Visiting the Roman Ruins at Volubilis, Morocco

One of the most interesting attractions we visited in Morocco was the ruins of Volubilis, a remote outpost of the Roman Empire.  Volubilis is situated in an area of rich farmland and the Romans took advantage of that to grow olives and grains.  A Berber community had existed here since the 3rd century BC, but the city began to thrive when the Romans occupied it from about 44 AD.  Volubilis grew rapidly under Roman rule from the 1st century AD onward and expanded to cover about 42 hectares (100 acres), with a 2.6 km (1.6 mi) circuit of walls.

01 Volubilis

19 Volubilis

20 Volubilis
(
Ruins of the Basilica, Volubilis)

02 Volubilis

At its peak in the late 2nd century, it’s estimated Volubilis had around 20,000 inhabitants – a substantial population for a Roman provincial town.  The Romans abandoned the city around 285 AD, for reasons not entirely understood but likely related to the difficulty in defending it from attacks by local tribes.   Today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1997), being “an exceptionally well-preserved example of a large Roman colonial town on the fringes of the Empire”.

03 Volubilis

(Note the fertile lands near the ruins of Volubilis)

06 Volubilis

07 Volubilis

Volubilis remained inhabited up until the 11th century when it was abandoned, when the last residents moved to nearby cities like Meknes and Fes.  The remains of the city were ransacked, and construction materials were carried south to the new imperial capital of Meknes.  Finally in 1755 an earthquake destroyed what was left of Volubilis (and also much of Lisbon, Portugal).

04 Volubilis

05 Volubilis

(The Tingis Gate, Volubilis)

Excavation and reconstruction of Volubilis was begun by the French as early as in the late 19th century some structures have been reconstructed like the Triumphal arch, the basilica and the Capitoline temple; still, more than half of Volubilis remains unexcavated.  The archaeological site is known for its beautiful, well-preserved mosaic floors.

The photo below was used as last weekend’s One Clue Mystery.  It was recognized by the incomparable George G.  Congratulations as always, George!

One Clue Mystery - Copy

(One Clue Mystery Photo)

09 Volubilis

(Arch of Caracalla, Volubilis)

Volubilis is close to Meknes and Fes and is worth a diversion from visits to these cities to explore.  It takes only a few hours to get a good feel for the ruined city.

More photos of the ruins follow:

10 Volubilis

11 Volubilis(ruins of the aqueduct along the city’s main road)

12 Volubilis

13 Volubilis

14 Volubilis

15 Volubilis

16 Volubilis

17 Volubilis

18 Volubilis

A sampling of the well-preserved floor mosaics the city is known for:

20a Volubilis (Floor Mosaics

21 Volubilis -- Floor mosaic of Dianna

22 Volubilis -- Floor mosaic of Dianna

23 Volubilis -- Floor mosaic of Hercules

24 Volubilis -- Floor mosaic of the vathing nymphs

25 Volubilis -- Floor mosaic of the vathing nymphs

26 Volubilis -- Floor mosaic of the vathing nymphs

27 Volubilis -- Floor mosaic of the 12 labors of Hercules

28 Volubilis -- Floor mosaic of the 12 labors of Hercules

29 Volubilis -- Floor mosaic of the 12 labors of Hercules

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6 months ago

Wonderful photos. I love the mosaic floors; such detail!

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