The social life of Libyan heritage sites
Shadowing the day-to-day lives of the heritage sites of Leptis Magna, Sabratha, and Tripoli's Old City.
Cultural heritage sites are often regarded as immovable historical identifiers, where their importance lies in marking a specific historical period – but what about the present-day social uses of these sites? How do locals incorporate these historical spaces within their day-to-day endeavours?
Lets explore the tumultuous lives of significant heritage sites in Libya...
Leptis Magna is generally preserved by the locals of neighbouring Al-Khums, whilst Tripoli and Sabratha are cities with large populations who help preserve the sites.
Tripoli's Old City
The Old City lies in the heart of the bustling capitol, where the cultural sites are frequented by locals, whether on their daily commute to work or for business meetings and catching up with friends.
Lawyers, architects, and cultural producers have found a home for their offices within the walls of the Old City, where their clientele and souq customers have inspired many restaurants and cafes.
Mother Marcus
The Arch of Marcus Aurelius is one of the most recognisable attractions in the Old City, and has been utilised as a space for graduation photo-shoots and as an interesting venue for outdoor events.
Artists of the Arch
An event held in early January 2022 celebrated the end of the Covid-19 lockdown. Folklore music was performed before a multi-generational audience, signifying a growing appreciation for the arts in this iconic setting.
Marcus Medals...
The football team which won the local league were given the honour of receiving their awards at the heart of the city, marking the arch as a space for celebration and appreciation of all social initiatives.
“It’s my happy place (the Old City), I go there when I want to feel connected to the heart of the city”
Leptis Magna
Leptis Magna is one of the best preserved Roman cities in the world and a significant, if not the most significant, UNESCO World Heritage site in Libya. Although it is not located near a large city, unlike the previous sites we have mentioned, Leptis Magna is considered an essential day trip for any family in the east of Libya.
The people of Al-Khums are very much dedicated to the preservation of Leptis Magna. Although its rare to see any events hosted there, the ambience of the site matches the people's reserved yet welcoming nature.
It's quite rare to find the steps of the Leptis Magna theatre empty, especially on weekends, when the locals and visitors usually enjoy a packed lunch or takeout from a local food place on the ancient steps and a mode of appreciation.
Swimming off the coast of Leptis Magna is also one of the greatly sought after activities for teenagers in particular as the waters are clear and the view of the ruins from the sea is too spectacular to miss.
"Preserving heritage sites is preserving your identity"
The End
