Eusperides

Founded in the 6th century BC, Eusperides lies beneath the modern city of Benghazi. It must have been very large, because remains of Greek buildings are found in moden construction excavations throughout all of Behghazi. These are ignored and reburied after the work is done. I even found an entire Greek building in a field across the road from one of our housing projects just south of the city. Totally ignored and just sitting there full of dirt and trash. Unfortunately, little remains of Eusperides to see.

 

 

The park reserve for the remaining ruins contains a hodpoge of interesting but almost totally deteriorated relics, including the tall lighthouse built by the Italians nearly a hundred years ago.

 

 

 

The remaining Greek structures are in this small preserved area next to the lighthouse.

 

 

 

There are some small patches of mosaic floors, but in very poor condition. Not much to see for a city that once spanned about five kilometers in diameter.

 

 

 

This pile of dirt contains a Greek ruin we found across the road from one of our project sites, about 5 km south of the city.

 

 

 

It is a fairly elaborate two story structure.

 

 

 

 

This would make a super project for some university archeology team.

 

 

 

One serious historical site is this small natural lake and park about 4 km east of Benghazi. Now a popular picinic area with water slide park, it is mentioned in records from 600 BC as being the site of the garden of Hesperides, from the Greek myth of the golden apples.

 

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