The Beauty of Decay

I probably visited the Roman ruins of Leptis Magna a half dozen times during the years I lived in Libya so many years ago. I was always awestruck by the majesty of its decaying, yet timeless beauty. A once great city's crumbling remains lie half-buried in dunes by the sea nearly two thousand years later. It was a very quiet place. Almost haunting in its emptiness.  Rarely did I see more than a few people, if any, on any visit. There were no guards, fences or entry fee. You could walk into the extensive ruins from any location, including the beach, or enjoy a picnic and swim at its doorstep or sit at the highest level in its theatre (shown here) and reflect upon the significance of it all.
The beauty of decay is the theme this month for the City Daily Photo blogging community.  You may see many different takes on the theme today by CDP bloggers around the world by clicking here.