Yesterday, Nov. 3, 2008 was our Preparation day. We took the time to travel by bus back down to Durres to meet with the Muellers. Because they will be leaving at the end of the month we needed to discuss the Seminary program here in Albania. They've been the responsible senior missionary couple for seminary these past 18 months. With no one to replace them Mom and I will be the responsible missionaries starting December 1st. During the 15th Century Durres was part of the Venetian Republic. Above is part of the surviving tower fortification built at that time. To the left of the tower is a surviving section of the Byzantine wall which surrounded the old city. It was built from late 5th century to early 6th century and replaced an earlier wall which collapsed during an earthquake in AD 348.

After meeting with Elder and Sister Mueller we walked into Durres to see the Roman amphitheater. This particular amphitheater was built in the 2nd century. It is the largest amphitheater in the Balkans. It has not been fully excavated because of the houses that were built on it. This amphitheater would have been able to seat about 15,000 spectators. It was about 1/3 the size of the Colosseum in Rome.  Photo to left is Mom and Elder Mueller with some pot shards they were given from the on going excavation. Behind them is the Byzantine city wall.

This is one of the tunnels running into the amphitheater. It is estimated to be nearly a mile long and runs into the center of town. While excavation the site some 40 bodies were found with their necks broken. The tunnel is not fully dug out. The rich and famous of Durres would have ridden the chariots through this tunnel to come and watch the "games".

There is a Byzantine chapel in the ruins of the amphitheater. The mosaics found in this chapel are the only wall mosaic ever found in Albania.  The local Christian community of Durres took over the amphitheater in the 5th Century, after gladiatorial combat had been banned and the theater was abandoned.