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Greek City in Libya Pillaged

Published March 28th, 2021 - 07:16 GMT

The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. 

The scarce visitors -- all Libyans -- amble through the sanctuary of Apollo and the amphitheater, before visiting a museum housing faceless busts of Greek divinities and naked statues in marble.

Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency Unesco, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992.

Yet beyond the fence marking out the protected part of Cyrene, residents of modern-day Shahat are taking possession of lands held in trust by the state, then selling them on to property developers.

Other areas are being dug up by treasure-seekers hoping to smuggle looted artifacts to sell abroad.

Cyrene lies between the Egyptian border and Benghazi, one of the key cities that rose up against longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

The country has since fallen into anarchy and violence which sparked fears for its rich ancient heritage.

Today, despite the signing of a peace deal between Libya's main factions and the creation of a unity government this month, many residents have more immediate concerns than protecting ancient heritage.

Some are now hoping that after a decade of violence the new government will also improve the protection of precious historical sites.

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A man uses a phone to take a picture of a Roman statue of Jupiter

A man uses a phone to take a picture of a Roman statue of Jupiter on display at the Cyrene Museum, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene, on March 10, 2021. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP

view of a Greek sculpture of the head of Zeus on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat

This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view of a Greek sculpture of the head of Zeus on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP

view of a Greco-Roman sculpture on display at the Cyrene Museum

This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view of a Greco-Roman sculpture on display at the Cyrene Museum, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP

a view of busts from the Temple of Apollo on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts

This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view of busts from the Temple of Apollo on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP

a view two female Roman sculptures on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat

This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view two female Roman sculptures on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP

a view of a Dionysiac stone sarcophagus depicting the god Dionysius riding a lion, on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat

This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view of a Dionysiac stone sarcophagus depicting the god Dionysius riding a lion, on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP

A costumed actress sits by a column during the filming of a television production at the Temple of Zeus in the ruins of Libya

A costumed actress sits by a column during the filming of a television production at the Temple of Zeus in the ruins of Libya's eastern ancient city of Cyrene on March 9, 2021. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP

People walk through the remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo in the ruins of Libya's eastern ancient city of Cyrene

People walk through the remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo in the ruins of Libya's eastern ancient city of Cyrene on March 10, 2021. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP

A man uses a phone to take a picture of a Roman statue of Jupiter
view of a Greek sculpture of the head of Zeus on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat
view of a Greco-Roman sculpture on display at the Cyrene Museum
a view of busts from the Temple of Apollo on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts
a view two female Roman sculptures on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat
a view of a Dionysiac stone sarcophagus depicting the god Dionysius riding a lion, on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat
A costumed actress sits by a column during the filming of a television production at the Temple of Zeus in the ruins of Libya
People walk through the remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo in the ruins of Libya's eastern ancient city of Cyrene
A man uses a phone to take a picture of a Roman statue of Jupiter
A man uses a phone to take a picture of a Roman statue of Jupiter on display at the Cyrene Museum, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene, on March 10, 2021. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP
view of a Greek sculpture of the head of Zeus on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat
This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view of a Greek sculpture of the head of Zeus on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP
view of a Greco-Roman sculpture on display at the Cyrene Museum
This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view of a Greco-Roman sculpture on display at the Cyrene Museum, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP
a view of busts from the Temple of Apollo on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts
This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view of busts from the Temple of Apollo on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP
a view two female Roman sculptures on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat
This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view two female Roman sculptures on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP
a view of a Dionysiac stone sarcophagus depicting the god Dionysius riding a lion, on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat
This picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a view of a Dionysiac stone sarcophagus depicting the god Dionysius riding a lion, on display at the Cyrene Museum which houses Greco-Roman artefacts, in the eastern Libyan town of Shahat, near the ruins of the ancient city of Cyrene. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP
A costumed actress sits by a column during the filming of a television production at the Temple of Zeus in the ruins of Libya
A costumed actress sits by a column during the filming of a television production at the Temple of Zeus in the ruins of Libya's eastern ancient city of Cyrene on March 9, 2021. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP
People walk through the remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo in the ruins of Libya's eastern ancient city of Cyrene
People walk through the remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo in the ruins of Libya's eastern ancient city of Cyrene on March 10, 2021. The spectacular ruins of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene survived Libya's 2011 revolution and an ensuing decade of lawlessness, but today they face new threats: plunder and bulldozers. Founded in the seventh century BC, Cyrene "was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world", according to the UN's cultural agency UNESCO, which added the site to its World Heritage List in 1992. Abdullah DOMA / AFP
Tags:Greek city of CyreneLibyaUNESCO World Heritage list

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