An ancient shrine has been built on top of a low hill called “Lëmi i Peçit”, located outside the fortification of the Illyrian city of Amantia, where the temple of Aphrodite once stood impressively.  A buttress-supported ancient wall has been built to protect the sacred shrine, as well as to create a solid base for the temple’s construction.

The temple is thought to have been built circa III century BC and the site was destroyed in IV AD and an early Christian Church was constructed on the site with the use of elements and construction materials of the temple.

The ruins of the temple and basilica of Amantia are the meaningful example of the process of abandoning the pagan religion and embracing the Christian religion in the Southern Illyria territory.

The Illyrian city of Amantia is nowadays one of the largest archaeological parks in the country and a testimony to the rich ancient history of the Ionian coast

Amantia was founded during the 5th century B.C. on its own acropolis, at 613 meters above sea level. The buildings and fortifications erected on quite difficult mountainous terrain are one of the most fascinating aspects of the ancient city. The main and most striking elements of the park are the ruins of the ancient stadium built from stone blocks around the 3rd century B.C. At 12,50 meters wide, with 17 rows, and a central stage shaped like a horse’s shoe, the stadium could accommodate approximately 4,000 spectators

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