As part of his lavish aggrandisement of Lepcis, Emperor L. Septimius Severus created an imposing basilica. At the north-eastern end of the new forum, and offset slightly to conform to the directions of the main civic layout, it is a three-aisled hall with an apse at each end. Its height was at least 30 metres. Photo ©1995 Stuart Laidlaw, Michael Halliwell, Institute of Archaeology, UCL The columns were of red Egyptian granite and Green Euboean marble, while pilasters of white marble at each end were carved with the adventures of Hercules and Dionysus, the patron gods of the Severan family. The building was completed by his son the Emperor Caracalla in 216 AD. It was turned into a church in the sixth century. Photo ©1995 Stuart Laidlaw, Michael Halliwell, Institute of Archaeology, UCL