the roman heritage: volubilis & lixus

part of the series “mahendra’s morocco“

© mahendra myshkin 2025

Near Meknes are the ruins of Volubilis — an ancient settlement originally inhabited by Berber tribes. The well-preserved archaeological site illustrates its former glory and shows how the northern part of Morocco has long been part of the Mediterranean cultural sphere.

By the third century BCE, the Carthaginians had established a presence here, as evidenced by the remains of a temple to the Punic god Baal and finds of pottery and stones inscribed in the Phoenician language. Later, the Romans turned Volubilis into the administrative center of Mauretania Tingitana. The site preserves mosaic floors, temples, a basilica, a triumphal arch, and houses that testify to the prosperity of its inhabitants.

Further north, near the Atlantic coast by Larache, lies Lixus, a site with both Phoenician and Roman layers, associated in legend with the myth of Hercules. It became an important center for fish-salting and garum production, exporting goods across the Mediterranean. These remains link Morocco’s landscapes to the wider history of the classical Mediterranean world.