This building has almost a square plan (11.05x11.42 m) and it has a single entry on the facade. It is built on the ruins of an earlier existing Doric portico. Portico apses and the back wall belonging to the Hellenistic period are visible in this object. The presence of a bench lying against a portion of the inner wall, justifies its identification as a library: it is intended to support the cabinet containing books. The existence of a library in Apollonia would not be surprising if one refers to the example of its neighbor, Dyrrachium (Durrës), where an inscription testifies to the construction of a building of this type. Competition and emulation, which have always existed between the two ancient cities, it is difficult to think of Apollonia without a library. One could also think of an Augusteum (shrine dedicated to the imperial cult) because the seat could also bear statues of emperors as is the case for a building in Narona, Croatia, the plan of which is very similar to it. However during excavations French archaeologist Leon Rey has found no statue inside the building, which weakens this hypothesis. Like all buildings of the monumental center, the building is dated to the II-III century A.D.

Type of Data Point - Publicly Available Information

Library Apollonia - Public Info

Visit page of the element - Library Apollonia

Inserted: 05-04-2023 05:04:38