1Remains of an ancient monument were found in the plain west of Apollonia in 1988. In this process archaeologists conducted a rescue excavation[1]. The monument, which is located in the Roman necropolis area adjacent to the fortification wall, was described by excavators as an altar. This article discusses the preserved documentation and reassigns the interpretation as a Roman aedicula. The monument provides new insight into the local funerary customs and sparks the debate about the funeral assemblies and their spatial arrangements.

2The monument can be localised by means of two photos: the first (Fig. 1) gives an overview of the excavated monument situated in the bank of a water canal, next to a Roman brick structure[2] (Fig. 3) as well as a round bunker dating to the Communist era[3]. The brick structure with mortar is not well preserved and is overgrown by bushes. The monastery of Saint Mary, the workshop buildings of the modern archaeological park and the acropolis (Hill 104) are visible in the photograph’s background. The second photo (Fig. 2) shows the monument and the foundation of a modern bridge. The Roman brick structure (Fig. 3) and traces of the modern bunker were verified in the field. All structures and features that facilitated the localisation of the monument were marked in an orthophoto (Fig. 4). This led to its localisation in the eastern bank of the modern water canal, outside the city fortification wall, approximately 100 m west of Tower no. 8[4] (Fig. 5).

3In the same area, parts of a Roman necropolis were excavated during canalisation works conducted by Aleksandra Mano[5] in 1962. Other archaeological remains were discovered in the area in 1987[6]. Further, several scholars have situated the necropolis outside the city’s fortification walls (Fig. 9)[7]. Recent excavations were conducted next to Tower no. 8 and the modern canal bridge, which will provide additional archaeological data for the area[8].

4One corner of the monument is preserved. Its surviving dimensions are 3.16 m in length, 3 m in depth and ca. 0.8 m in height (Fig. 6). It was built by regularly cut, large stone blocks in dry masonry technique. Unfortunately, the building material is not mentioned in the documentation from 1988. The foundation is not visible or recorded, with the exception of the uppermost part of a regular ashlar layer. Above this layer, three further layers of rectangular stone blocks form a krepis [9]. The blocks have an anathyrosis and lie closely connected to each other. Furthermore, the top layer of the base has a flat profiled plinth base[10]. Only three blocks from the upper krepis are preserved[11]. As seen in the drawings, the blocks of the top row have a decorative strip. From bottom to top, this can be described as follows: an end strip is placed 17 cm inwards on the block, then a narrow bar and a cavetto follow. Above that, another inwardly displaced end strip completes the decoration. Comparing the drawing and the pictures, certain differences can be observed in the decoration. The reliability of the details depicted in the drawing may therefore be questioned. Particularly, after the 17 cm end strip a vertical bar or a curved part of a kymation can be seen on the drawing. Then the cavetto follows. Since the upper end strip is not clearly visible in the drawing and is shaded in the pictures, it might be a convex mould or a vertical bar. The precise pattern of the decoration thus remains uncertain. In the drawings and the pictures, a notch is visible on top of the block (15 cm wide and 2.5 cm high). However, this is nothing but a broken surface. Finally, three clamp holes are visible; one in the second step and two in the top layer[12].

5Although the structure is not well preserved, the architectural details give some reasonable options for a reconstruction. The clamp hole on the top layer next to the completely preserved block suggests that (at least) one block once continued on the north-western side.

6In addition, the partially preserved lower krepis indicates that the monument must have extended further to the west and might be larger than expected. The northern side probably extended further as well.

7Accepting that an additional block follows on the north-western side, a corner block was added to the southwest side for this hypothetical reconstruction (Fig. 7)[13]. The non-preserved side was reconstructed accordingly, resulting in minimum possible measurements of 2.4 m × 1.9 m (north to south × east to west) for the upper part of the structure and 4.1 m × 3.4 m for the lower part. Furthermore, the documented presence of clamps in the preserved top layer indicates that an additional structure followed on top. While the nature of this structure remains unknown, the flat base profile might indicate that it was not particularly high.

8Step-like pedestal blocks with decorations were common in the region during the Roman period, as two buildings demonstrate[14]. In Apollonia, this architectural feature can be observed on two boundaries of a sanctuary complex[15] and in Oricum on an altar foundation[16]. Current research suggests a dating to the Roman period (1st century B.C. to 3rd century A.D.). Other examples for a similar structural solution within the Roman empire can be found on an altar from Villach St. Agathen [17] and a grave monument in Kruft [18].

9The monument’s location within the area of the Roman necropolis (1st – 3rd century A.D.) and its partly preserved dimensions allow us to make some interpretative assumptions, and to connect it with Roman funerary architecture: While similar step-like pedestal bases are typical for a wide range of monument types in the Roman Empire, such Roman-period monuments in Albania are rare. Therefore, no clear typological classification is possible and the questionable plinth profile can only provide limited information. Nevertheless, the monument size fits that of the common Roman tomb of the aedicula type[19]. Furthermore, the widespread use of this monument type and its variations offers the closest similarities[20].

10Assuming that the monument can in fact be interpreted as a tomb of the aedicula type, the best comparable examples come from Italy and Slovenia. For example, a similarly constructed krepis can be observed at the aedicula of Caius Spectatius Priscianus[21] in Celeia (modern Šempeter, Slovenia), the monument of C. Spectatius Secundianus[22] and another aedicula type tomb[23]. Some other examples of a similarly sized monument also include the ›pediment tomb grave‹[24] from Pompeii (Italy). Earlier examples are the monument of Marcus Obulacus[25] and the tomb monument of Aefionius Rufus[26] from Sarsina (Italy).

11Within the area of Apollonia, no other base for a tomb of the aedicula type with a similar structure was found in situ [27]. Only one Antonine-period temple tomb was excavated in the Kryegjata valley by Pellegrino Claudio Sestieri[28]. In the same area, Camillo Praschniker found fragments of a temple tomb[29]. Furthermore, there is evidence for additional grave monuments as indicated by preserved architectural fragments of the Hellenistic[30] and Roman period[31]. Among the published material, a limestone frieze with subdivided hunting scenes[32] and an Amazonomachy[33] stands out. Due to its architectural form, the frieze belongs to at least one aedicula and closes off the upper part of the base (Fig. 8). The frieze dates to the first half of 3rd century A.D.[34] and shows popular themes of otium and pietas [35]. Two female figures[36] from the 1st or 2nd century A.D. could be the lateral supports for an aedicula, as a comparison to the Mausoleum of Armasta in Termessos [37] shows. Therefore, the architectural fragments suggest that such a tomb type existed in Apollonia as well.

12Generally, the discussed monument may offer further insights into the context and decorative styles of Apollonian funerary monuments during the Roman period. For the first time, a fixed location for such a representative monument was recorded. The mentioned brick structure might be another grave monument, as these situated along streets leading in and out of the city.

13Considering the Roman necropoleis in Apollonia in general, it is evident that at least two areas existed: one in the western plain and one in the eastern valley of Apollonia (Fig. 9). The presented tomb of the aedicula type and the near-by brick structure extend our knowledge of the western necropolis, where Mano also excavated pit graves, roof-tiled graves, a building foundation, and another brick structure[38]. In comparison to the structures known so far from the western necropolis, the temple tomb in the Krygjata valley stands out in terms of dimensions, monumentality and context[39]. This may possibly suggest a social distinction in the spatial arrangement of the Apollonian necropoleis.

14Through the study of archival material and observations made in the field, it became clear that the discussed structure may represent an important tomb monument of Apollonia. The presumed tomb of the aedicula type is only partially preserved. The superstructures of such tombs could have had prestigious adornments, as comparable architectural fragments suggest. Concerning the dating of the monument, the location and local comparisons point between the 1st – 3rd century A.D. Finally, the preliminary results of this study raise further research questions: What tomb types are generally evident? How are the necropoleis areas structured spatially? How are these monuments connected with possible roads leading in and out of the city? These are only few questions that are to be addressed in the future.

15Në qytetin antik të Apolonisë doli në dritë në vitin 1988 një strukturë bazamenti me shkallë, e cila u identifikua si »altar«. Për këtë objekt ruhen në Arkivin Teknik të Institutit Kombëtar të Trashëgimisë Kulturore dy skica me autor Guri Panin e të përpunuara nga Agim Qyshka dhe vetëm dy fotografi. Përmes këtij materiali arkivor u bë i mundur lokalizimi në terren i monumentit, i cili gjendet në bankinën lindore të kanalit vaditës Vjosë–Levan–Fier, fare pranë urës së kanalit, rreth 100 m në perëndim të Kullës nr. 8 të murit fortifikues të Apolonisë. Monumenti është i dëmtuar, ndërsa ruan in situ vetëm një kënd të plotë. Ai paraqet një strukturë me tre shkallë, të ndërtuar me blloqe guri drejtkëndore, me lidhje në të thatë. Shkallët formojnë krepisin, ndërsa shtresa e sipërme ka blloqe guri të profiluar, e cila është në vetvete baza për një strukturë tjetër, që ngrihej dikur këtu.

16Rezultat e studimit për këtë monument tregojnë se nuk kemi të bëjmë me një »altar«, por me një varr monumental. Vetë ky ndërtim ndodhet në hapësirën e nekropolit të periudhës Romake të qytetit. Ndërsa, monumente të ngjashme me të tilla konfigurime ruhen më së miri deri në ditët tona në disa qytete, dikur pjesë e territorit të Perandorisë Romake. Ndër to përmendim varret e tipit me aedicula të Caius Spectatius Priscianus, të Caius Spectatius Secundianus, si edhe një tjetër nga Šempeter, Slloveni, një në Faschendorf, Austri, ndërsa një rast vjen nga Sarsina në Itali dhe Pompei, ku në këtë të fundit kemi një shembull të një varri të tipit me pediment. Në aspektin teknik dhe artistik, për radhën e gurëve të profiluar, shembuj të ngjashëm kemi nga Villach St. Agathen në Austri dhe Kruft, Gjermani. Këto monumente janë të datuara respektivisht në shek. II dhe rreth vitit 100. Ndërsa një studim i Henner von Hesberg mbi disa fragmente frizesh në Apoloni supozon praninë e një varri monumental të datuar në gjysmën e parë të shek. III. Përmasat e hipotetizuara të autorit janë të përafërta me ato të sugjeruara nga ne, ndërsa dëshmojnë mundësinë e ekzistencës së një kategorie të tillë varresh monumentalë në një qytet si Apolonia. Për sa i përket kohës së ndërtimit, mund t´a datojmë varrin në periudhën Perandorake Romake, në shek. I–III, siç na sugjerojnë shembujt e gjetur dhe vendodhja e tij në hapësirën e nekropolit të datuar në të njëjtën kohë.

17Ky monument është një tregues i rëndësishëm për arkitekturën e varreve në Apoloni. Ndërsa nga monumentet funerare ruhen vetëm pjesë të fragmentuara, gjykojmë se nevojitet rishikimi i dokumentacionit të vjetër, që mund të sjellë të dhëna të reja dhe shumë të rëndësishme për studimet e së ardhmes. Për më tepër, është e rëndësishme të hapen diskutime dhe të ngrihen çështje të mëtejshme kërkimore, të lidhura me ansamblet funerare dhe zonën e nekropolit në Apoloni, strukturimin dhe lidhjen e këtij të fundit me qytetin.

In 1988, during the extension of a modern water channel, an ancient monument was discovered in the plain west of Apollonia (Albania). While the excavators described it as an altar, this paper argues that the monument may be better interpreted as a tomb of the aedicula type as it is situated in the necropolis area close to the city wall. The monument is an important indicator of Apollonia’s funeral customs and raises questions regarding the funeral assemblies and areas of representation in Apollonia.