The Goddess of Butrint: a Mythological Paradigm

A new interpretation of the 'Goddess of Butrint' statue challenges its traditional classification, revealing it as a symbolic fusion of Themis and Apollo. This mythological paradigm, discovered during 1928 excavations at Butrint's theatre, was likely intended to commemorate Augustus' victory in Actium and the deification of Livia. Unlike previous assumptions that treated the head (object no. 1227) as a fragmentary sculpture or a variant of Apollo's Anzio type, this study integrates historical analysis with stone carving techniques and stylistic elements, arguing for its unified significance. The head's asymmetrical design, polychrome residues, and varied carving stages further support this reinterpretation. While the statue's body was destroyed in 1943, the surviving head offers critical insights into its original intent.

Buzi, I. (2018). THE GODDESS OF BUTRINT: A MYTHOLOGICAL PARADIGM. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.1478166