Archive for the 'Morocco' Category

Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco

Floor mosaics in the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Floor mosaics in the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Floor mosaics in the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

 

Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco

Floor mosaics in the Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco

Over recent days I have been sharing many photos I took on our visit to the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco. We found them to be totally beautiful, made even more wonderful considering their great age. So amazingly preserved.

Floor mosaics in the Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco

Floor mosaics in the Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco

Mosaics in the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Mosaics in the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

I was in awe of the mosaics in the tiled floors in the Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco when our tour group visited the UNESCO World Heritage site. They are so well preserved despite the passing of about two millennia.

This town was at its peak in the first century AD, but some of the buildings are much older than that because Volubilis was first settled during the third century BC. That’s old.

Mosaics in the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Mosaics in the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Mosaics in the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

In some of the buildings of the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco visitors can see well preserved mosaics on the floors. We were amazed at how well these tiles have survived the two millennia since they were made. It is also is quite amazing that so many of the buildings remain, despite many of the stones being taken over the years to be reused in buildings in nearby Meknes.

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

 

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

At first glance the ruins of Volubilis in Morocco seem to be just a pile of old rocks, some still in place, others scattered on the ground. These Roman ruins were very badly damaged in an earthquake in the mid 18th century.

On closer inspection, however, I was amazed at the details in the colourful mosaic tiling in the floors, and some of the engravings on the stone work, such as the columns shown in today’s photos.

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco

Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco