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In the Roman era, the region to the West of Libya was known as Tripolitania, for its three cities (tri polis), former Phoenician colonies later controlled by Carthage, and then by the Romans. Sabratha, the Westernmost of the three cities, grew considerably in the Roman era and still contains some of the most spectacular Roman ruins in Libya. The Roman African writer Apuleius lived in Sabratha.
Sabratha was founded in the 6th Century BCE, by Phoenician colonists from Tyre or Sidon. It was the last of the three Phoenician colonies in the area to be established. Its name is of Libyan origin and means “grain market”.
Around 550, Sabratha, together with the rest of the region, came under control of the Carthaginian Empire. The Mausoleum of Bes is the only Punic building that still remains in Sabratha.
After the Second Punic War, the region was conquered by King Massinissa of Numidia. While Leptis Magna and Oea (Tripoli) became free cities under Roman sovereignty after the revolt of Jugurtha, Sabratha remained Numidian for one more century. The port of Sabratha was used as a trade outlet for the Saharan hinterland of the Kingdom of Numidia.
Sabratha came under Roman control after the 1st-Century Roman civil war. It was originally part of the province of Africa Nova, and then of Proconsular Africa. Punic influence remained strong in Sabratha: the city still minted coins with Punic inscriptions during the reign of Emperor Augustus.
In the Roman era, Western Libya was first known as Syrtica, a reference to the Gulf of Sirte, and then as Tripolitania, because of its three cities (tri polis): Leptis Magna, Oea and Sabratha. Sabratha became a Roman colony around 157, during the reign of Emperor Antonine. Tripolitania, originally a part of the province of Proconsular Africa, became a Roman province during the reign of Septimius Severus, who was born in Leptis Magna.
Sabratha underwent a spectacular development in the Roman era, especially under the Severan dynasty. Its size almost doubled. The city contains beautiful, remarkably well-preserved remains of Roman buildings. The main one is the theater, which was built during the reign of Septimius Severus or of his predecessor Commodus. There is also a forum, several temples – including the Temple of Hercules, built by Commodus – and Roman baths next to the sea. Finally, several beautiful mosaics have been preserved.
The Roman African writer Apuleius, the author of The Golden Ass, the first Latin-language novel, was put on trial for sorcery in Sabratha. The Basilica of Sabratha, where the trial took place, was named Basilica of Apuleius. It became a church in the 5th Century.
In the Roman era, Tripolitania became one of the most strongly Christian areas in the Roman Empire. In 255, the bishop of Oea took part in a regional church council organized in Carthage, where he spoke in the name of his colleagues from Leptis Magna and Sabratha. This means that there was a Christian community in Sabratha at this time, with a bishop, even though we don’t know his name. Several ruined churches can still be seen in Sabratha today.
Sabratha was strongly damaged by a tsunami in 365. The city was mostly abandoned in the Vandal era. It underwent a small renewal in the Byzantine era. After the Arab conquests, it lost most of its importance.
