The Palace of Columns
A sunken court, tall columns.
Salema younus — CC BY 4.0 · Libyan Studies — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Libyan Studies — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Taken by Mrs Colvin in the early 1960s: contributed by Stephen Colvin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Salema younus — CC BY 4.0
Ptolemais is an ancient city on the coast of Cyrenaica, one of the five cities of the Pentapolis, whose remains lie at the small village of Tolmeita. The modern name comes from the ancient one. Its large area shows the ambition of its founders, and today its ruins spread between the sea and green hills, with very few visitors. It was founded by a Ptolemaic ruler, probably Ptolemy III, between 246 and 221 BC. It began as a small Greek settlement and the port of inland Barca, and he turned it into a city with walls enclosing 280 hectares. It became Roman in 96 BC and probably served as the residence of the Ptolemaic governor of the region. The best-known sight is the Palace of Columns, with tall columns around a sunken court and a large basin. Nearby is the Villa of the Four Seasons, with a mosaic of braided patterns and animals. You also see the remains of streets, cisterns and a theatre, among trees and grass against the sea and mountain. Take your time on foot. It is about 75 km in a straight line from Al-Bayda and about 85 km from Cyrene, and a car is the best way there. The ground is uneven, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water and a hat, as there are no confirmed facilities. Sources say foreigners need a tour operator or local sponsor to visit Libya. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to this area, so check official guidance before planning.
A sunken court, tall columns.
Braided mosaic and animals.
A green and blue backdrop.
Tolmeita, Jebel Akhdar coast, north-eastern Libya
A Ptolemaic ruler, probably Ptolemy III, on a smaller Greek settlement.
Rarely, as it is remote and stays quiet most of the time.