A trip to the Jamahiriya Museum is one of the best ways to learn abut the history of Libya. There are many museums in the country, but this is one of the most important. It is also called the Red Castle Museum.
How to Get There
The museum is set in the center of Tripoli. Any taxi in the city can get you there. There are also taxis and buses that can take you to the capital if you are staying somewhere else. Those staying in nearby Tunisia can just drive straight to Tripoli.
If you are travelling via a tour package, a shuttle service will be provided at the airport. From there, you will be taken to the hotel or to the museum.
What to See
The Red Castle has 47 galleries spread over four floors. The displays range from the Neolithic age to the present day. On the ground level are displays that provide a rapid view of different eras, from the Stone Age to t
he present time. There are rock arts, potteries and even the VW Beetle of Gadhafi.
The mausoleum from Ghirza is one of the most impressive in the collection. A trip to the Jamahiriya Museum lets you see artifacts from the Garamantian Empire too. Gallery 6 has the Phoenician artifacts and relates its importance.
The Roman gallery contains several statues. Many of these were unearthed from Sabratha and Leptis Magna. There are also nine galleries highlighting Libya’s natural history.
History
The floors of the museum show a comprehensive overview of Libya’s past. The first floor relics show the history from the Roman era to the Christian Byzantine times. The transition to Islamic culture is also shown. The second floor focuses on Islamic heritage and culture.
There are also artifacts that give you an idea of how people lived during ancient times. These include clothes, kitchen utensils and many more. The fourth floor artifacts focus on contemporary Libya.
Cost
The price of admission is 3 LYD. If you want to use a camera, the charge will be 5 LYD; for video it is 10 LYD.
You can go on a trip to the Jamahiriya Museum any day except Monday. It opens at 8:00 am. When you pay the museum fee, you will also gain access to the rest of the Tripoli Castle. A guide or guide book will come in handy because many of the displays have Arabic labels.
