Excavations at the ancient port city of Lixus in Morocco have brought to light the foundations of a significant 2nd-century Roman temple. Dedicated to Salus, the Roman goddess of health and public welfare, the temple features an unusual octagonal floor plan that deviates from the standard rectangular Vitruvian style. This architectural anomaly suggests an integration of local Mauretanian traditions with Roman religious practices.
Among the ruins, archaeologists found a pristine mosaic pavement depicting medicinal plants and the staff of Asclepius, confirming the site’s association with healing rituals. The temple’s location near the city’s famous garum processing factories indicates that the goddess was invoked to protect the health of the maritime workers and the prosperity of the North African trade route.