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Limes Tripolitanus

May 03, 2024

The Limes Tripolitanus was a frontier zone of defence of the Roman Empire, built in the south of what is now Tunisia and the northwest of Libya. It was primarily intended as a protection for the tripolitanian cities of Leptis Magna, Sabratha and Oea in Roman Libya.

Map of the Limes Tripolitanus.
Remains of the Roman castrum of Golaia (currently Bu Njem) in the Limes Tripolitanus.[1]

History edit

The Limes Tripolitanus was built after Augustus. It was related mainly to the Garamantes menace. Septimius Flaccus in 50 AD launched a military expedition that reached the actual Fezzan[2] and further south.

 
Remnants of "Centenaria" at Suq al-Awty.

The Romans did not conquer the Garamantes so much as they seduced them with the benefits of trade and discouraged them with the threat of war. The last Garamantian foray to the coast was in AD 69, when they joined with the people of Oea (modern Tripoli) in battle against Leptis Magna.

 
Faustus' campaigning between 197 and 202 AD greatly contributed to the expansion of the Limes Tripolitanus between Nepte and Golaia

The Romans, in order to defend the main Roman cities of Tripolitania (Oea, Sabratha and Leptis Magna), intervened and marched south. According to Edward Bovill, author of the book The Golden Trade of the Moors, this campaign marked the Romans’ first use of camels in the Sahara, which convinced the Garamantes that their advantage in desert warfare no longer held.

After that the Garamantes started to become a client state of the Roman Empire, but nomads always endangered the fertile area of coastal Tripolitania. Because of this Romans created the Limes Tripolitanus [3]

The first fort on the limes was built at Thiges, to protect from nomad attacks in 75 AD. The limes was expanded under emperors Hadrian and Septimius Severus, in particular under the legatus Quintus Anicius Faustus in 197-201 AD.

Indeed, Anicius Faustus was appointed legatus of the Legio III Augusta and built several defensive forts of the Limes Tripolitanus in Tripolitania, among which Garbia [4] and Golaia (actual Bu Ngem)[5] in order to protect the province from the raids of nomadic tribes. He fulfilled his task quickly and successfully.

As a consequence the Roman city of Gaerisa (actual Ghirza), situated away from the coast and south of Leptis Magna, developed quickly in a rich agricultural area[6] Ghirza became a "boom town" after 200 AD, when the Roman emperor Septimius Severus (born in Leptis Magna) had organized the Limes Tripolitanus.

Former soldiers were settled in this area, and the arid land was developed.[7] Dams and cisterns were built in the Wadi Ghirza (then not dry like today) to regulate the flash floods. These structures are still visible:[8] there is among the ruins of Gaerisa a temple, which may have been dedicated to the Berber semi-god "Gurzil", and the name of the town itself may even be related to his name.[9] The farmers produced cereals, figs, vines, olives, pulses, almonds, dates, and perhaps melons. Ghirza consisted of some forty buildings, including six fortified farms (Centenaria), two of which were quite large. It was abandoned in the Middle Ages.

With Diocletian the limes was partially abandoned and the defence of the area was delegated to the Limitanei. The Limes survived as an effective protection until Byzantine times (Emperor Justinian restructured the Limes in 533 AD).[10]

Nomad warriors of the Banu Hillal tribe captured the centenaria/castra of the Limes in the 11th century and the agricultural production fell to nearly nothing within a few decades: even Leptis Magna and Sabratha were abandoned and only Oea survived, which was from now on known as Tripoli.

Current situation edit

In Libya today, very substantial remains survive, e.g., the limes castles at Abu Nujaym (ancient Golaia) and Al Qaryah al Gharbīyah, the frontier village Gaerisa, and about 2,000 fortified farms (Centenaria) like Qaryat.[11]

Tunisia has several sites attached to the limes. In 2012, some of these sites were presented to UNESCO in order to register them as World Heritage.[12]

 
The south gate tower of the clausura at Wadi Skiffa (Tataouine Governorate).

Tebaga Clausura edit

The Tebaga Wall is a 17 kilometers-long fortification line built along the Tebaga Gap or Clausura between the range of Jebel Tebaga and the hills of the Matma Mountains. [13]

Forts (castrum) edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Livius.Org Golaia (Bu Njem)
  2. ^ Septimius Flaccus
  3. ^ Map of Limes tripolitanus
  4. ^ Gheriat el-Garbia
  5. ^ J.S. Wacher, The Roman world, Volume 1, Taylor & Francis, 2002, ISBN 0-415-26315-8, pp. 252-3
  6. ^ Jona Lendering (May 23, 2009) [2006, revised]. "Ghirza: Town (Gh127)". Livius. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  7. ^ al_allgi (November 5, 2008). "Tarhuna: A map of the cultivated libyan lands in ancient times". Flickr. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  8. ^ "Ghirza National monuments". LookLex. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  9. ^ René Basset (1910). "Recherches Sur La Religion Des Berberes" [Research on Berber Religion]. Revue de L’Histoire des Religions. Retrieved October 3, 2011. (in French)
  10. ^ Bacchielli, L. "La Tripolitania" in Storia Einaudi dei Greci e dei Romani (Geografia del mondo tardo-antico). Einaudi, Milan, 2008.
  11. ^ Jona Lendering (April 14, 2009) [2006, revised]. "Gheriat esh-Shergia". Livius. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  12. ^ Frontières de l'Empire romain : Limes du Sud tunisien, UNESCO.
  13. ^ Michael Mackensen: Kastelle und Militärposten des späten 2 und 3 Jahrhunderts am "Limes Tripolitanus", 2010

Sources edit

  • Bacchielli, L. "La Tripolitania" in Storia Einaudi dei Greci e dei Romani (Geografia del mondo tardo-antico). Einaudi, Milan, 2008.
  • Graeme Barker e.a., Farming the desert. The UNESCO Libyan Valleys Archaeological Survey (1996 Paris and Tripoli)
  • Margot Klee, Grenzen des Imperiums. Leben am römischen Limes (2006 Stuttgart)
  • Jona Lendering, 'Sherds from the Desert. The Bu Njem Ostraca' in: Ancient Warfare 1/2 (2007)
  • David Mattingly, Roman Tripolitania (1995 London)
  • Erwin Ruprechtsberger, Die römische Limeszone in Tripolitanien und der Kyrenaika, Tunesien - Libyen (1993 Aalen)

External links edit

  • Jona Lendering (December 13, 2008) [2006, revised]. "Limes Tripolitanus". Livius. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  • Jona Lendering (December 14, 2008) [2006, revised]. "Wadi Buzra / Suq al-Awty". Livius. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  • Jona Lendering; Marco Prins. . Livius. Archived from the original on April 5, 2008. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  • "Detailed map showing the Limes Tripolitanus at Tunisia-Libya border". Georgetown University. Retrieved October 3, 2011.

May 03, 2024
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The Limes Tripolitanus was a frontier zone of defence of the Roman Empire built in the south of what is now Tunisia and the northwest of Libya It was primarily intended as a protection for the tripolitanian cities of Leptis Magna Sabratha and Oea in Roman Libya Map of the Limes Tripolitanus Remains of the Roman castrum of Golaia currently Bu Njem in the Limes Tripolitanus 1 Contents 1 History 2 Current situation 2 1 Tebaga Clausura 2 2 Forts castrum 3 See also 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksHistory editThe Limes Tripolitanus was built after Augustus It was related mainly to the Garamantes menace Septimius Flaccus in 50 AD launched a military expedition that reached the actual Fezzan 2 and further south nbsp Remnants of Centenaria at Suq al Awty The Romans did not conquer the Garamantes so much as they seduced them with the benefits of trade and discouraged them with the threat of war The last Garamantian foray to the coast was in AD 69 when they joined with the people of Oea modern Tripoli in battle against Leptis Magna nbsp Faustus campaigning between 197 and 202 AD greatly contributed to the expansion of the Limes Tripolitanus between Nepte and Golaia The Romans in order to defend the main Roman cities of Tripolitania Oea Sabratha and Leptis Magna intervened and marched south According to Edward Bovill author of the book The Golden Trade of the Moors this campaign marked the Romans first use of camels in the Sahara which convinced the Garamantes that their advantage in desert warfare no longer held After that the Garamantes started to become a client state of the Roman Empire but nomads always endangered the fertile area of coastal Tripolitania Because of this Romans created the Limes Tripolitanus 3 The first fort on the limes was built at Thiges to protect from nomad attacks in 75 AD The limes was expanded under emperors Hadrian and Septimius Severus in particular under the legatus Quintus Anicius Faustus in 197 201 AD Indeed Anicius Faustus was appointed legatus of the Legio III Augusta and built several defensive forts of the Limes Tripolitanus in Tripolitania among which Garbia 4 and Golaia actual Bu Ngem 5 in order to protect the province from the raids of nomadic tribes He fulfilled his task quickly and successfully As a consequence the Roman city of Gaerisa actual Ghirza situated away from the coast and south of Leptis Magna developed quickly in a rich agricultural area 6 Ghirza became a boom town after 200 AD when the Roman emperor Septimius Severus born in Leptis Magna had organized the Limes Tripolitanus Former soldiers were settled in this area and the arid land was developed 7 Dams and cisterns were built in the Wadi Ghirza then not dry like today to regulate the flash floods These structures are still visible 8 there is among the ruins of Gaerisa a temple which may have been dedicated to the Berber semi god Gurzil and the name of the town itself may even be related to his name 9 The farmers produced cereals figs vines olives pulses almonds dates and perhaps melons Ghirza consisted of some forty buildings including six fortified farms Centenaria two of which were quite large It was abandoned in the Middle Ages With Diocletian the limes was partially abandoned and the defence of the area was delegated to the Limitanei The Limes survived as an effective protection until Byzantine times Emperor Justinian restructured the Limes in 533 AD 10 Nomad warriors of the Banu Hillal tribe captured the centenaria castra of the Limes in the 11th century and the agricultural production fell to nearly nothing within a few decades even Leptis Magna and Sabratha were abandoned and only Oea survived which was from now on known as Tripoli Current situation editIn Libya today very substantial remains survive e g the limes castles at Abu Nujaym ancient Golaia and Al Qaryah al Gharbiyah the frontier village Gaerisa and about 2 000 fortified farms Centenaria like Qaryat 11 Tunisia has several sites attached to the limes In 2012 some of these sites were presented to UNESCO in order to register them as World Heritage 12 nbsp The south gate tower of the clausura at Wadi Skiffa Tataouine Governorate Tebaga Clausura edit The Tebaga Wall is a 17 kilometers long fortification line built along the Tebaga Gap or Clausura between the range of Jebel Tebaga and the hills of the Matma Mountains 13 Forts castrum edit Ghadames 30 08 30 0 N 9 30 30 0 E 30 141667 N 9 508333 E 30 141667 9 508333 Ghadames Mizda 31 25 36 N 12 58 36 E 31 42667 N 12 97667 E 31 42667 12 97667 Mizda Bani Waled 31 45 29 N 13 59 32 E 31 75806 N 13 99222 E 31 75806 13 99222 Beni Ulid Abu Nujaym 30 34 42 75 N 15 24 48 66 E 30 5785417 N 15 4135167 E 30 5785417 15 4135167 Bu Ngem Qaryat 30 23 29 N 13 35 25 E 30 39139 N 13 59028 E 30 39139 13 59028 Gheria See also editFossatum Africae Limes Mauretaniae Centenarium Roman Libya Roman expeditions to Sub Saharan Africa Roman baths of GafsaReferences edit Livius Org Golaia Bu Njem Septimius Flaccus Map of Limes tripolitanus Gheriat el Garbia J S Wacher The Roman world Volume 1 Taylor amp Francis 2002 ISBN 0 415 26315 8 pp 252 3 Jona Lendering May 23 2009 2006 revised Ghirza Town Gh127 Livius Retrieved October 3 2011 al allgi November 5 2008 Tarhuna A map of the cultivated libyan lands in ancient times Flickr Retrieved October 3 2011 Ghirza National monuments LookLex Retrieved October 3 2011 Rene Basset 1910 Recherches Sur La Religion Des Berberes Research on Berber Religion Revue de L Histoire des Religions Retrieved October 3 2011 in French Bacchielli L La Tripolitania in Storia Einaudi dei Greci e dei Romani Geografia del mondo tardo antico Einaudi Milan 2008 Jona Lendering April 14 2009 2006 revised Gheriat esh Shergia Livius Retrieved October 3 2011 Frontieres de l Empire romain Limes du Sud tunisien UNESCO Michael Mackensen Kastelle und Militarposten des spaten 2 und 3 Jahrhunderts am Limes Tripolitanus 2010Sources editBacchielli L La Tripolitania in Storia Einaudi dei Greci e dei Romani Geografia del mondo tardo antico Einaudi Milan 2008 Graeme Barker e a Farming the desert The UNESCO Libyan Valleys Archaeological Survey 1996 Paris and Tripoli Margot Klee Grenzen des Imperiums Leben am romischen Limes 2006 Stuttgart Jona Lendering Sherds from the Desert The Bu Njem Ostraca in Ancient Warfare 1 2 2007 David Mattingly Roman Tripolitania 1995 London Erwin Ruprechtsberger Die romische Limeszone in Tripolitanien und der Kyrenaika Tunesien Libyen 1993 Aalen External links editJona Lendering December 13 2008 2006 revised Limes Tripolitanus Livius Retrieved October 3 2011 Jona Lendering December 14 2008 2006 revised Wadi Buzra Suq al Awty Livius Retrieved October 3 2011 Jona Lendering Marco Prins Photos from Libya Livius Archived from the original on April 5 2008 Retrieved October 3 2011 Detailed map showing the Limes Tripolitanus at Tunisia Libya border Georgetown University Retrieved October 3 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Limes Tripolitanus amp oldid 1178204477, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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