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VOLUBILIS |
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The Roman ruins of Volubilis, stretched out over 40 hectares,
are the most well preserved ruins in Morocco. If you go to Meknès,
Volubilis is a great idea for a day trip.
HISTORY : The Romans began building the city of Volubilis
somewhere around 40 AD in order to keep control of this north African
region which was successively occupied by the Greeks, Berbers, Jews
and Carthaginian merchants. In the second and third centuries, the
region began to develop more rapidly when the Romans began cultivating
grain. |
The Victory Arch, facing the main route and built in 217, in
honor the Roman emperor Caracalla, formerly had a bronze chariot
atop its ancient stones. It was restored in 1962.
On the other side, the house of Ephebe provides shelter for a remarkable
mosaic depicting Bacchus on his chariot. |
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The Capitol was built facing the basilica, in 217 on a headland
that towers over the bare and arid plain.
The best time of day to visit these monuments is at sunset when
the shadows on the monuments grow longer... and when all the tourists
have left! |
The Mosaics
| The mosaics at Volubilis are what makes this site so spectacular.
You'll love the mosaic of the myth of Orpheus and Amphitrite's
Chariot located in the house of a rich merchant.
Even if a number of the monuments were dismantled for their marble
which was used in the construction of the palaces at Meknès, the
mosaics were left in tact. |
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