The Forum

The most substantial buildings of the forum of Butrint date from Hellenistic and Roman times. These buildings include a theatre and a large tripartite building. Around the 4th century AD, an earthquake struck Butrint. This did not only damage the buildings, but also led to the inundation of the forum.

The space was subsequently infilled with debris, presumably to raise the forum’s level above the water level. Several buildings were built on the forum around the 5th century, these included several public buildings and a well. Occupation in this area seems to have ceased around the late 6th century, when burials were placed on the Forum.

The area was subsequently reoccupied in the Medieval period. A large house, made of reused limestone blocks of Roman origin, was constructed at the site. The house was destroyed in the 16th century AD.