"Volubilis the great Roman city " a Volubilis Travel Page by amsterdam_vallon

It sits at an altitude of 400 meters on a triangular rich plain bordered on both sides by two small rivers (Oued Fertassa and Oued Khomane). Arabs call Volubilis "Oualili," "Oualila".

Volubilis grew and prospered from the third century B.C. to B.C. 40, under the successive rule of independent Mooorish Kings (Bocchus the Elder, Bogud I, Bogud II. From this period several monuments have been uncovered and identified; namely, temples in the Mauretanean -punic tradition and a mysterious tumulus. After the assassination of King Ptolemy in B.C. 40 by Caligula and the crushing of a revolt by Ademon in ancient Mauretania, Emperor Claudius annexed the region, dividing it into two parts: one to the West with Tingi (Tangier) as its capital, the other to the East with Caesara (in Algeria) as capital. Volubilis was then elevated to the rank of a municipality.

From 40 to 285, Volubilis expanded spectacularly. During the first century came the major urban structures, such as the spacious roads (Decumani and Cardines), and the public monuments (temples, thermal baths). The next century saw further developments in the urban tissue; most importantly, the wall surrounding the city was founded by Marcus Aurelius (168-169), together with the eight major gates linking the city to the outside world. The monument-filled center (the Forum, the Basilica, the Capitol, the Triumphal Arch) came about during the Severius dynasty, between 193 and 235. Also dating back to this period are the stately homes with perislyles and pools, the great mosaics (Orpheus Mosaics, the Works of Hercules, Diana's Bath, Neriedes are some of the well-preserved, much visited in-situ mosaics), numerous bakeries, and about one hundred oil presses attesting to the thriving economy of this roman outpost.

Go watch my Volubilis Monuments travelogue for a detail view of all the monuments of the site. Follow this link : Volubilis Monument

And don't miss my Volubilis Mosaic Travelogue to see what art was about in the roman times. Follow this link : Volubilis Mosaic

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