Volubilis Roman Ruins

The ancient city of Volubilis is now a partly excavated Amazigh-Roman ruin located near the city of Meknes. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage sight because it is exceptionally well preserved remains. Volubilis had a rich and storied history spanning over a millennium. Originating as an Amazigh settlement in the 3rd century BC, it later came under the influence of the proto-Carthaginians before becoming the capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania. Named after the Moors, this ancient territory once encompassed parts of modern-day Morocco and Algeria.

Under Roman rule from the 1st century AD onward, Volubilis experienced a period of rapid growth and expansion, eventually covering an area of around 42 hectares (100 acres) enclosed within defensive walls. The city's prosperity during this Roman era was fuelled largely by its thriving olive cultivation, which enabled the construction of grand public buildings and the development of opulent houses featuring elaborately decorated mosaic floors.

However, Volubilis' remote location on the southwestern edge of the Roman Empire ultimately proved its downfall, as it fell to local tribal forces around 285 AD and was never reclaimed. Though no longer under Roman control, Volubilis continued to be inhabited for centuries, first transitioning into a Latinised Christian community and then an early Islamic settlement.Read more