Khaled Al-Haddar, a faculty member at the University of Benghazi, has revisited the details surrounding the rediscovery of an ancient Roman tomb in the Gargaresh district of Tripoli. Dating back to the 4th century AD, the site is renowned for its vibrant fresco murals and is widely identified as the “Tomb of the Followers of Mithra.” Al-Haddar noted that while the site was documented during the Ottoman era and later studied by European researchers such as Weber and Clermont-Ganneau, it remained buried and its exact location was lost for years until the Tripoli Antiquities Department initiated systematic excavation and restoration in the winter of 1919-1920.
The Colossal Statue of Empress Livia: A Roman Icon at Tripoli’s National Museum
The rediscovery involved clearing the burial chamber and conducting meticulous soil tests down to the bedrock to ensure structural integrity. To preserve the site, a wooden roof reinforced with lime—using traditional Tripolitan techniques—was constructed, featuring a wide central skylight to facilitate the viewing of the ancient murals for both researchers and visitors. Al-Haddar praised the dedication of the Libyan workforce involved in protecting this archaeological heritage, emphasizing that the tomb serves as a vital testament to Libya’s ancient history and its profound cultural diversity.