Volubilis

Volubilis

Aqueduct system outlet 

Holding area for water from Aqueduct

Mosaics

Roman style columns

Olive Press

Volubilis, now in ruins, was a Romanticized Moroccan city. It is not a true Roman ruin, as many believe, but is instead a Moroccan city that took after Roman ways. Today, Volubilis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains some of the best Roman ruins in North Africa. Though some Romans did live here, the majority of the population was Berber, and after the earthquake and re-population of the city rule was taken over by Berber chiefs. It was interesting to see how the city was divided between the upper class living and the lower class. The larger homes had elaborate mosaics on the floors, large rooms, and even fountains. The lower class living still had mosaics, but were smaller and more simplistic. 

Olive oil separation system 

Remains of lower class houses

The surrounding lands produced many olives, and the city had massive olive presses to make olive oil. There was even a system built directly into the stone by which the olive oil was separated into it's classes (eg. Extra virgin). One of the most interesting things for me to see was their water system. Water was brought in through an aqueduct from the hills down into the city, where it could be collected from a holding tank. It is amazing to me that such a simplistic system could be designed and implemented in a manner in which it provided adequate water for an entire city. Walls surrounded the city for taxation purposes and the gateways contain the traditional Roman arch. No matter where, Roman ruins such as these amaze me. They always leave me wondering how people could have constructed such massive buildings and walls from stone with primitive technologies. 

Archways to enter the city

Upper class home, fish "tank" to store food live

Baths 

Upper class home pool