A Colossal Cult Statue Group from Dobër, Albania: Visual Narratives of East and West in the Countryside of Butrint

A colossal cult statue group from the countryside of Butrint, Albania, reveals the region's pivotal role as a cultural crossroads between East and West. The statues, discovered in 1913 on a low hill called Dobër, depict the enthroned Mother of the Gods flanked by two standing male figures—likely Attis or a figure from the Trojan saga, such as Askanios—and an unidentified male. Stylistic analysis suggests these statues date to the late fourth or third century BCE and were likely housed in a temple at Dobër. The group serves as a visual narrative of Butrint's literary and cultural ties to Troy, while also highlighting its strategic importance during Rome's Macedonian Wars and Augustan colonization. Archival research challenges the association of a veiled female head from Ioannina with this group, reinforcing the focus on Butrint's historical significance.

Melfi, M., & Martens, B. (2020). A Colossal Cult Statue Group from Dobër, Albania: Visual Narratives of East and West in the Countryside of Butrint. American Journal of Archaeology, 124(4), 575–606. https://doi.org/10.3764/aja.124.4.0575