Chaonia
Encyclopedia
Chaonia or Chaon was the name of the northwestern part of Epirus
, the homeland of the Greek tribe of the Chaonians
. Its main town was called Phoenice
. According to Virgil
, Chaon
was the eponymous ancestor of the Chaonians.
in his Geography, places Chaonia between the Ceraunian mountains
in the north and the River Thyamis
in the south. The Roman historian, Appian
, mentions Chaonia as the southern border in his description and geography of Illyria.
Important cities in Chaonia included Chimaera (modern Himarë
), Buthrotum, Phoenice
, Panormos
, Onchesmus (today Saranda) and Antigonia
.
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
, the homeland of the Greek tribe of the Chaonians
Chaonians
The Chaonians were an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region of Epirus located in the north-west of modern Greece and southern Albania. On their southern frontier lay another Epirote kingdom, that of the Molossians, to their southwest stood the kingdom of the Thesprotians, and to their...
. Its main town was called Phoenice
Phoenice
Phoenice or Phoenike was an ancient Greek city in Epirus and capital of the Chaonians. It was also the location of the Treaty of Phoenice which ended the First Macedonian War, as well as one of the wealthiest cities in Epirus until the Roman conquest. During the early Byzantine period, Phoenice...
. According to Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
, Chaon
Chaon
Chaon was a Greek hero and the eponymous ancestor of the Chaonians who gave his name to Chaonia, a district in northwestern Epirus in Greece. The stories are unclear as to whether he was the friend or the brother of Helenus, but in either case, he accompanied him to the court of Neoptolemus. The...
was the eponymous ancestor of the Chaonians.
Geography
StraboStrabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
in his Geography, places Chaonia between the Ceraunian mountains
Ceraunian Mountains
The Ceraunian Mountains is a coastal mountain range in southwestern Albania. The name is derived from Ancient Greek Κεραύνια ὄρη, meaning "thunder-split peaks"....
in the north and the River Thyamis
River Thyamis
The Thyamis , also known as Glycis or Kalamas, is a river in the Epirus region of Greece. It flows into the Ionian Sea. The names of the Chameria region , as well as the former Cham minority, derive from the river's name...
in the south. The Roman historian, Appian
Appian
Appian of Alexandria was a Roman historian of Greek ethnicity who flourished during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius.He was born ca. 95 in Alexandria. He tells us that, after having filled the chief offices in the province of Egypt, he went to Rome ca. 120, where he practised as...
, mentions Chaonia as the southern border in his description and geography of Illyria.
Important cities in Chaonia included Chimaera (modern Himarë
Himarë
Himarë is a bilingual region and municipality along the Albanian Riviera in southern Albania and part of the District of Vlorë. Apart from the town of Himarë, the region consists of 7 other villages: Dhërmi, Pilur, Kudhës, Qeparo, Vuno, Iljas, and Palasë....
), Buthrotum, Phoenice
Phoenice
Phoenice or Phoenike was an ancient Greek city in Epirus and capital of the Chaonians. It was also the location of the Treaty of Phoenice which ended the First Macedonian War, as well as one of the wealthiest cities in Epirus until the Roman conquest. During the early Byzantine period, Phoenice...
, Panormos
Panormos
Panormos , Latinized as Panormus, may refer to several locations:*Panormos, Tinos, a village and a community on the island of Tinos, Cyclades, Greece*Panormos, Kalymnos, a village on the island of Kalymnos, Dodecanese, Greece...
, Onchesmus (today Saranda) and Antigonia
Antigonia (Chaonia)
Antigonea , also transliterated as Antigonia and Antigoneia, was an ancient Greek city in Epirus and the chief inland city of the ancient Chaonians...
.