Libya's modern day capital!

Originally founded by the Phoenicians five centuries before the birth of Christ they named it Uiat, the landing place between Sabratha and Leptis, Then known as Oea by the Romans who slowly invaded the region forty years after the destruction of Carthage in 107 B.C.

The Marco Aurelius Arch was built in 163 A.D made completely from marble in honour of its Emperors Marco Aurelius and Lucio Vero, the arch depicts life as it was then, ( with engravings of prisoners under arms, women seated with their children and up high the two Gods which were the towns protectors, Apollo and Minerva on their carriages ), Today its ruin stands as magnificently as it did in the ancient Oea. Then it was known as Tarabulus after the invasion of the Arabs in 643 A.D where its modern day name originates from -Trablus--.Until the 18th century Tripoli remained a small town ( where the Medina- old town-- is today ), enclosed by its great walls and castle. The castle today is home to the museum ,and rightly so having lived through centuries of ups and downs of the town, of the invaders who came and went from the Roman time until today!

The museum tells the story and holds the relicts of Libya's ancient past. Tripoli gradually expanded after the Italian invasion with the construction of its wider avenues, a new cathedral and its typical Italian style buildings.