| History and Patrimony |
| Meknes, the antique Volubilis |
| Antique sites of Morocco |
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Meknes, the antique Volubilis - 1
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Meknes, the antique Volubilis - 2
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| The site of Volubilis counts among the best preserved Moroccan sites and most visited. It summarizes most of Morocco’s history since the Mauritanian era (IIIrd century B.C) Until the Early Middle Ages. |
 Meknes, the antique Volubilis - 3
Under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (168-169 A.C) an urban enclosure is constructed which encloses a surface of forty hectares. Under the reign of the Severe dynasty (end of the IInd - |
beginning of the IIIrd century), the monumental district (capitol, basilica and forum) is reorganised and the triumphal arch is raised to pay homage to the emperor for offering the Roman citizenship to the free inhabitants of the city as well as giving back the tax arrears to all the residents of Volubilis.
In 285 A.C, the Roman administration and army evacuate the city. The citizens of Volubilis move towards the west and build a new enclosure separating the ancient city from the lately built. In the end of the VIIIth century, Idris I takes refuge in Walila (the antique Volubilis) where the tribe of Aouraba welcomes him and proclaims him head of believers (imam). The city becomes the starting point of the Islamisation. It was abandoned after the foundation of the town of Fez in 789 A.C.
Several districts were brought to light thanks to the former and recent excavations.
The southernmost district:
It is composed of several housing units whose plan reveals the modesty of its occupants and comprises one of the most beautiful and sumptuous residences of Volubilis, the house of Orpheus, whose plan and decoration point out the residences of the north-eastern district of the city.
The monumental district:
Constituted of three places towards which converge the principal lanes of the city, the monumental district formed the heart of the city: The forum, public and administrative place, occupy a surface of 1300 m2 paved with large flagstones. The basilicas, justice department, rise on the Eastern side.
The capitol, official temple dedicated to the Capitoline triad: Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Built under the Emperor Macrin (217 A.C), the construction rises above a podium served by a staircase. A partially restored colonnade still offers an excellent idea on its original state. The triumphal arch stands at the north-western extremity of this complex. Broad of more than 5.87 m and about 11 m high, it dominates the low part of the north-eastern district and opens on the Decumanus Maximus, principal artery of the city. The triumphal arch, partly restored, is built in the honour of the Emperor Caracalla.
The northern district:
The north-eastern residential district extends between the triumphal arch and the gate of Tangier. Built during the Roman era, starting from the Ist century A.C, the residences of this sector of the city offer an exceptional regularity and are richly decorated and carefully ordered. The Most striking such as the house of the Ephebe, the house of Hercules works, the house of columns or the house of the Venus procession offer many mosaics, rich of lessons.
The western district: This 18 hectares district is separated from the precedents by an enclosure which was built in the 5th century. The excavations highlighted some Roman houses, a late district in the neighbourhoods of the Khoumane wadi as well as a hydropathical establishment of Islamic era (Hammam). |
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