🏛️ Apollonia Ruins

About This Sacred Site

Founded in 588 BCE by Greek colonists from Corinth and Corfu, Apollonia was dedicated to the god Apollo and flourished as a center of learning and worship. The ruins include temples, a monastery, and an impressive bouleuterion. Augustus studied here before becoming Rome's first emperor, and Cicero praised it as a great and illustrious city.

Key Facts

• •Founded in 588 BCE and named after the Greek god Apollo
• •Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) was studying at Apollonia when Julius Caesar was assassinated
• •The site includes a 13th-century Byzantine monastery with a museum
• •Cicero described Apollonia as 'magna urbs et gravis' (a great and important city)
• •Only about 10% of the ancient city has been excavated

Location

Coordinates: 40.7233, 19.4708