Cleared in 1957 at Lepcis Magna by the Italian archaeological team, the city-block to the west of the four-way arch (quadrifrons) of Septimius Severus, between the decumanus maximus and a parallel north road, contained a large courtyard surrounded on three sides by colonnades and framed east and west by semicircular exedrae. The north side displayed a row of seven niches with statue-bases. The elegant South façade with corinthian pilasters had three arched doorways opening onto the decumanus. Westward, a series of rooms led to a doric north-south portico running alongside a thermal complex, followed by a residential area largely rebuilt in Late Antiquity. The inscriptions found in the courtyard suggest that, from the Hadrianic phase, it was an aula honouring a conspicuous local family, the Plautii and the matron Blaesilla. However, it is possible that the whole city-block had previously been a gymnasium area with associated bath-complex on the edge of the city.