Naval Air StationPort Lyautey, Morocco

The following photographs are from the personal collection of Jerry (Gerald J.) Zimmerman who served at NAS Port Lyautey between 8/2/47 to 4/15/48. Copies of these photographs may be obtained in a larger format by contacting Jerry at Jerdadzim@cs.com. Former shipmates of Jerry may also contact him at the same e-mail address.

Photographs of Chella

Located outside the north wall of Rabat lays the remains of the 14th Century Chellah Necropolis Ruins. They occupy the site of the ancient Roman town of Sala. This early settlement at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River dates back to preroman times. During the Roman Empire the Sala fortress was built at this location. It was the Roman's southernmost colony. In the 13th century the Merinid sultan Abu al Hassan built a necropolis on top of the Roman site and built a defensive wall around it. An 18th century earthquake destroyed the settlement and it was never rebuilt.

The south and main entrance to Chella. To realize the large size of the wall and entrance notice the two turbaned Arabs sitting on the grass just left of the walking path.

An artifact left behind by the Romans. Because, in 1947, I did not know the history of Chella, I became very interested to learn why the remains of a Roman sculptured statue was within the walls that also included… (See below and following…)

...................an Arab Mosque!

…..........and what appeared to be a Roman bath!

...........…lined with Roman styled, individual bathing areas! After my 1947 visit and some research, I confirmed that all of my 19 year-old sailor observations were correct. The ruins were, indeed, of a Roman bath that also became the site and home for Moroccan Arab rulers.

In 1947 (and I am told it is the same today) the only permanent residents of the ancient ruins of Chella were (and remain) many families of nesting storks.