LEPTIS. - A city in North Africa (Libya) which the Romans called Lepcis; to distinguish it from the namesake city in Byzacena it was called L. magna. Founded by the Phoenicians, from the 4th to the 7th century it was under the dominion of Carthage, then of the King of Numidia, whence in 25 B.C. it was incorporated into the Roman province of Africa. Septimius Severus was born there in 140 A.D., and he, having become emperor, embellished the city. In 533 it passed to the Byzantines, but the silting of sands and floods caused it to decline rapidly.
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 hall with three naves measuring 20.60 x 15.80 m, which could be accessed through four other entrances, two approximately at the middle and two at the end of the side naves, which were separated from the central one by paired columns that corresponded to rectangular buttresses leaning against 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 of a smaller module than the others. The elevated apse had a bench around it and in the center remain remnants of the base of the cathedra. Tombs were made in the floor and one of these preserved the inscription of a deceased woman named Anna; to the northeast of the hall was situated the Baptistery, enclosed with spolia material and with two entrances. The baptismal font was adapted in the paving of the forum; it was cruciform with four steps that led 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 the one adapted in the great basilica of the Forum built by Septimius Severus. The level in front of the eastern apse of the magnificent forensic building was raised and there the presbytery of the Christian hall was created, bounded by a balustrade obtained from the pilasters of the Severan triumphal arch; the apse itself was paved with reused marbles; the site of the altar is recognizable from some large blocks of marble architrave that constituted its base; toward the center of the hall a pulpit was built, obtained from other spolia material, among which were the capitals of the quadrifrons arch of the Severans; it was accessed by means of two small stairways.
In one of the spaces to the left of the apse was adapted
