Lep­tis Magna was enlarged and embell­ished by Sep­ti­m­ius Severus, who was born there and lat­er became emper­or. It was one of the most beau­ti­ful cities of the Roman Empire, with its impos­ing pub­lic mon­u­ments, har­bour, mar­ket-place, store­hous­es, shops and res­i­den­tial dis­tricts.