Phycus (Naustathmos)
Ras al Hilal anchorage · Phykous · Naustathmus
Greek to Byzantine (6th c. BCE–7th c. CE)·Greek / Roman (Cyrenaica)·🇱🇾 Cyrenaica, Jebel al Akhdar coast, Ras al Hilal, Libya
About
About Phycus (Naustathmos)
Submerged roadstead Phycus/Naustathmos at Ras al Hilal, where the Cyrenaican plateau's ship harbour lies 2–4 m below sea level: quay blocks, amphora pavement and 4th-c. shipwreck with Africana I amphorae.
Why it mattersKey Cyrenaican emergency harbour documenting 365 CE subsidence horizon, analogous to Phycus.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Quay's original height above sea level
- 02Wreck's cargo origin (Cyrenaican vs Tripolitanian)
Theories
- 01Submergence synchronous with Apollonia harbour (Flemming)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Greek roadstead 6th c. BCE; Roman quay 1st c. CE
- Period
- Greek to Byzantine (6th c. BCE–7th c. CE)
- Culture
- Greek / Roman (Cyrenaica)
- Purpose
- Emergency harbour (naustathmos = ship station) for Apollonia-Cyrene
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
6th c. BCE
Greek anchorage
1st c. CE
Roman quay constructed
c. 365 CE
365 Crete earthquake subsidence 2 m
4th c. CE
Amphora wreck off quay
On the ground
Structures & features
32.8500° N · 22.0500° E · -3 m · 2 mapped features
Submerged Quay of Phycus
harbourL-shaped quay 80 m, 3 m below sea level
32.8510° N · 22.0510° EAmphora Wreck off Phycus
shipwreck4th-c. wreck 15×5 m with Africana I cargo
32.8490° N · 22.0490° E