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Antigonia (Chaonia)

Antigonea (Ancient Greek: Ἀντιγόνεια), also transliterated as Antigonia and Antigoneia, was an ancient Greek[1] city in Chaonia, Epirus, and the chief inland city of the ancient Chaonians. It was founded in the 3rd century BC by Pyrrhus of Epirus, who named it after one of his wives, Antigone, daughter of Berenice I and step-daughter of Ptolemy I of Egypt.

Ruins of Epirote house with peristyle

History edit

"The straits near Antigoneia" were mentioned in 230 BC, when a force of Illyrians under Scerdilaidas passed the city to join an invading army further south. In 198 BC, during the Second Macedonian War, the Romans marched against the Macedonian armies of Philip V. His general, Athenagoras, was able to occupy one of the nearby passes, leading to the Romans being held back. Initially the Romans were going to negotiate peace, however, several treasonous shepherds led the Romans to be able to surround and destroy the Macedonian army of 2000 men.[2]

The inhabitants of Antigoneia had sided with the Macedonians and so when the Romans were victorious over the Macedonians in 167BC. Thus, the Romans decided to punish those who had fought against them. Consul Aemilius Paullus ordered for 70 towns in Epirus to be lit on fire. This included Antigoneia, which was never rebuilt.[3] Antigonia is mentioned by the ancient authors Polybius,[4] Livy,[5] Pliny the Elder,[6] and Ptolemy.[7]

A newly discovered church, on the floor of which there is a mosaic of Saint Christopher and a Greek emblem, testifying to the city’s existence in the palaeo-Christian period. However it seemed to be the last building constructed in ancient Antigonea, the church was destroyed during Slav assaults in the 6th century AD.[8]

Finds such as a bronze sphinx and a statue of Poseidon, which are exhibited in Tirana. There has also been evidence of pottery found across the hill in which the city was built, attesting to the size of the city at its peak.

Its ruins are located just south of the village of Saraqinisht in the Antigonë municipal unit, Gjirokastër County, Albania. Now that area has been declared a National Archaeological Park by the Albanian Government. The ruins are accessible from Gjirokastër by car or by nature trail.[9] The Archaeological Park is also known for having organized since 2007 a yearly Festival of the Pagan Rites and the Popular Games (Albanian: Festivali i Riteve Pagane dhe Lojrave Popullore).[10] Recently, the village has hosted an annual culinary exhibition showcasing the best of local organic production and traditional specialties.[11]

 
Central area of the ancient town of Antigonea in Epirus

The ancient town was identified and excavated by the Albanian archaeologist Dhimosten Budina. More recently an Albanian-Greek team of archaeologists has been working on the site.[12]

Description edit

The most impressive feature of the city are its walls, demolished by the Romans, which completely encircled the hill, which towered at 600 meters above sea level. The most visible gate in the walls is at the south-western portion of the city. In the city center, an entire ancient street is exposed. In the southern end of the city there is also the most well preserved portion of the city walls. The wall section terminates at the small early Christian church of triconch form, whose mosaic floor is decorated with a depiction of a strange illustration of a human with an animal head, resembling the Egyptian god Anubis or Saint Christopher.[13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Winnifrith, Tom, ed. (1992). Perspectives on Albania. Basingstoke, Hampshire [u.a.]: Macmillan. p. 37. ISBN 9780333512821.
  2. ^ Zachos, Konstantinos (2006). "The Antigoneia Project: Preliminary report to the first season". In Bejko, Lorenc; Hodges, Richard (eds.). New Directions in Albanian Archaeology.
  3. ^ Ceka, Neritan (2009). Antigoneia. ISBN 978-99956-718-6-0.
  4. ^ Polybius. The Histories. Vol. 2.5, 2.6.
  5. ^ Livy. Ab urbe condita Libri [History of Rome]. Vol. 32.5, 43.23.
  6. ^ Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Vol. 4.1.
  7. ^ Ptolemy. The Geography. Vol. 3.14.7.
  8. ^ The City of Pyrrhos' Dream, Antigonea National Archaeological Park's Official Website, retrieved 7 September 2013
  9. ^ Antigonea Archaeological Park website September 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Llojdia, Gezim (2010-06-01). . Fjala e Lire. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  11. ^ (in Albanian), Top Channel TV, June 5, 2011, archived from the original on June 9, 2011
  12. ^ Zachos, Konstantinos (2006). "The Antigoneia Project: Preliminary report to the first season". In Bejko, Lorenc; Hodges, Richard (eds.). New Directions in Albanian Archaeology.
  13. ^ Zachos, Konstantinos (2006). "The Antigoneia Project: Preliminary report to the first season". In Bejko, Lorenc; Hodges, Richard (eds.). New Directions in Albanian Archaeology.

External links edit

  • Antigonea National Archaeological Park's Official Website

40°05′19″N 20°13′20″E / 40.0887°N 20.2221°E / 40.0887; 20.2221

antigonia, chaonia, antigonea, ancient, greek, Ἀντιγόνεια, also, transliterated, antigonia, antigoneia, ancient, greek, city, chaonia, epirus, chief, inland, city, ancient, chaonians, founded, century, pyrrhus, epirus, named, after, wives, antigone, daughter, . Antigonea Ancient Greek Ἀntigoneia also transliterated as Antigonia and Antigoneia was an ancient Greek 1 city in Chaonia Epirus and the chief inland city of the ancient Chaonians It was founded in the 3rd century BC by Pyrrhus of Epirus who named it after one of his wives Antigone daughter of Berenice I and step daughter of Ptolemy I of Egypt Ruins of Epirote house with peristyle Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit The straits near Antigoneia were mentioned in 230 BC when a force of Illyrians under Scerdilaidas passed the city to join an invading army further south In 198 BC during the Second Macedonian War the Romans marched against the Macedonian armies of Philip V His general Athenagoras was able to occupy one of the nearby passes leading to the Romans being held back Initially the Romans were going to negotiate peace however several treasonous shepherds led the Romans to be able to surround and destroy the Macedonian army of 2000 men 2 The inhabitants of Antigoneia had sided with the Macedonians and so when the Romans were victorious over the Macedonians in 167BC Thus the Romans decided to punish those who had fought against them Consul Aemilius Paullus ordered for 70 towns in Epirus to be lit on fire This included Antigoneia which was never rebuilt 3 Antigonia is mentioned by the ancient authors Polybius 4 Livy 5 Pliny the Elder 6 and Ptolemy 7 A newly discovered church on the floor of which there is a mosaic of Saint Christopher and a Greek emblem testifying to the city s existence in the palaeo Christian period However it seemed to be the last building constructed in ancient Antigonea the church was destroyed during Slav assaults in the 6th century AD 8 Finds such as a bronze sphinx and a statue of Poseidon which are exhibited in Tirana There has also been evidence of pottery found across the hill in which the city was built attesting to the size of the city at its peak Its ruins are located just south of the village of Saraqinisht in the Antigone municipal unit Gjirokaster County Albania Now that area has been declared a National Archaeological Park by the Albanian Government The ruins are accessible from Gjirokaster by car or by nature trail 9 The Archaeological Park is also known for having organized since 2007 a yearly Festival of the Pagan Rites and the Popular Games Albanian Festivali i Riteve Pagane dhe Lojrave Popullore 10 Recently the village has hosted an annual culinary exhibition showcasing the best of local organic production and traditional specialties 11 nbsp Central area of the ancient town of Antigonea in Epirus The ancient town was identified and excavated by the Albanian archaeologist Dhimosten Budina More recently an Albanian Greek team of archaeologists has been working on the site 12 Description editThe most impressive feature of the city are its walls demolished by the Romans which completely encircled the hill which towered at 600 meters above sea level The most visible gate in the walls is at the south western portion of the city In the city center an entire ancient street is exposed In the southern end of the city there is also the most well preserved portion of the city walls The wall section terminates at the small early Christian church of triconch form whose mosaic floor is decorated with a depiction of a strange illustration of a human with an animal head resembling the Egyptian god Anubis or Saint Christopher 13 See also editList of cities in ancient Epirus Tourism in AlbaniaReferences edit Winnifrith Tom ed 1992 Perspectives on Albania Basingstoke Hampshire u a Macmillan p 37 ISBN 9780333512821 Zachos Konstantinos 2006 The Antigoneia Project Preliminary report to the first season In Bejko Lorenc Hodges Richard eds New Directions in Albanian Archaeology Ceka Neritan 2009 Antigoneia ISBN 978 99956 718 6 0 Polybius The Histories Vol 2 5 2 6 Livy Ab urbe condita Libri History of Rome Vol 32 5 43 23 Pliny Naturalis Historia Vol 4 1 Ptolemy The Geography Vol 3 14 7 The City of Pyrrhos Dream Antigonea National Archaeological Park s Official Website retrieved 7 September 2013 Antigonea Archaeological Park website Archived September 4 2010 at the Wayback Machine Llojdia Gezim 2010 06 01 Pagan rites in Antigonia Albanian RITE PAGANE NE ANTIGONE Fjala e Lire Archived from the original on 2016 03 07 Retrieved 2010 06 01 Mbahet panairi kulinarise ne Antigone The culinary fair is held in Antigonea in Albanian Top Channel TV June 5 2011 archived from the original on June 9 2011 Zachos Konstantinos 2006 The Antigoneia Project Preliminary report to the first season In Bejko Lorenc Hodges Richard eds New Directions in Albanian Archaeology Zachos Konstantinos 2006 The Antigoneia Project Preliminary report to the first season In Bejko Lorenc Hodges Richard eds New Directions in Albanian Archaeology External links editAntigonea National Archaeological Park s Official Website 40 05 19 N 20 13 20 E 40 0887 N 20 2221 E 40 0887 20 2221 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antigonia Chaonia amp oldid 1222852460, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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