Durrës Amphitheatre
Amfiteatri i Durrësit | |
Shown within Albania | |
Location | Durrës, Durrës County, Albania |
---|---|
Region | Illyria |
Coordinates | 41°18′44″N 19°26′42″E / 41.312222°N 19.444867°E |
Type | Roman amphitheatre |
Length | 132.4 metres (434 ft) |
Width | 113.2 metres (371 ft) |
Height | 20 metres (66 ft) |
History | |
Founded | 2nd century AD |
Periods | Roman Empire |
Site notes | |
Excavation dates | 1900s, 1960s |
Condition | ruins |
Public access | yes (admission fee) |
The Durrës Amphitheatre (Albanian: Amfiteatri i Durrësit) is a large Roman amphitheatre in the city of Durrës, Albania. Built in the 2nd century AD during Roman Emperor Trajan's rule, it is located in the centre of the city and is only half unearthed. The Durrës Amphitheatre is one of the largest amphitheatres in the Balkan peninsula,[1] once having a capacity of 20,000 people, and has no analogs in Albania.[2] It was discovered in the late 1900s and today has become a popular tourist attraction. Durrës Amphitheatre is a World Heritage candidate.[3]
History
The amphitheatre was built in the beginning of the 2nd century AD. The amphitheatre was used for performances until the 4th century AD. The earthquake of 345/346 likely damaged the monument and closed the 'ludii gladiatorii'. An early Christian chapel was constructed on the amphitheatre in the second half of the 4th century. The chapel was initially decorated with frescoes; in the 6th century, mosaics were added.[2] A medieval chapel was built in the 13th century, also decorated with frescoes. The amphitheatre was covered over in the 16th century, after the Ottoman occupation, when the wall was built nearby. Marin Barleti described the monument as 'well constructed'.
About one third of the site was discovered and excavated in the 1960s by Vangjel Toci; the rest was excavated in the 1980s by Lida Miraj. After excavation the amphitheater slowly deteriorated, as no conservation efforts were undertaken prior to the 2000s, and construction continued to take place around the site. In the 2004 the University of Parma started restoration work to save the monument.[2]
Site
The amphitheatre has an elliptical shape with axes of 132.4 metres (434 ft) and 113.2 metres (371 ft). The arena is 61.4 metres (201 ft) by 42.2 metres (138 ft) and is 20 metres (66 ft) high. It is built on a slope of the hill, and inside the amphitheatre there are staircases and galleries at different levels. The chapel with mosaics is preserved.[2]
The site currently functions as a museum.
Dangers
The amphitheatre is surrounded on all sides by the city of Durrës, and a section of the arena itself has been built upon with modern housing.[4] Thus, development pressures threaten the long-term preservation of the site. The municipality of Durrës is now planning to remove the houses.
The amphitheatre has serious structural deficiencies, and its mosaics and paintings are slowly decaying.[2]
In 2013, the amphitheatre was shortlisted along with thirteen other sites by Europa Nostra as one of the most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe.[5]
See also
- Panorama of Durrës Amphitheatre
External links
References
Notes
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Durrës Amphitheatre. |
- ↑ "Life is a Promise in Durrës, Albania". Balkan Travellers.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Karaiskaj, Prof. Dr. Gjerak (2004). "Amphitheatre of Durrës" (PDF). European Commission. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ↑ L'amphithéâtre de Durrës - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- ↑ European Commission-Council of Europe Joint Programme: Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan / Survey of the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IRPP/SAAH) – Albania, March 2004.
- ↑ "14 European sites shortlisted for the 'The 7 Most endangered programme'". Europa Nostra. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
Sources
- Miraj, L. Dyrrachium in the Early Christian and Byzantine Period (Tiranë 2013).
- Miraj, L. ‘The Chapel in the Amphitheater of Dyrrachium and its Mosaics’, Antichità AltoAdriatiche-LIII (Trieste 2003) 245-291.
- Miraj, L. ‘The Earliest Coinage of Epidamnos/Dyrrachion as a Source’, Greek Influence along the East Adriatic Coast, Proceedings of the International Conference held in Split, September 24–26, 1998 (Split 2002) 435-470.
- Miraj, L. ‘Adaptime ne amfiteater gjate shekujve VI-XII’, Monumentet, (1991/1-2) 47-60.
- Miraj, L.‘Rezultate të gërmimeve arkeologjike në amfiteatrin e Durrësit’, Iliria, (1991/1-2) 276-278.
- Miraj, L.‘Mbishkrime për ndërtimet e Dyrrahut’, Iliria, (1991/1-2) 249-259.
- Miraj, L.‘Rezultate të germimeve arkeologjike në amfiteatër dhe termat romake, Durrës’, Iliria, (1990/2) 258-259.
- Miraj, L.‘Raport nga germimet arkeologjike ne amfiteatrin e Durresit’, Iliria, (1989/2) 286-288.
- Miraj, L.‘Gërmime të reja në amfiteatrin e Durrësit’, Iliria, (1988/2) 264-265.
- Miraj, L.‘Raport mbi gërmimet arkeologjike në amfiteatrin e Durrësit’, Iliria, (1987/2) 248-249.
- Miraj, L.‘Amfiteatri i Durrësit’, Iliria, (1986/2) 151-171.
- Miraj, L.‘Rreth Fortifikimeve para Bizantine të Dyrrahut’, Akte të Konferencës Arkeologjike rreth Durrësit (1983) 6-11.
- Miraj, L.‘Disa të dhena rreth amfiteatrit të Durrësit’, Durrësi, (1983/1) 21-29.