Archaeologists working at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint have uncovered a previously unknown 2nd-century Roman temple dedicated to Venus Stella Maris (Venus, Star of the Sea). Located near the ancient harbor’s edge, the temple features a well-preserved marble floor with a large mosaic of a dolphin-drawn chariot. This specific cult of Venus was popular among Roman sailors and merchants who sought protection for their maritime voyages across the Ionian Sea.
The excavation has yielded several high-quality marble capitals and a life-sized statue of the goddess emerging from a sea shell. Notably, the temple’s layout incorporates a submerged ritual basin that would fill with seawater during high tides, serving as a sacred pool for votive offerings. Scholars believe the discovery confirms the vital role of Butrint as a religious and commercial gateway between the Italian peninsula and the Greek East during the Roman Imperial era.