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Saranda: The ancient city of Butrinti |
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The city of Butrinti (Bothrota) is one of the fragments which form the
fabric of Albania's ancient cultural landscape. Nestling in the
highlands in the far south of the country and surrounded by dense
vegetation, Butrinti was doubly protected by nature and by the
fortifications which its inhabitants built in ancient times. However,
this was not sufficient to isolate the city from the rest of the world.
Less than ten kilometers from the island of Corfu, Butrinti was linked
to the Mediterranean by the Vivari canal, which ran from the Butrinti
Lake to the Ionian Sea.
The amphitheater of Butrinti and its surroundings (Photo by Petrit Omeri)
The proximity of the sea and the lake, the gentle climate and the
beauty of the surrounding countryside provided a splendid environment
for the foundation of a city. In taking advantage of this site, the
architects of the past constructed what was to become one of the major
maritime and commercial centers of the Ancient World. Butrinti reached
the height of its glory in the 4th century B.C., at which time the city
numbered 10,000 inhabitants.
The sight of the fortifications alone, which date from the 6th century
B.C., evokes the military and economic potential of the city at that
time. The hill on which the acropolis stands is encircled by a wall
built of huge stone blocks. In places this wall is two meters high and
3.5 meters wide.
The amphitheater, dating from the 3rd century B.C., bears witness to
the cultural riches of the city. The stone banks of seating, of which
twenty-three rows have been preserved, would have held an audience of
1,500. The theater is situated at the foot of the acropolis, close by
two temples, one of which is dedicated to Asclepios, the Greek god of
medicine, who was worshiped by the city's inhabitants. Approximately
thirty inscriptions, almost all in ancient Greek, carved the western
facade of this temple, and another hundred or so found on a tower which
was rebuilt in the 1st century B.C., are the only examples of writing
discovered in Butrinti. These inscriptions are mainly concerned with
the liberation of slaves.
Excavations have brought to light many objects - plates, vases, ceramic
candle sticks - as well as sculptures, including a remarkable "Goddess
of Butrinti," which seems to completely embody, in the perfection of
its features, the Greek ideal of physical beauty.
For centuries, the walls faithfully defended Butrinti, but no wall is
invincible, and these huge blocks of stone finally ceded to the assault
of the Roman legions which landed on the Adriatic and Ionian shores in
the 2nd century B.C. Under the rule of the occupiers, Butrinti was to
fall slowly into decadence. In spite of this, three monumental
fountains, three public baths, a gymnasium decorated with mosaics, and
especially the aqueduct constructed during the reign of Augustus, prove
that the site was not completely abandoned. Augustus also oversaw the
reconstruction of all the ancient city walls and the erection of new
fortifications.
Christianity brought new life to Butrinti. The palaeo-Christian period
adorned the city with two basilicas and a baptistry, which is among the
most beautiful in the Mediterranean region. Sixteen granite columns,
forming two concentric circles, support the roof of the main hall. The
floor is paved with a magnificent mosaic representing the Tree of Life
and decorated with medallions embellished with animal motifs.
Barbarian incursions and Norman raids in the eleventh century, a
catastrophic earthquake in 1153, conquest by the Venetians in 1386, the
subterranean infiltration of water and the subsequent epidemics
completed the ruin of the city and forced the inhabitants to flee.
Butrinti was buried in silence and oblivion. Throughout the occupation
by the Ottoman Empire, from the 15th to the 20th centuries, the city
remained in deep slumber. The waters covered Butrinti in mud, and
abundant vegetation completely hid the remains from view.
It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that systematic
excavations were carried out at Butrinti by the Italian archeologist I.
Ugolini, followed by his compatriots P. Marconi and D. Mustili. Between
1928 and 1941, the ground was cleared and the ancient city gradually
began to reveal its hidden treasures.
Following the liberation of Albania in 1944, Albanian archeologists
undertook more ambitious excavations. In turn, the ramparts, the
acropolis, the agora, the amphitheater, the temples, public baths and
private residences re-emerged into the light of day. The entire city
arose, almost intact, under the fascinated gaze of the archeologists.
The mud and vegetation that covered Butrinti had protected it from the
natural and human ravages of time.
Today, this rediscovered city represents a unique cultural treasure
whose value far surpasses national frontiers. The importance of
Butrinti can be gauged from its inclusion in 1992 on UNESCO's World
Heritage List
Source: World66 & Butrinti.org
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 17 April 2005 )
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