Ptolemais Ancient City
Ptolemais
Libya · Cyrenaica
In brief
Houses, urban infrastructure and the harbor are being investigated in the ancient port city on the coast of Cyrenaica. The Polish mission's work has documented the decoration of wealthy houses and water collection systems.
What was found?
- 1House of Leukaktios
This is a wealthy private residence dating to the 2nd–3rd centuries AD. It documents the living environment of the city’s affluent inhabitants.
- 2Mythological mosaics and wall paintings
The mosaics in the House of Leukaktios depict mythological subjects, while the wall paintings contain geometric and figural decoration. They show the diversity of domestic decoration.
- 3Courtyard house and water system
A system channeling rainwater from the courtyard into two underground cisterns was found in a house uncovered during recent excavations. It documents water collection technology at the household level.
- 4Human face mask in the cistern
This is a depiction of a human face set into the wall of one of the water cisterns. It is among the house’s notable finds; the published source does not establish its function conclusively.
- 5Three stone vessels
These are vessels found near the entrance to the house. According to researchers, they were used for depositing tax payments or gifts, indicating that the house also served a public function.
What does it point to?
The houses combine rich decorative schemes with solutions for collecting water. According to researchers, the stone vessels at the entrance suggest that an elite residence could also undertake public duties involving the city’s inhabitants.
What did it teach us?
- It shows that mythological and geometric decoration was used in the everyday surroundings of wealthy residences.
- It documents the channeling of rainwater from the courtyard into underground cisterns.
- According to researchers, it shows that a private residence and public service could come together in the same building.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
A discovery announcement published in 2025 reported that a cistern mask and three stone vessels had been found in a Roman house.
Record
- Culture
- Hellenistic and Roman
- Team / historical
- Piotr Jaworski; Varşova Üniversitesi ve Libya Eski Eserler Dairesi
- Coordinates
- 32.7068°, 20.9517°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Cyrene 86 km
- Apollonia-Susa 98 km
- Antikythera Shipwreck 415 km
- Phaistos 442 km
- Ancient Gortyn 452 km
- Zominthos 460 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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All excavation sites (485)
Türkiye
- Acemhöyük
- Aizanoi
- Alabanda
- Alacahöyük
- Amos
- Ani
- Aphrodisias
- Arslantepe Mound
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Ayanis Fortress
- Aşıklı Höyük
- Barcın Höyük
- Blaundus
- Boncuklu Höyük
- Can Hasan I
- Carchemish
- Claros Sanctuary
- Clazomenae
- Domuztepe
- Ephesus
- Euromus
- Gordion
- Göbekli Tepe
- Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia
- Hattusha
- Hierapolis
- Iasos
- Kaman-Kalehöyük
- Karahantepe
- Karatepe-Aslantaş
- Kaunos
- Kibyra
- Knidos
- Kültepe-Kanesh
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Letoon Sanctuary
- Limyra
- Magnesia on the Maeander
- Medieval City of Beçin
- Metropolis in Ionia
- Miletus
- Myra
- Nemrut Dağ
- Nysa on the Maeander
- Olympus in Lycia
- Oymaağaç Höyük — Nerik
- Patara
- Pergamon
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Priene
- Sagalassos
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Didyma
- Sanctuary of Labraunda
- Sapinuwa
- Sardis
- Sayburç
- Side
- Stratonikeia
- Tell Atchana – Alalakh
- Teos
- Tripolis on the Meander
- Troy
- Uluburun Shipwreck
- Xanthos
- Yenikapı – Theodosian Harbour Excavations
- Yeşilova Höyük
- Yumuktepe
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zeugma
- Zincirli Höyük — Sam'al
- Çatalhöyük
- Çavuştepe Fortress
- Çayönü
- Çukuriçi Höyük
Greece
- Acropolis of Athens
- Aigai
- Akrotiri
- Ancient Corinth
- Ancient Dion
- Ancient Gortyn
- Ancient Messene
- Ancient Pella
- Antikythera Shipwreck
- Delos
- Delphi
- Gournia Minoan Settlement
- Heraion of Samos
- Knossos
- Mycenae
- Olympia
- Palace and Settlement of Zakros
- Palace of Malia
- Palace of Nestor at Pylos
- Phaistos
- Philippi
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Despotiko
- Sanctuary of Artemis at Amarynthos
- Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus
- Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Eleusis
- Sanctuary of Dodona
- Sanctuary of the Great Gods at Samothrace
- Tiryns
- Zominthos
