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Humanities LibreTexts

7.5: Culture

  • Page ID
    151346

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    Learning Objectives

    In this section, you will be able to:

    • Learn about Libya, its Geographical location, its famous cities, its most famous artifacts, its traditional food, and clothes

    Libya ليبيا

    File:تناظر (كتابة) ليبيا (ambigram) ذهب.png
    Libya; CC BY-SA 4.0

    Facts to know about Libya

    • Official Name: The state of Libya- دولة ليبيا
    • Capital: Tripoli- طرابلس
    • Population: 7,086,921 (2022)
    • Currency:Libyan Dinar- دينار ليبي
    • Continent: Africa- أفريقيا
    • Official Lagrange: Modern Standard Arabic- اللغة العربية الفصحى

    1.1 Geographical Location & Flag

    • Libya is a country located in North Africa.
    • It is the fourth largest country in Africa and the Arab World.
    • The capital is Tripoli, and the largest city.
    • It's bordered by Egypt on the east, Algeria to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Chad to the south, and Sudan to the southeast.
    • Libya has the tenth-largest oil reserves in the world.
    • It has about three million people out of the seven million Arabs and Berbers.
    • Most of Libyan region lies in the Sahara desert, and most of the population live in Tripoli, Benghazi, and other cities along the coast.
    • Libya is well known for its ancient Roman and Greek ruins and Sahara desert beautiful landscapes.
    • Libya has along and rich history, with influences from a variety of cultures, including Arab, African, and European.

    1.2 Most Famous Cities

    There are many major cities in Libya. Some of them are Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata, Al Bayda, Ghat, Sirte, Ghadames, Sabratah, Sabha

    File:Libya CIA map PL.png
    Libyan Major Cities; public domain
    Famous Cities in Libya
    City Name City Name in Arabic Pronunciation Image
    Tripoli طرابلس tarabulus
    File:Tripoli Skyline edit.jpg
    Tripoli; GNU Free Documentation License
    Benghazi بنغازي banghazi
    File:Benghazi night.jpg
    Benghazi; public domain
    Misrata مصراتة misrata
    File:مصراتة.jpg
    Misrata; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Al Bayda البيضاء albayda'
    File:Al Oroba Street.jpg
    Al Bayda; public domain
    Sirte سرت sirat
    File:Libyanın sirte şehrindeki dev sulama havuzu büyük nehir projesi kapsamında s.t.f.a. inşaat ruhları şad olsun büyük insanlar sezai türkeş ve fevzi akkaya ağabey'lerimizin by ismail soytekinoğlu - panoramio.jpg
    Sirte; CC BY-SA 3.0
    Sabratah صبراتة sabrata
    File:Sabbath ruins museum 2011.jpg
    Sabratah; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Sabha سبها subuha
    File:Sebha Bank from Kazem hotel 2010-02-08.jpg
    Sabha; CC BY-SA 3.0

    1.3 Most famous artifacts

    Tripoli Red Castle- Assai- Al- Hamra

    The Tripoli Red Castle, as known as the Assai Al Hamra, is one of the major landmarks in the city Tripoli in Libya. It was built in 9th century by the Aghlabids, a Muslim dynasty that ruled over parts of North Africa and Sicily. It is called red because most of its parts are painted in red color. it is located in the northeastern of the city of Tripoli and overlooks Omar Al-Mukhtar and Al Fatah streets. It was built on the remains of Roman buildings, or temples. it was built to defend the city from outsiders. the castle is a popular attraction and is considered a symbol of the city's rich history.

    File:Red Castle Of Tripoli.jpg
    Red Castle; CC BY-SA 4.0

    Ghadames City

    Ghadmaes city is called " the pearl of the desert" for its outstanding architectural design. It is one of the oldest and most notable Saharan cities in the Arab world. It has been the shining role and peaceful center in the cultural and economic life of the region. It was occupied by many people, including Phazaniis, Romans, Byzantines, Christianity, Islamic conquests, Ottoman empires, and the European occupation in the 19th century and during the colonial period and World War ll.

    File:Park al touta in ghadames city.jpg
    Ghadmanes City; CC BY-SA 4.0

    Leptis Magna

    Leptis Magna was the largest city of the ancient region of Tripolitania, located on the North African coast of the Mediterranean Sea in present Libya. It was a Phoenician city and one of the most attractive cities of the Roman Empire, with its magnificent public monuments, harbors, marketplace, stores, and suburban regions.

    File:Leptis Magna (29) (8288918733).jpg
    Leptis Magna; CC BY-SA 2.0

    Ptolemais

    Ptolemais is an ancient city located along the Mediterranean coast of Libya. It is considered one of the five most important cities that established Pentaploi. it represents the distinctive regional cultural traditions created by diverse ethnicities and cultures that made up the region's social fabric, particularly Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Libyan, Byzantine, and Islamic. It is a little jewel of a historical spot and an important port in Libya. Its ancient remains and ruins are in modern Libya called Tolmeita.

    File:Ptolemais (5283376622).jpg
    Ptolemais; CC BY 2.0

    Roman Sabratha

    Sabratha was one of the major ports of Roman Tripoli that had a strong business connection with North Africa. Originally, it was a Phoenician settlement. Then the Roman enlarged the city by building streets, commercial, temples, and administrative. Most notable features of Sabratha include: The theater, the forum, the temples, and the city baths.

    File:Roman theatre, Sabratha, Libya.jpg
    Roman Sabratha; CC BY 2.0

    1.4 Traditional Food & Clothing in Libya

    Most Popular Food in Libya

    Most Popular Food In Libya
    Food in English Food in Arabic Ingredients Image
    Couscous bil-bosla كسكس بالبصل
    rice with green leaf vegetable on white ceramic plate
    Couscous
    makaruna imbaukha مكرونة مبوخة
    pasta dish on white ceramic bowl
    Makaruna Imbaukha
    Shakshouka شكشوك
    tomato soup on black cooking pan beside stainless steel fork and bread knife
    Shakshouka
    Hasa adas حساء عدس
    Shawrbat 'adas Maa Banadoura (Lentil and Tomato Soup) Recipe - Food.com
    Hasa adas
    Kufta bil batinjal كفتة بالباذنجان
    File:Musaka.jpg
    Kufta bil batinjal; CC BY 3.0
    Basbousa بسبوسة
    File:Revane.jpg
    Basbousa; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Bazin البازين
    File:Bazin.jpg
    Bazin; CC BY-SA 3.0
    Sfinz سفنز
    File:Khfaf de Kabylie.jpg
    Sfinz; CC BY-SA 4.0

    Most Popular Clothing in Libya

    In Modern days, Libyan people dress in different ways. in the urban ares, Libyans wear western clothing such as jeans and shirts, but on the special occasions, they wear their traditional clothes.

    Women Traditional Dress

    • Traditional Libyan women's clothing varies depending on the region, and the occasion.
    • Some women wear bright colors like togas clothe with a blouse with loose sleeves, embroidered with beads, and silver/gold yaren with silk trousers closed at the ankle.
    • The head is covered by a colorful cloth decorated with beads.
    • The bridal dress for Libyan women is called hasira which is made of white silk, and embroidered with silver and gold thread. Also, they wear heavy neck golden pieces that reach to the knees, and gold cuffs adorn the wrists.
    • Henna Day is essential before the wedding, where women from the community will be invited and gathered to have henna designs along with the bride.
    • Traditional Libyan women's clothing is designed to be modest and conservative, while also showcasing the beauty and craftsmanship of the local culture.

    Men Traditional Cloth

    • Libyan men prefer to wear their traditional costumes on special occasions such as Friday prayers, wedding ceremonies, holidays, and Ramadan.
    • Traditional men's clothing are long "tunic" and long pants- "sirwal" and vest "sadriyia" is made from black silk and fastened at the front with buttons. The thobe, a long loose fitting garment with full sleeves and a collar, the bisht, a long flowing cloak made from wool or camel hair, the agal, a type of headband or bandana worn around the head to hold the ghutrah in place.
    • Libyan men prefer to wear their traditional costumes on special occasions such as Friday prayers, wedding ceremonies, holidays, and Ramadan.
    Activity

    You traveled to Libya. And you went to a restaurant to eat. Share with your friends on your Instagram page the name of the restaurant and the food you ordered, and describe the restaurant and food. For example, beautiful, clean, delicious, and tasty.