LEPTIS. - A city in North Africa (Libya) which the Romans called *Lepcis*; to distinguish it from the homonym in Byzacena it was called *L. magna*. Founded by the Phoenicians, it was under the dominion of Carthage from the 4th to the 7th century, then under the King of Numidia, whence in 25 BC it was incorporated into the Roman province of Africa. SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS was born there in AD 140, and as emperor he embellished the city. In 533 it passed to the Byzantines, but the silting up by sand and alluvium caused its rapid decline.
The ancient L. has so far revealed two Christian buildings. The first, situated in the Old Forum, made use of a previous construction; it is preceded by a narthex from which one entered a three-aisled hall measuring 20.60 m. x 15.80 m., to which one could gain access by means of four other entrances, two approximately halfway along and two at the end of the side aisles, which were separated from the central one by paired columns that served as buttresses against the rectangular reinforcements attached to the perimeter walls. The presbytery had a wider intercolumniation and was raised by two steps; no trace of the altar has been found, but it was covered by a ciborium supported by four columns lower than the others. The raised apse had a bench around it and in the centre there remain remains of the base of the cathedra. In the floor there were tombs, one of which preserved the inscription of a deceased woman named Anna; to the north-east of the hall was situated the baptistery, enclosed with spolia and with two entrances. The baptismal font was adapted into the paving of the forum; it was cross-shaped with four steps leading into the circular basin.
Procopius speaks of four basilicas erected at L. by Justinian, and among these a most beautiful one dedicated to the Virgin which is believed to be identifiable with that adapted in the great basilica of the Forum built by Septimius Severus. The floor in front of the eastern apse of the magnificent forum building was raised and the presbytery of the Christian hall was created there, bounded by a balustrade made from the pilasters of the Severan triumphal arch; the apse itself was paved with reused marble; the site of the altar is recognisable from some large blocks of marble architrave that formed its base; towards the centre of the hall a pulpit was built using other spolia, including the capitals of the quadrifrons arch of the Severans; it was accessed by two small staircases.
In one of the rooms to the left of the apse there were adapted
frescoes that decorated the walls remain in the transept and in the portico. The polychrome façade of fine effect (12th century) is accessed by a broad staircase. Between the transept and the apse there are two porticoes, one called that of St John, the other of the Forum. The annexed cloister is also of the 12th century. The baptistery (St John) dates instead to the 11th century; near the Cathedral are the octagonal chapel of St Clare, from the second half of the 12th century, and the churches of St Bartholomew, St Peter and St Lawrence. On a rock 85 m. high is the characteristic sanctuary of St Michael of Aiguilhe, founded in the 10th century. Above the city, at the top of Corneille rock, stands the majestic statue of Notre-Dame de France, created in 1860, the work of Bonassieux. In the Treasury of the Cathedral is preserved the illuminated Bible known as that of Charles the Bald, commissioned by Theodulf, Bishop of Orléans (798-818) in the monastery of Fleury, today St Benoît sur Loire. In the ancient chapter library annexed to the cloister, the canon Odin had executed allegorical frescoes of the liberal arts at the time of Bishop John of Bourbon (late 13th–14th century). - See pl. LXXVI.