[Greek Habrotonon, Roman Sabratha]. A Roman port cm the north African coast in Libya, remarkable for its extensive imperial Roman remains. Originally a Phoenician foundation of perhaps the 5th century bc, Sabratha was one of the three cities of Roman Tripolitania. Together with neighbouring Oea and Leptis Magna, it made up a trio of wealthy trading cities, the ‘Tripolis’, which were important in linking the Mediterranean sea-routes to the trans-Saharan caravans. It was first annexed by Rome in 46 bc, and subsequently granted colonia status in the 2nd century ad. The city enjoyed great prosperity under the early empire, and a trading office of the Sabrathans is found at Roman Ostia. Sacked by the Austuriani in about 363, Sabratha recovered to enjoy a second but reduced period of prosperity under Byzantine control, when new walls were constructed enclosing a smaller area. Urban occupation seems to have been abandoned after Arab seizure in 643. Interesting among the surviving buildings are the various bathbuildings (one with hexagonal marble public latrine), and the Antonine-period theatre, in which the columned stage building has been restored to its full height.
The Macmillan dictionary of archaeology, Ruth D. Whitehouse, 1983Copied