Bobbe's trip to Morocco, part 9: the Roman ruins at Volubilis

Here is another post from Bobbe's trip to Morocco.

Like all countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, Morocco was once part of the Roman Empire. As you may remember, I have previously visited impressive Roman ruins in Italy and Turkey (and Benny has blogged about a Roman amphitheater in Jordan). Today, I'm going to tell you about my trip to see the remains of Volubilis, which was once the most important city in Roman Morocco.
The people of Volubilis grew rich making olive oil, which they then traded with other cities throughout the Roman Empire. The richest citizens built very big houses, which they then decorated with mosaics. Mosaics are floors made with thousands upon thousands of tiny pieces of colored tile. Together, all these tiles make up an image or design. Some of the mosaics in Volubilis have been excavated and restored so that you can appreciate what they once looked like.

I pose in front of a mosaic in Volubilis.

Here is another mosaic.

Today, none of the houses in Volubilis are still standing. The few structures that survived into the 18th century were mostly toppled by the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, which was so strong that it was felt all the way in Morocco. As a result, there are many columns in Volubilis that no longer support any roofs.

The photo below is of a Doric column. Doric columns are very simple in design. They have plain, round shafts and very little ornamentation at the top.

I pose in front of a Doric column.

In contrast to Doric columns, Corinthian columns are much more complex. They have grooved sides and carved tops that flare outwards like leaves. Because Corinthian columns are so fancy, they are used to decorate important buildings. In Volubilis, Corinthian columns were used to build one of the main temples.

A Corinthian column in Volubilis.

I hold the kind of leaf that inspired this Corinthian column head.

A third kind of column is the Ionic column. These columns have tops that are decorated like scrolls. In Volubilis, these Ionic columns mark the edge of what used to be the forum.

Some Ionic columns in Volubilis.

You may be wondering what the point is of having all these columns if there are no more buildings for them to support. Well, the columns have a new purpose: they support the nests of storks.

A stork makes its nest on top of a column.

I had a great time learning about columns in Volubilis!

A photo of the triumphal arch in Volubilis.

--Bobbe