Ptolemais (Cyrenaica)

Ptolemais was one of the five cities forming the Pentapolis of Cyrenaica, founded by a Ptolemaic king, probably Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-221 BC), on the site of an earlier Greek port for the city of Barca [1]. The planned city enclosed 280 hectares within walls, and contained a hippodrome, amphitheatre, and three theatres [1]. Under Diocletian it became capital of the province of Libya Superior, surpassing Cyrene [1] [2]. Its ruins at modern Tolmeita are on the UNESCO Tentative List [1] [2].