The House of the Two Peristyles at Phoinike (Southern Albania). A terraced district between sacred and profane

The House of the Two Peristyles is situated within a terraced district on the southern slope of the hill of Phoinike, the capital of Epirus during the Hellenistic period (3-2 cent. BCE). The complex experienced significant development throughout the Roman Imperial period. In scholarly tradition this context has been considered a typical example of a Hellenistic house, following the interpretation of Vitruvius. However, a reassessment of certain categories of finds associated with the sacred sphere, along with an analysis of their spatial distribution within the terrace and the broader urban topography, suggests the possibility of reevaluating the entire architectural complex. This new perspective reveals an interaction between social and religious aspects that may not necessarily be confined to private life.