Ghirza

Ghirza lies in the pre-desert steppe well south of the Libyan coast, a settlement of fortified farms that worked the wadis with dams and channels in the Roman period, and its most striking survivals are the mausolea: temple-shaped tombs on podia with columns and carved friezes showing ploughing, camels, hunting and daily work, executed in a provincial style with real energy. Several still stand to full height.

History

Gerisa, also called Ghirza, was a village of some 300 people in the pre-desert of Tripolitania near the Limes Tripolitanus; it grew when Roman legionaries arrived in the region, and some Roman merchants settled among the local Berbers in late Augustan times (Wikipedia, Gerisa).

What's there

• The mausolea - temple-shaped tombs with columns and carved friezes.
• The friezes - scenes of ploughing, camels and hunting in a provincial style.
• The fortified farms - the buildings that worked the wadis with dams and channels.
• The pre-desert setting - arid steppe far south of the coastal strip.

When to go

March to April and October to November are the workable months. Summer heat in the pre-desert is extreme. Tracks are difficult after rain.

Practical notes

The site is remote and reaching it needs four-wheel drive and a guide. Several mausolea were damaged and looted over the years. Travel in Libya requires arrangements through a licensed operator.

Nearby

Misrata is north, and Bu Njem is southeast.

Key facts