Ancient Libya is an existing witness of various civilizations from Neolithic ethnicity to Egyptian society, Carthaginian culture, Greeks, Romans and Muslims. The people of Ancient Libya were the intimates of the modern Berber people. Berber people were acknowledged as “Libyans” during Greek periods and their land was known as “Libya”.
When we talk of Libya, it is recognized as a land on the west of ancient Egypt that was a home for tribal people, generally known as the Libu and Tahu, to name a few. The 22nd and the 23rd dynasties of Egypt were ruled by the lords of Libyan culture that migrated to Egypt in the late period.
Ancient Libya and its Inhabitants
The Phoenicians, armies of Alexander the Great, Carthaginians and the Ptolemaic successors of Alexandra, along with the neighboring legislative bodies of the Byzantine Empire, ruled over the entire country of Libya. According to certain evidences, the coastal plains of Libya were populated with Neolithic people who were connoisseurs in the domestication of cattle and farming.
The original inhabitants of ancient Libya were Berbers and the derivation of this community is still a baffling question. The Berber languages that were spoken by the Berber people are in close relation to the languages that are currently spoken in Algeria and Morocco. This exploration has led to the profusion of educated conjecture with no explanation at all. Historical reflections have pointed to the foundation of Berbers in Southwestern Asia from which the associates of Berbers may have initiated their exodus into North Africa. There is still confusion regarding the fact as to whether the Egyptian name “Libu” was used for the Berber tribe or if it was used by the Berber people to refer to themselves. Not only this, modern Egypt has a part called Siwa Oasis where a language is still spoken that is close to Berber Siwi languages.
Origin of the Name “Libya”
Many Libyan tribes were brought up by the archeology of ancient Egyptians, out of which Tahu, Libu and Tjehenu, to name a few, were well known. It is believed that the name “Libya” originated from the ancient Egyptian tribe called “Libu” and afterwards this name was used in the Hebrew language, where it was written in the holy “Bible” as “Lehabim”. Presently the name “Libya” is mostly found in the Latin, Arabic and Greek languages.
With such great history and heritage, Libya stands as the prefect tourist attraction for vacationers with numerous places and venues to visit. Such tourist attractions reveal ancient Libya and the culture people followed since decades ago. Spending a holiday in Libya can be one of the most exciting experiences. So if you are planning to visit Libya, do not forget to bring your guide book so that you can enjoy sight seeing and also relish in the actual beauty of ancient Libya.
