In het bergland van Tripolis

In the early years of the twentieth century a determined explorer sets out from Tripoli, joining a modest caravan that includes his longtime Arab guide Hammer and a young Maltese assistant, Pepino. Their first camp near Gargaresj becomes a base for learning the rhythms of desert travel, while the French consulate offers a brief, courteous farewell. As the sun rises over the barren coast, the narrator begins to chart a region that few Europeans have ever witnessed.

Along the way he encounters a remarkable double tomb, its frescoed walls revealing a rare glimpse of a woman’s participation in the ancient Mithraic cult—an insight that upends long‑held assumptions. Nearby lie the crumbling remains of a Roman tower and the once‑prosperous harbour of Sabathra, now half‑buried by sand and wave. Guided by a powerful local chieftain, the expedition enjoys the hospitality of an oasis with lush fields, while the surrounding ruins whisper stories of Phoenician traders, Roman colonists, and later Arab incursions.