Unveiling ancient Ptolemais: A surprising discovery in Libya

How did the inhabitants of ancient cities live? Although time travel isn't possible, we can learn about their lives thanks to archaeological discoveries. The recent finds in Libya are fascinating.

Ptolemais, one of the largest ancient Greek cities, is located in Cyrenaica in northeastern Libya. The city was established by Egyptian kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty towards the end of the 4th or in the 3rd century BC and existed until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD.

After a 13-year pause due to civil war in Libya, scientists from the Faculty of Archaeology at the University of Warsaw resumed their research in 2023.

Through comprehensive archaeological studies in Ptolemais, we aim to uncover the past of this Hellenistic-Roman city and understand the lives of its inhabitants. We conduct research on both micro and macro scales, carefully selecting quarters for excavation and documenting the entire city and its rural territory using modern non-invasive methods - explained Dr. Piotr Jaworski, head of the Polish Archaeological Mission to Ptolemais.

During excavations in 2024, archaeologists from the University of Warsaw discovered the economic section of a city residence, dated to the late 2nd-3rd century AD. Piotr Jaworski explained that the eastern area of the house featured a small peristyle, surrounded by a kitchen, a staircase, and a room with a mosaic.

The residence was equipped with an advanced water collection system, pivotal in which was a peristyle pool collecting rainwater and directing it to two underground cisterns. The house was damaged by earthquakes in the 3rd century but was rebuilt in the late Roman period. This is evidenced by three stone containers at the entrance, which, according to researchers, might have been used for taxes or offerings.

The most surprising discovery was a mask depicting a human face, made of hydraulic plaster, which covered the walls of one of the cisterns. The mask lacks attributes that would allow for its identification, leaving room for various interpretations.

Jaworski noted that the face is similar to sculptures from the Libyan sanctuary in Slonta. It is possible that the owner of the house or those involved in its creation were of Libyan origin, but this remains speculative.

Ptolemais, founded in the 3rd century BC, was an important cultural and religious centre in Cyrenaica. This location draws researchers due to its historical complexity and likely still holds many secrets.