Ancient Libyan city reveals mysterious mask and water system

How did the inhabitants of ancient cities live? Although time travel is not possible, we can learn about their lives through the discoveries made by archaeologists. The recent finds in Libya are indeed fascinating.

Ptolemais, one of the largest ancient Greek cities, is located in Cyrenaica in northeastern Libya. The city was founded by the Egyptian kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty towards the end of the 4th or in the 3rd century BC and existed until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD.

After a 13-year break caused by the civil war in Libya, scientists from the Faculty of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw resumed research in 2023.

Using comprehensive archaeological studies in Ptolemais, we aim to uncover the past of this Hellenistic-Roman city and the lives of its inhabitants. We conduct research on a micro scale, carefully selecting quarters for excavation, and on a macro scale, documenting the entire city and its surrounding area using modern non-invasive methods - explained Dr. Piotr Jaworski, head of the Polish Archaeological Mission to Ptolemais.

During excavations in 2024, archaeologists from the University of Warsaw discovered the economic section of a city residence, dating to the late 2nd-3rd century AD. Piotr Jaworski, head of the Polish Archaeological Mission to Ptolemais, explained that the heart of the eastern area of the house was a small peristyle, surrounded by a kitchen, a staircase, and a room with a mosaic.

The residence was equipped with an advanced water collection system, of which the key element was a peristyle pool collecting rainwater and directing it to two underground cisterns. The house was damaged by earthquakes in the 3rd century, but it was rebuilt in the late Roman period. This is evidenced by three stone containers at the entrance, which, according to researchers, might have been used for taxes or offerings.

The most surprising discovery was a mask depicting a human face, made of hydraulic plaster, covering the walls of one of the cisterns. The mask lacks attributes that would allow its identification, leaving room for various interpretations.

Jaworski noted that the face is similar to sculptures from the Libyan sanctuary in Slonta. It is possible that the owner of the house or those involved in its creation were of Libyan origin, but this remains speculative.

Ptolemais, founded in the 3rd century BC, was an important cultural and religious centre in Cyrenaica. This place attracts researchers, among other reasons, because of its historical complexity. It most likely still holds many secrets.