Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are located in Alexandria, Egypt. Half a kilometer to the northeast is the Serapeum of Alexandria, which is another archaeological site in the area. The Serapeum of Alexandria is considered to have been built by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC. Coordinates 31.178942, 29.893170 Description The site is thought to date to the Hellenistic period, and Roman, Greek, and Egyptian cultural attributes can be found throughout. The site is considered to have three levels dug into the rock, being up to 35 meters deep. The Catacombs consist of a triclinium, dining room, rotunda, Hall of Caracalla, and sarcophagi. The entrance is from the southeast side near the staircase at a 40° angle. The Catacombs' size is 25 metres by 50 metres. It is thought the site was an earlier burial ground where visitors brought clay pots of food for themselves, leaving the pots as they departed. Hence, this is where the name derived from. Analysis The tomb...
Butrint
Butrint was originally a settlement of the Greek tribe of the Chaonians, it later became an important Greek city-state.
During Roman control the city was expanded, and it became a prosperous town with a theater and other public buildings.
Butrint is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwestern Albania.
Coordinates
39.745890,20.021995
Description
Although the Butrint National Archaeological Park is larger, this article refers to the peninsula with the entrance by a Venetian Tower.
Analysis
Of the buildings there, the following are considered Roman: The Shrine of Shklepio, Butrint Ancient Theatre, Roman Bath, and Roman Forum. The theatre would be an amphitheater. The use of local stone and blocks are not in keeping with Roman builds, which included bricks and cement.
This build is different from Roman amphitheatres, which would have a columned promenade. This is at 17° with the Amphitheatre at 73° towards the southwest.
As the name suggests, the Great Basilica is a more modern build, although near the Nymphaeum, which is Roman. Also nearby are the Baptistery and Merchant's House; although these may have tiled floors, they are more modern. This would also include the Triconch Palace, although other Mediterranean styles should be considered. The Nymphaeum is the only building to align with this angle. The Nymphaeum is also built of bricks. It is a small building and is similar to a shrine or temple.
The areas are between 2 and 17 metres in elevation, 6 and 55 feet.
Conclusion
What is unusual about this site is that it is aligned with modern times and modern sea levels. It is understood that the sea level has been rising since the Ice Age, with a probable 20-metre increase since the Roman emperor Caesar's time. Also unusual is that not only did the Romans pick this area of land, but so did the Byzantines.
If considering a connection between the elevation and angles, then the two elevation extremes for the site would match the 17° build of the amphitheater and the 2° would connect with the Baptistery.
As official history states that this was Greek and later Roman, it is possible that the Romans built the Nymphaeum, which follows their style. Although not a typical Roman style, 2 and 17 could be dates that Romans occupied the area, possibly between 2 AD and 17 AD.
No changes Author Anastasia Tzigounaki
Archeology77 ©

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