The supreme Roman ruins Leptis Magna has deservedly earned a
reputation of having the most complete and impressive Roman
ruins in the entire North Africa. Leptis Magna was originally a
Berber settlement, whereafter the Phoencians made it into a
trading point. From the 6th century BC Leptis Magna was probably
subdued by Carthage. It became part of the Roman empire in 111
BC. While the setting of Leptis Magna cannot compete with what
is found in eastern Libya, the harbour area is still very nice,
together with Wadi Labna, even if it is almost filled with sand
now. It is much because of the sand that Leptis Magna is so well
preserved, for 800 years the site was entirely protected by it.
At the most Leptis Magna can have had as much as 80,000
inhabitants, and its splendor profited from the love the emperor
Septimus Severus (193-211) felt for his native town. Much of the
best at the present site dates back to this period. The town had
a steady base of income from slave trade, gold, ivory, metals,
plus agriculture