Apollonia of Cyrenaica
Apollonia · Marsa Susa · Sozousa · Apollonia Pontica Cyrenaica
Archaic Greek to Byzantine (630 BCE–7th c CE)·Greek / Hellenistic / Roman / Byzantine·🇱🇾 Al Jabal al Akhdar District, Libya
About
About Apollonia of Cyrenaica
Port of Cyrene 20 km north on double harbour, Apollonia (Marsa Susa) preserves intact submerged mole and harbour streets drowned by Cretan 365 CE subsidence ~2 m. Founded 7th c BCE; typical grid oikos and Roman theatre over quarry, basilicas, and up-town acropolis. Harbour: two basins (eastern naval, western trade) with ashlar quays, ship-sheds (neorion), and drowned western street traceable snorkel depth; Bates' 1970 excavation found intact amphora stacks at -2.5 m. Contrast Cyrene inland height to port. Mills 1980s mosaics in Governor's Palace.
Why it mattersClearest case of 365 CE seismogenic harbour submergence in Cyrenaica pair with submerged Phycus and Neapolis.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Depth of pre-365 harbour floor and slip-induced offset
- 02Whether Apollo temple sank intact or quarried
Theories
- 01365 CE fault-model subsidence ~2 m (Pirazzoli)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Colony of Cyrene c.630 BCE; Roman harbour works 1st–2nd c CE; drowned 365 CE
- Period
- Archaic Greek to Byzantine (630 BCE–7th c CE)
- Culture
- Greek / Hellenistic / Roman / Byzantine
- Builders
- Cyrenean Greek / Roman
- Purpose
- Maritime gateway for silphium, grain and Pentapolis marbles
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
Colony of Cyrene c.630 BCE; Roman harbour works 1st–2nd c CE; drowned 365 CE
Initial construction
c. 1497 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
32.8986° N · 21.9622° E · 5 m · 2 mapped features
Eastern Harbour (Submerged)
harbourAshlar quay and mole at -2.5 m
32.8995° N · 21.9635° ETheatre
theatreGreek theatre reconstructed in Roman stone
32.8980° N · 21.9620° E
Gallery