Πτολεμαΐς | |
 Ruins of Ptolemais | |
  Ptolemais Shown within Libya | |
| Location | NearTolmeita,Libya |
|---|---|
| Region | Cyrenaica |
| Coordinates | 32°42′25″N20°57′10″E / 32.7069°N 20.9529°E /32.7069; 20.9529 |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | 3rd century BC |
| Abandoned | 7th century AD |
| Periods | Hellenistic period toByzantine Empire |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | In ruins |
Ptolemais (Greek: Πτολεμαΐς) was one of the five cities that formed thePentapolis ofCyrenaica, the others beingCyrene, Euesperides (later known as Berenice, nowBenghazi), Tauchira/Teuchira (later Arsinoe, and nowTocra), andApollonia (nowSusa).[1]
Its ruins are at a small village in modernLibya calledTolmeita (Arabic طلميتة), after the ancient name.[2]
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The city was founded by and named after one of the rulers of thePtolemaic Kingdom,[3] probablyPtolemy III Euergetes (246–221 BC). What had been a small Greek settlement of unknown name that originated in the late 7th century BC and that acted as a port for the city ofBarca, 24 kilometres (15 mi) inland, he transformed into a city that enclosed 280 hectares within its walls. Ptolemais probably served as the residence of the Ptolemaic governor of the region but, in spite of its large area, its population did not rival that of Cyrene, which underRoman rule became the capital of the region that, from then on, and still today, is called Cyrenaica. However, the term "Pentapolis" also continued to be used.[4][5]
Ptolemais became a Roman possession in 96 BC. It was soon included in theRoman province ofCrete and Cyrenaica. WithDiocletian's alteration of the administrative structure, Ptolemais became the capital of the province ofLibya Superior or Libya Pentapolis. It later decayed and was replaced as capital of the province by Apollonia.[4]
The365 Crete earthquake struck the region and destroyed all the five major cities of the Pentapolis. Ptolemais survived the tragedy in relatively good condition. It served as capital of Cyrenaica until 428. The city was destroyed by theLibyans in 411.[6] During the reign ofJustinian I the city was rebuilt, but it never regained its powers and was again destroyed during theMuslim conquest of the Maghreb in the 7th century.
Buried in the sands, the town's ruins have been remarkably well preserved.[7] Excavation of the site began in the 1930s, revealing a planned city of rectangular shape, some 1650 by 1400 metres (about one square mile) and composed of blocks of about 180 by 36 metres. It held ahippodrome, anamphitheatre, and three theatres, the smallest of which, used as anodeon, was adapted for water spectacles in the 4th or 5th century.[4]
A Roman aqueduct, probably of the time ofHadrian, brought water from more than 8 km away,[8] which was stored in two large open reservoirs in the east of the city, while further west a porticoed space, now called the Square of the Cisterns, stood above a set of seventeen vaulted cisterns, capable of holding 7,000 kilolitres.[4] These were rediscovered during the Italian occupation, when they were found to be used as a refuge for rebels, two or three hundred of whom could easily hide in them.[2]
West of the city stands a conspicuous and tower-like Hellenistic mausoleum, known asQasr Faraoun. There are many chamber tombs in the quarries east and west of the city, which have yielded a few tombstones and numerous inscriptions. Important sculptures and inscriptions have also been found within the city, including imperial edicts such as that by which Diocletian attempted to fix prices.[4]
In 2001 an archaeological mission fromWarsaw University started excavations on the site.
In May 2011, a number of objects excavated from Ptolemais in 1937 and held in the vault of the National Commercial Bank inBenghazi were stolen. Looters tunnelled into the vault and broke into two safes that held the artifacts which were part of the so-called Benghazi Treasure. The objects have not been traced.[9]
The Ptolemais of Libya, whose ruins are located near the Libyan city of Tolmeita, was also theSeat of the ancient Christian bishopric of Libya Pentapolitana.[10][11][12]
Ptolemais became aCatholic Churchdiocese at an early stage, since it seems to have been the see of the Pentapolitan bishop Basilides to whom, in a letter of about 260 quoted byEusebius,[13]Pope Dionysius of Alexandria said he had sent a copy of a commentary onEcclesiastes. Another early bishop of Ptolemais isSaint Theodore of Sykeon, martyred during the anti-Christian persecutions.
TheFirst Council of Nicaea confirmed the custom whereby the bishop ofAlexandria held authority over the churches in the Pentapolis, although they were not situated in the sameRoman province.[14] Accordingly, none of the bishoprics in the Pentapolis was ametropolitan see for the others, but all acted assuffragan bishops of Alexandria.[15]
Ptolemais was the home ofArius, after whom theArianism condemned at Nicaea in 325 was named. Secundus, who was bishop of Ptolemais and a patron of Arius, is listed among those present at the council. He refused to accept its decree and was deposed by the bishop of Alexandria, but later recovered power. His Arian successor Stephanus was deposed in about 360.
Synesius was bishop of Ptolemais from about 407 to 413, and was succeeded by his brother Evoptius, who took part in theCouncil of Ephesus (431), which condemnedNestorius. The acts of theSecond Council of Constantinople (553) were signed by Georgius of Ptolemais. The last bishop of Ptolemais mentioned by the sources is Gabriel (6th century), the signing Archbishop Gabrielis Pentapolis.Information on all of these can be found, for instance, inMichel Le Quien's work.[15]
No longer a residential bishopric, Ptolemais in Libya is today listed by theCatholic Church as atitular see.[16][17][10] The current archbishop, personal title, isCyril Vasiľ, secretary of theCongregation for the Oriental Churches.[18]
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