The circus of the Roman city of Leptis Magna in Libya was plundered for stone by a rascally Frenchman a couple of centuries ago. However we can get a good idea of what it looked like from a mosaic at the Villa Selene, nearby. Unfortunately it’s not that easy to make out. Here’s my 2006 photograph, taken from one end.
![Villa Selene nr Leptis Magna - chariot racing (original)](https://i0.wp.com/www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/libya_villa_selene_original.jpg?resize=461%2C614&ssl=1)
However I discovered a funny thing this evening. I loaded that image into Paint.Net this evening and, idly, hit the menu option to “auto-level”. This never does anything useful; but it’s the top option on effects, so I often try it. And … there is always a first time, and this is what I got! —
![Villa Selene, chariot racers - autoleveled](https://i0.wp.com/www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/libya_villa_selene_autolevel.jpg?resize=461%2C614&ssl=1)
Suddenly we can see! The gates at one end, the spina, even the colours, all become possible.
Digital photography … it is such a gift!