Lamluda
Lamluda Caves · Lamloydh · El Hamama
Libyan to Roman (500 BCE–300 CE)·Libyan / Greek / Hellenistic·🇱🇾 Al Jabal al Akhdar District (Cyrenaica), Libya
About
About Lamluda
Neighbour of Slonta, Lamluda (El Hamama) is Cyrene's inland Libyan village-rock-cut necropolis with Hellenistic-reused shaft tombs 500 BCE–300 CE and underlying Libyan geometric rock art plus Greek anthropomorphic stelae. Key is 'Lamluda stela' — limestone betyl with Libyan horseman. Tombs with dromoi 3 m; subsequently Karst-dissolution sculptures natural/draped resembling hooded figure. Italian period misidentification as 'Asphodel' caves corrected to necropolis by Fabbricotti. Libyan pastoral burial continuity 700 BCE–Roman.
Why it mattersDocuments Libyan village persistence adjacent to Greek Cyrene with rock-art to stelae transition.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether 'Hooded figure' is natural karst or sculpted
- 02Transhumance link to Slonta shrine network
Theories
- 01Rock-art continuity theory (di Lernia)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 500 BCE–300 CE
- Period
- Libyan to Roman (500 BCE–300 CE)
- Culture
- Libyan / Greek / Hellenistic
- Builders
- Libyan
- Purpose
- Hill hamlet cemetery bridging rock art and Hellenistic stelae
- Rediscovered
- 1910s Italian survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
500 BCE–300 CE
Initial construction
c. 1198 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
32.7339° N · 21.3369° E · 380 m · 1 mapped feature
Betyl Horseman Stela findspot
stela1.5 m betyl horseman shaft tomb
32.7340° N · 21.3370° E