Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of the first Hellenistic temple in Albania

During excavations in an ancient Illyrian city near the settlement of Bushat in northern Albania, archaeologists from the Universities of Warsaw and Tirana discovered the stone foundation of a large Hellenistic temple. This was reported by Arkeonews magazine on June 18.

Izvestia reference

Bushat: historical background

The ancient settlement in Bushat was opened in 2018. Scientists suggest that the ancient city of Bassania, mentioned in written sources, was located here. Initially, the researchers discovered the city gates and massive walls, and the discovery of the temple confirmed that the object was not just a fortress, but a planned urban center.

The settlement was abandoned back in the Hellenistic period, but in the 3rd century AD, in the Roman era, a small building was erected next to the ruins of the temple. Archaeologists believe that the Romans used the foundation of the ancient sanctuary to set up an observation post that allowed them to control the territory from Shkoder to the Adriatic coast.

The facility is located on the acropolis, the highest part of the hill, which overlooks the entire ancient settlement. The researchers completely uncovered the stone base of a rectangular building measuring 13.6 by 9.6 m. The proportions of the building correspond to classical Greek temples, which indicates the significant role of the structure in the religious and social life of the city.

Professor Piotr Dychek, Director of the Center for the Study of Antiquities of Southeastern Europe, University of Warsaw

Judging by the location of the building on the top of the hill and its orientation to the cardinal points, we can assume that these are the remains of the temple that crowned the city acropolis from the IV to II century BC.

During the work, the scientists also partially uncovered the defensive wall surrounding the hill. According to Dychek, it also served as the border of the temenos, a sacred enclosure that separated the sanctuary from the rest of the city.

The current find is of key importance for the study of Illyrian culture, as it is the first Hellenistic temple identified in the northern part of Albania. Previously, archaeologists found mainly fortifications, hill settlements and burial sites in this region, while there was no evidence of a developed cult architecture. The use of Greek architectural forms by local elites indicates the close ties of Illyrian communities with the Mediterranean world while maintaining their own political identity.

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On June 18, APNews reported the discovery of a Stonehenge prototype near the monument. The distance between the historical monuments is 5 km. According to the researchers, the discovered wooden structure is 500 years older than the monument and could serve as a prototype of the famous megalith.

Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»

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