The entrance to the newly refurbished Sabratha Museum
(Sabratah).
Sabratha Museum
July 2009
After a prolonged closure due to maintenance and structural
work, Sabratha Museum is now open to the public. The museum once was known
as Sabratha Classical Roman Museum, originally opened in 1932, then was
reopened in 1966, and now in 2009. However, we have been able to access only
two galleries (as of July 2009) as well as the entrance hall. There are three
more galleries which are still closed and expected to open in due course. As
you enter the building, the gallery at the end of the corridor (the southern
wing) is the Church, which houses massive mosaic wall panels and floors from
the Christian Basilica of Justinian. Some of the statues and columns are displayed
outdoors in the courtyard, like those visible between the entrance columns (second
from right: Serapis), while others are displayed in the hall as you enter the
museum. The main gallery room (currently open) contains beautiful Byzantine wall
frescos, mostly come from a private house of a wealthy citizen of ancient Sabratha,
mosaic panels, and statues from various temples, including the Temple of Zeus
and Serapis.
The Goddess Concordiae Africanvs.
The Goddess Concordiae Africanvs.
In mythology Concordia was the goddess of Agreement, Understanding
and Marital Harmony, who was also known as Harmonia. Her darker side is the goddess
Discordia: Disagreement and trouble. The goddess was popular more among the imperial
members of the society, and her cult was known as Concordia Augusta (or
Majestic Harmony). The goddess was often represented as standing between two
members of the Royal House shaking hands, to signify that the agreement between
the two is truly blessed.
Oceanus or Neptune, originally comes from the Oceanus Baths.
Jupiter, the god of fortune.
Room 1
INSULA III
Byzantine Town Walls
Byzantine wall frescoes
Mosaic panels of leaves (ivy).
The head of the Hunting-goddess Diana.
Sabratha Museum
The Four Seasons Mosaic.
Salvomi Avisse, from the theater baths.
The Three Graces
The Church Gallery
This gallery of the museum is known as "The Church".
Exhibits in this gallery come for the Christian Basilica of the time of
Justinian. The church contains an impressive collection of wall and floor mosaic panels, rich in vibrant colours and geometrical designs, animals, birds and characters, as well as columns, column bases, and display cases of clay oil lamps.
A collection of clay oil lamps from the Church Gallery.
The Byzantine Church itself was built in the 6th century AD; but some of the material used, like the square-sided columns and the acanthus motifs, date from an earlier period. The main aisles of the church were lavishly decorated with mosaics, which are currently in display in this gallery. It was a common practice in ancient times to use material taken from earlier temples and buildings. When Carthage was destroyed, its marble columns and slabs were reused in both Italy and North Africa. And, as if this practice acquired genetic signature, the modern Italians (1930s) also used stone blocks taken from archaeological sites to build forts and walls during their occupation of Libya.
The Church
Mosaic from the Basilica of Justinian.
These and other wall mosaics in display originally come from the basilica's two aisles.
Mosaic designs from the Basilica of Justinian (see photo of
original site, below.) This rich scene, which includes the peacock (near the
top),
originally comes from the central nave of the church.
Mosaic from the Basilica of Justinian.
The Hall & The Courtyard
The statues in this section are found in the courtyard and along the entrance hall,
standing
between the
doors to the various rooms that make up the main galleries or wings of the museum.
