This day was spent winding our way down the coast exploring the Greco-Roman cities and their churches. Many of these cities were established around 500 BCE and thrived until the 3-4th Century CE. They really give you a sense that the Mediterranean was actually the middle sea. There was one culture that existed on both of its shores.
The site tour was led by a local archeology professor, Dr. Ahman Abdulkariem who completed his Ph.D at the University of Exeter in the UK. He now teaches Omar Al-Mukhtar University nearby. I found him very interesting and engaging. Beyond telling us about the history and usage of the sites, he helped with mundane things like translating menus, ordering food and other things. Great guy!
Sadly, some of the church sites have been vandalized by the Islamic State in Libya (ISIL) who held this area from 2014-2016. There are a few articles by Africa-focused think tanks warning about ISIL regaining a foothold in Libya as the governments in Tripoli and Benghazi continue to bicker. However the biggest danger of a resurgence isn’t in this area, but in the far south near the Chadian border.
My Libyan photos are here (Opens in new tab.)
No comments:
Post a Comment