been protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1997.
Attractions of the city of Volubilis
During their time, the wealthy, who were well-versed in luxury, lived here, while the poor huddled in the small houses on the outskirts. The entrance to the city is crowned by the triumphal Arch of Caracalla, which has survived completely unchanged to this day. A surprisingly flat, ancient stone-paved street extends through the city.
In ancient times, the homes of wealthy patricians were inevitably decorated with various mosaics depicting scenes from everyday life and legends. For example, many mosaics depicting hunting or fishing scenes have survived remarkably well over the centuries. Portraits of Romans themselves were often depicted on mosaics. Mosaics were commonly used to decorate the floors and walls of the homes of noble citizens, and were also used to decorate public baths. One such noble home has survived to this day: the House of Orpheus, as indicated by the Latin inscription above the entrance. One of the central mosaics of this once-noble home depicts the ancient Greek god Orpheus with a lyre.
In the center of the city was a forum with several buildings. These spaces once housed statues, but in the 3rd century, they were removed by the Romans, and now only the pedestals remain in their place.
The city has preserved the pipes that brought water to homes and the thermal baths. There was also a sewer system and an aqueduct. I would like to point out that nothing human was foreign to the ancient Romans, and even in those distant times they did not forget carnal pleasures, as evidenced by the ruins of the brothel and a rectangular stone pedestal-sign with a phallus carved on it.
All judicial and administrative offices were located in the Basilica—a majestic structure with two rows of tall columns and arches. All important state affairs and matters were resolved there.
There’s another interesting building in the center of the ancient city. It resembles a basement, and in the middle is a large round stone container with millstones. Most likely, olive oil was pressed there, and it served as a press.
The majesty of the columns of Volubilis
It’s impossible not to notice the city’s large number of columns. Despite their impressive height, almost all are well preserved. Their abundance is simply astonishing. Some columns are made of brick, others are carved from solid stone, and one can only wonder what technologies were used at the time to precisely cut symmetrical patterns, to create perfectly uniform carvings along the entire height of the columns or a capital. The columns crown the entrances to buildings and are located within courtyards.
At the base of the columns are carved tiny figures of animals, fishermen, hunters, and various ornaments. In addition to the columns, the empire inherited numerous stone slabs with Latin inscriptions. It’s difficult to say why these slabs were used; perhaps they were headstones on the tombs of the ancient Romans.
The city of Volubilis has experienced more than one earthquake in its history. But earthquakes weren’t the only ones that changed its appearance. In the 17th century, Moulay Ishmael decided to build the city of Meknes , and many of Volubilis’s most prestigious building materials were removed: marble, columns, and decorative elements. The final tragedy for the city was the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Only in 1874 did archaeological teams begin excavating Volubilis from beneath the rubble. Nonetheless, the considerable area of the architectural complex still holds many artifacts that allow us to appreciate the layout and ancient grandeur of the city.
These include several high gates, neighborhoods, the Baths of Gallienus, the Capitoline Temple, the five-aisled basilica, the House-Villa of Ephebus, the House of the Columns, the House of the Knight, the House of Hercules, the House of Dionysus, the House of the Bath of the Nymphs, the Palace of Gordian, the House of the Nereids, the House of Venus, for Morocco tours
