Photos of the Volubilis Roman Archaeological Site Morocco

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Photos of the Volubilis Roman Archaeological Site Morocco. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Volubilis Roman Archaeological Site Morocco.

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Photos of Volubilis Roman archaeological site, Morocco.

Phoenician Volubilis

From the 3rd century BC Volubilis was a Phoenician settlement at the foot of Jebel Zerhoun mountain, overlooking the fertile Gharb Plain in north eastern Morocco.

After the fall of Carthage, in 146 BC, to the Romans Volubilis came under Roman rule as part of its client state of Mauritania. Volubilis was finally annexed in 44AD by Emperor Claudius.

Roman Volubilis

The fertile plains of Volubilis produced grain which was highly valued in the Roman Empire to feed Rome. It also made olive oil from the olive groves on the mountain slopes and supplied wild animals for the gladiatorial spectacles of the Roman Empire.

At its height Volubilis had an estimate population of 20,000 which was substantial for a provincial Roman city. It became the administrative centre of Mauretania Tingitana.

After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 6th century AD Volubilis continued to be inhabited by Christian and Jews.

Arab Volubilis

In 708 the Arabs conquered North Africa and in 788 Moulay Idriss, a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad, established the Idrisid dynasty in Volubilis, and renamed it Ksar Faraoun. Today Moulay Idriss is buried at the nearby hill town named after him and is an important Islamic pilgrimage site. In the 17th century Moulay Ismail made nearby Meknes the Imperial capital and, stone from Volubilis was used to build the new city.

Volubilis Roman Archaeological Site

In the 1830s scientific explorations found the Roman remains of Volubilis and by the late 19th century the first archaeological excavations started there. The recovery of Roman ruins was used a political tool by the French Moroccan Rulers to strengthen European links with North Africa, so legitimising their colonisation programme.

At the centre of the archaeological site is Roman Basilica originally used Basilicas for legal hearings. Later Basilicas were converted into the first Christian churches. Most of one wall of the Basilica remains standing along with its interior its columns.

Next to the Basilica is the Capitoline Temple dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Civic assemblies were held in front of the temple to thank them for successes in major civic undertakings, such as fighting wars. It was partly restored in 1955 and given a more substantial restoration in 1962.

There were four more small shrines within the temple precinct, one of which was dedicated to Venus.