Benghazi

Seaport city of northeastern Libya, the de jur capital, which was founded by the Greeks of Cyrenaica as Hesperides (Euesperides) in the 6th century BC. It was replaced in the mid-3rd century by a new city, named Berenice by the Egyptian pharaoh Ptolemy III in honor of his wife. It continued in occupation until the 10th or 11th century ad and was ultimately replaced by the city of Benghazi, remaining a small town until it was extensively developed during the Italian occupation of Libya (1912-42). Excavations offer evidence of Classical and Hellenistic levels and the refurbishing of the enclosing walls during Justinian's time (reigned 527-565 AD).

[ancient Euesperides; later Berenice]. Situated on the coast of Cyrenaica in Libya, the first city, Euesperides, was probably founded from Cyrene in the 6th century bc; it was replaced in the mid-3rd century by a new city to the southwest, named Berenice after the wife of Ptolemy III. It continued in occupation until the 10th or 11th century ad and was ultimately replaced by the city of Benghazi. Excavations at various times have revealed evidence of the classical and Hellenistic levels, while British excavations in the 1970s have revealed the final phase of occupation prior to the town’s capture by the Arabs in ad 642-5. The excavations confirmed the refurbishing of the enclosing walls during Justinian’s time (r. 527-565). They also charted the evolution and later decay of a Christian basilica, which was used for some secondary purpose after the capture of the town by the Arabs.