Founded in the 4th century BC, Ptolemais is located on the site of the port or harbour of Barca, an ancient 7th century BC Greek colony situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the steep slopes of the Cyrenaica plateau. Named after Hellenistic ruler Ptolemy III, Ptolemais flourished as a Hellenistic mercantile city and become one of the founding city states of the famous Pentapolis. When the Romans arrived in the 1st century they renamed the city Tolmeita. Archaeological excavations of the...
more »Founded in the 4th century BC, Ptolemais is located on the site of the port or harbour of Barca, an ancient 7th century BC Greek colony situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the steep slopes of the Cyrenaica plateau. Named after Hellenistic ruler Ptolemy III, Ptolemais flourished as a Hellenistic mercantile city and become one of the founding city states of the famous Pentapolis. When the Romans arrived in the 1st century they renamed the city Tolmeita. Archaeological excavations of the vast site have revealed glorious remnants of the Greek, Roman and Byzantine eras and more wait to be discovered as only 10 percent of the ancient city has been excavated.
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