ABSTRACT
The visible remains of Lepcis are solidly Roman, evidence of a wealth which depended not only on its Imperial connections through Septimius, but also even at an earlier date on the trans-Sahara trade route, whereby it was a principal source of the exotic or wild animals needed for the games in the amphitheatre at Rome, as well as other commodities. The Roman town was developed near the harbour, of which there are remains of extensive harbour works, including a substantial lighthouse. Central to this Roman town is the original forum, with paving dating back in part to the time of Augustus, though much of it is Claudian in date, part of the improvements paid for by Gaius son of Hanno, a member of the well-to-do Punic population, who commemorated his benefaction in a bilingual inscription in Latin and Punic. The forum had the usual buildings associated with it. There was a basilica on the south-east side, built before AD 53 and completely rebuilt in 312, when Corinthian granite columns replaced the original limestone ones.
