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STATUES FROM THE ROMAN FORUM - STOBI
Stobi, one of the most important archaeological sites in Republic of Macedonia,
was subjected to intense exploration in the last decade. During the project “Roman Forum
– Stobi” which was carried out from 2003 until 2010 many new and exiting discoveries
were unearthed, among which a great amount of statue fragments. These statues were
decorating a public building, part of the Roman Forum, located on the eastern terrace of
the town. They were supposedly placed in the niches of the object which portrays
splendid architectural work. The statues were discovered on the ground level of the
building together with numerous findings of fine decorative plastic, pottery, lamps,
numismatic material, bone and bronze objects. Among many fragments of body parts, at
least nine separate statues can be identified. The statues are of fine quality; both in style
and material, some of them even showing traces of gilding. Most probably they were a
product of a workshop from Asia Minor. However, their severe fragmentation, as well as
some traces of burning suggest to intentional devastation. This paper deals not only with
the presentation and the datation of the statues, but also with the datation of their
destruction.