ANCIENT MONUMENTS OF CYRENAICA AND TRIPOLI*

Abstract

BETWEEN the western edge of the Nile Delta and the most eastern spurs of the Atlas ranges, before they pass over from Tunis into Sicily, North Africa consists of three distinct geographical regions, with distinct historical experiences. The 'Western Desert' from the Egyptian point of view, or 'Eastern Libya' -to distinguish it from what lies farther west still-- is a low-lying slab of Tertiary limestone, marls and sands. It receives less Atlantic moisture, and greater summer heat, and has long been essentially desert ; but ancient Egyptians knew it as a reservoir of pastoral tribes and of olive culture, and their general name Tamahu meant both 'Berber' and 'olive'. Its oases, Kharga, Siwa, and others, are still centres of population and intercourse, and as it extends westward inland of Cyrenaica, we should include, with those, the oases of Jerabub and Augila. Indeed, there is no natural frontier or change of regime, in the far interior, east of the Red Hamada plateau, of which the sea frontage is Tripolitania. This Eastern Libya has a dangerous and almost harbourless coast : Mersa Matruh is the only landing place, and a very poor one, between Alexandria and Bardia.