From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The
Martyrs' Square
(
Arabic
:
????? ???????
Mayd?n ash-Shuhad?'
[1]
[2]
); known as
Green Square
(
?????? ???????
as-S??ah al-Kha?r?'
) under the
Gaddafi government
;
Independence Square
(
????? ?????????
Mayd?n al-Istiql?l
) during the
monarchy
; and originally (during
Italian colonial rule
) known as
Piazza Italia
("Italy Square") is a downtown landmark at the bay in the city of
Tripoli, Libya
. The main commercial center of the city surrounds the square.
[3]
The Square is also a main tourist attraction in Tripoli. It has a large legendary fountain done by an Italian architect at the centre of the square. The square is the meeting point of many different avenues. Omar Mukhtar Avenue is one of the longest in North Africa, it was built by Italians in the colonial time, and Libyans during the era of King
Idris I
. Independence Street branches from the square too, and it leads to the Palace of King Idris I. 24 December Avenue is also an Italian built avenue. Mizran Street is the last street that branches from the Martyrs' Square.
History
[
edit
]
1935 postcard of Tripoli's
Conte Volpi Corniche
, the entrance to
Piazza Italia
visible on the right, with the
Teatro Miramare
behind. The old shoreline and seawall is on the left, before moving by landfill expansions.
Aerial view of
Independence Square
with the
Red Castle
and the
Royal Miramare Theatre
(lower left side) during the 1950s.
Looking from
Green Square
north towards the sea. On the left is the
Red Castle
(2008).
The square was originally constructed by the
Italian colonial
rulers on the site of the old bread market (
s?q al-khubs
), and it was expanded on several occasions during the 1930s.
During the Italian colonial period, it was called
Piazza Italia
("Italy Square"). After Libyan independence in 1951, it was known as "Independence Square" during the
Libyan monarchy
(1951–1969). After the 1969 revolution by Gaddafi, the square was renamed again to "Green Square"
[4]
to mark his
political philosophy
in his
Green Book
.
[5]
2011 Libyan civil war
[
edit
]
On the night of 21–22 August, Libyan rebel groups took control of the area during the
2011 Battle of Tripoli
and started referring to it as
Martyrs' Square
to dissociate the square from the
Gaddafi government
and to commemorate those who died in the fight against his government.
[6]
[7]
On
Eid ul-Fitr
(31 August) and again on 2 September, tens of thousands of Tripoli residents, including many women and children, gathered on Martyrs' Square to celebrate the end of Gaddafi's rule.
[8]
[9]
Facilities
[
edit
]
It features the
Red Castle
[10]
(
As-saraya Al-hamra
), which hosts Libya's Antiquities Department and the
National Museum
with a collection of Phoenician, Greek and Roman artefacts. The museum also exhibits a statue of Venus from the
Hadrianic
Baths at
Leptis
, a complete Libyan-Roman tomb from the Ghirza region, and a colourful
Volkswagen Beetle
used by Colonel Gaddafi leading up to the revolution.
[11]
On the other side, a wide avenue leading towards the seafront with two tall pillars. On top of the pillars are an iron-cast, miniature wooden ship; the other one features a horseback rider.
The
Royal Miramare Theatre
used to be located across from the
Red Castle
, but it was demolished by Gaddafi's government after the 1960s to create space for large demonstrations.
See also
[
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]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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Forces
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Battles
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NATO
operations
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People
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Pro-Gaddafi
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NATO
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Others
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Places, buildings
and structures
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Impact
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Other
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