Apollonia of Illyria

an ancient Greek city in the southwestern region of present-day Albania. Apollonia was founded in 588 B.C. and destroyed at the end of the fourth century A.D. Excavations from 1918 to 1939 by the French archaeologist L. Rey and from 1956 to 1960 by Albanian and Soviet scientists have discovered remnants of defense walls (fifth to third centuries B.C.) made of hewn stones and bricks, a school building (fifth century B.C.), a covered portico (second century B.C.) with 17 niches containing statues, streets paved with flagstones, and many brick structures dating from the first few centuries A.D. These brick structures include a rectangular building with a four-column facade, a theater with an audience capacity of 400–500 spectators, and remains of wealthy residential houses with mosaic and marble floors.