Lepcis Magna: Chalcidicum

Chalcidicum at Lepcis Magna is a Roman architectural element within the ancient city of Leptis Magna, an important urban centre that flourished under Roman rule, especially during the 2nd and early 3rd centuries CE. The broader site of Leptis Magna is one of Libya’s primary Roman archaeological complexes and is a UNESCO World Heritage property.

The Chalcidicum is a colonnaded entrance or portico associated with the forum area and adjacent public buildings. Visitors will see surviving column bases, portions of the colonnade and paved surfaces that outline the footprint of the building and its relation to the forum and nearby streets. The setting gives a clear sense of Roman urban planning and monumental civic architecture on a human scale.

Construction and major rebuilding at Leptis Magna took place under Roman administration from the 1st century BCE into the Severan period of the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries CE; major imperial-era programmes were driven in part by the Severan dynasty, whose founder Septimius Severus was born in the town. Over time the site fell into decline after the Roman period and many structures were partially buried by sand and later exposed by archaeological work.

The Chalcidicum sits within the coastal ruins near the modern port town of Khoms (sometimes spelled Al Khums) on Libya’s Mediterranean coast, approximately 120 km east of Tripoli and close to sea level. The surrounding landscape is coastal plain with exposed ruins stretching along the shore.

• UNESCO site: Forms part of the larger Leptis Magna archaeological site, which is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Location note: Located close to the modern town of Khoms on Libya's Mediterranean coast, roughly 120 km east of Tripoli.