Roman Butrint: An Assessment

Butrint, an ancient Buthrotum, has been shaped by the interaction between the place, its lagoonal landscape, and the Mediterranean. It was an obvious cornerstone in controlling the passage from the Adriatic to the Aegean and was refounded as a colony and awarded a pivotal role in Virgil's court-sponsored foundation epic, The Aeneid. This present volume assesses the Roman archaeology of Butrint, focusing on the foundation and early history of the colony.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2021
Publisher: Oxbow Books

Butrint, an ancient Buthrotum, has taken on various forms throughout history, shaped by the constant interplay between the place, its lagoonal landscape, and the Mediterranean. While it does not appear on any records of early Greek colonization as a Corcyrean settlement, strong connections must have existed between it and the metropolitan Corinthian colony of Corfu. Blessed with springs possessing healing qualities, a small polis was created, eventually expanding to incorporate a healing sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius. During Julius Caesar's time, when he sought supplies to sustain his struggle against Pompey, he must have viewed the sanctuary, surrounded by largely dried-out marshland, as the perfect site to settle veterans as a colony. It was an obvious cornerstone in controlling the passage from the Adriatic to the Aegean. The early settlers were likely limited in number and predominantly of civilian status. However, the political changes to the city's magistrature were swift, and within a relatively short timeframe, fundamental changes to the physical make-up of the city were set in motion. With its newfound Roman status, Butrint positioned itself directly before the highest authorities in Rome, and under Augustus' guidance following his victory at Actium, the city was refounded as a colony and awarded a pivotal role in Virgil's court-sponsored foundation epic, The Aeneid. Now linked to the Victory City of Nicopolis rather than in the shadow of Corfu, Butrint flourished. The urban fabric evolved, sometimes faltered, but was essentially sustained until the later 6th century A.D. This present volume serves as an assessment of Roman archaeology, a compilation of studies and field reports that focus upon the foundation.

Weight: 848g
Dimension: 210 x 297 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789257335