List of cities in ancient Epirus
Encyclopedia
This is a list of cities in ancient Epirus
. These were Greek
poleis, komes
or fortresses except for Nicopolis
, which was founded by Octavian. Classical Epirus was divided into three regions: Chaonia
, Molossia, Thesprotia
, each named after the dominant tribe that lived there. A number of ancient settlements in these regions remain unidentified.
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...
. These were Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
poleis, komes
Komes
Komes - This title was developed from the Latin comes in medieval Poland and was used for dignitary in the period of the Holy Roman Empire for administrative and military district commanders. The title faded from use before the establishment of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to be replaced by...
or fortresses except for Nicopolis
Nicopolis
Nicopolis — or Actia Nicopolis — was an ancient city of Epirus, founded 31 BC by Octavian in memory of his victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium the previous year. It was later the capital of Epirus Vetus...
, which was founded by Octavian. Classical Epirus was divided into three regions: Chaonia
Chaonia
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....
, Molossia, Thesprotia
Thesprotia
Thesprotia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Epirus region. Its capital is the town of Igoumenitsa. It is named after the Thesprotians, an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region in antiquity.-History:...
, each named after the dominant tribe that lived there. A number of ancient settlements in these regions remain unidentified.
Cities
Chaonia
- AmantiaAmantiaAmantia or Abantia was an ancient Greek polis in Epirus. It occupied an important defensive position above the Aoos river valley to the east, and on the road to the coast and the Bay of Vlorë. A Greek temple, the Aphrodite temple, a theatre, and a stadium have also been found in the city...
, colony of the Euboean-Locrians - Antigonia (Chaonia)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...
, polis founded by Pyrrhus of EpirusPyrrhus of EpirusPyrrhus or Pyrrhos was a Greek general and statesman of the Hellenistic era. He was king of the Greek tribe of Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house , and later he became king of Epirus and Macedon . He was one of the strongest opponents of early Rome... - Antipatrea, polis of the Dexaroi, modern-day BeratBeratBerat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat...
- ArtichiaArtichiaArtichia was an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus Perhaps located somewhere in ancient Parauaia, now in the Përmet basin....
, polis - AulonVlorëVlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
, Corinthian colonyCorinthCorinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
, founded 7th century BC, modern-day VlorëVlorëVlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912... - BaiakeBaiakeBaiake was an ancient Greek city of Epirus. It was located between Apollonia and Oricos....
pre-Hellenistic polis - Bouthroton, ChaonianChaoniansThe 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...
polis - Cestrine or Cammania, modern-day FiliatesFiliatesFiliates is a town and a municipality in Thesprotia, Greece. It is located in the northernmost part of the prefecture, bordering western Ioannina Prefecture and southern Albania.-Municipality:...
- Chimaera (Chaonia), or Chimera (polis) ChaonianChaoniansThe 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...
polis, modern-day Himara - Chrysondyon, polis of the Dexaroi
- CreonionCreonionCreonion was an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus in Chaonia. It belonged to the Dexaroi....
, polis of the Dexaroi - GertusGertusGertus or Gertous or Gerous was an ancient Greek city of the Dexaroi in the region of Epirus. It was located somewhere between lake Lychnidus and Antipatrea....
, or Gertous or Gerous, polis of the Dexaroi - HekatompedonHekatompedonHekatompedon was an ancient Greek city of Epirus. Located either in Lekel or Saraqinisht....
, pre-Hellenistic polis - Olympe, polis
- Onchesmos, pre-Hellenistic polis, modern-day Saranda
- Orikos, founded by EuboeaEuboeaEuboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
ns Euboeans colony - Panormos (Epirus)Panormos (Epirus)Panormos was an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus.Two more cities existed with the same name, one in Achaia and one in Ionia. Perhaps located in Borsh, Albania....
or Panormus (Epirus), pre-Hellenistic polis - Pelion (Chaonia)Pelion (Chaonia)Pelion, also Pellion or Pelium , was a fortified settlement of the Chaonian tribe of Dexaroi, now located in Goricë e Madhë, Albania, on the ancient border between Epirus and Illyria. Pelium later served as a Macedonian border fortress...
or Pelium (Chaonia) polis of the Dexaroi - Phanoteia, polis
- PhoenicePhoenicePhoenice 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...
, chief polis of the ChaoniansChaoniansThe 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...
, modern-day FiniqFiniqFiniq is a village and municipality in southern Albania located 8 km from the Ionian Sea and 20 km north of the Greek border. It is part of Delvinë District and Vlorë County. Its inhabitants speak Greek as their mother tongue. It is the center of the commune of Finiq, which comprises the... - Photike, pre-Hellenistic polis, modern-day ParamythiaParamythiaParamythia is a village and a former municipality in Thesprotia, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Souli, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. Population 7,859 .-Name:...
- Thronion, colony of the EuboeaEuboeaEuboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
ns - LocriansLocriansThe Locrians were an ancient Greek tribe in Greece. The Locrians spoke the Locrian dialect, a Doric-Northwest dialect, which indicates that they may have been relatives of the Dorians. They inhabited the ancient region of Locris in Central Greece....
Molossia
- DodonaDodonaDodona in Epirus in northwestern Greece, was an oracle devoted to a Mother Goddess identified at other sites with Rhea or Gaia, but here called Dione, who was joined and partly supplanted in historical times by the Greek god Zeus.The shrine of Dodona was regarded as the oldest Hellenic oracle,...
, sanctuary, the second most important oracle in ancient GreeceAncient GreeceAncient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
after DelphiDelphiDelphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god... - Eurymenai (Epirus)Eurymenai (Epirus)Eurymenai was an ancient Greek city of Epirus of the tribe of the Arktanoi.It belonged to the Molossian koinon....
, polis - OrraonOrraonOrraon or Horraon was an ancient Greek city of Epirus....
, founded 385 BC385 BCYear 385 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Capitolinus, Cornelius, Capitolinus, Papirius, Capitolinus and Fidenas...
polis - PassaronPassaronPassaron was an ancient Greek city of Epirus....
, polis
Thesprotia
- BouneimaBouneimaBouneima was an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus...
pre Hellenistic - Korkyra (polis)Korkyra (polis)Korkyra was an ancient Greek city of the island of Corfu in the Ionian sea, adjacent to Epirus....
polis - Tekmona or Tekmon polis
- Charadros (Epirus)Charadros (Epirus)Charadros was an ancient Greek pre Hellenistic walled settlement of Epirus....
pre Hellenistic - ChytonChytonChyton, according to Ephorus, was a new city founded in Epirus during the 4th century BC. The city was established by Ionians from Klazomenai....
founded by IoniansIoniansThe Ionians were one of the four major tribes into which the Classical Greeks considered the population of Hellenes to have been divided...
from KlazomenaiClazomenaeKlazomenai was an ancient Greek city of Ionia and a member of the Ionian Dodecapolis , it was one of the first cities to issue silver coinage.-Location:Klazomenai is located in modern Urla on the western coast of... - ZmarathaZmarathaZmaratha was an ancient Greek city of Epirus....
polis - GitanaeGitanaeGitanae or Gitana, was an ancient Greek city of Epirus, described by Livy as being near Corcyra, and about 10 miles from the coast. Gitanae or Gitana,(Greek: , , , or ) was an ancient Greek city of Epirus, described by Livy as being near Corcyra, and about 10 miles from the coast. Gitanae or...
polis - Kassopa polis
- Elateia (Epirus)Elateia (Epirus)Elateia, also Elatreia or Elatria was an ancient Greek city of Epirus, colony of Elis . Its location is believed to be at the foot of Mount Zalongo, north of the modern village of Paliorophoro. This site was settled from prehistoric times...
founded by ElisElisElis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
ians polis - BatiaiBatiaiBatiai was an ancient Greek city of Epirus...
founded by ElisElisElis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
ians polis - Thesprotia (polis)Thesprotia (polis)Thesprotia was an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus...
pre Hellenistic - TrampyaTrampyaTrampya was an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus...
pre Hellenistic - HelikranonHelikranonHelikranon was an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus...
pre Hellenistic - Ilium (Epirus)Ilium (Epirus)Ilium or Ilion was an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus...
pre Hellenistic - Elina (Epirus)Elina (Epirus)Elina was an ancient Greek, pre-Hellenistic fortified town in the region of Epirus...
pre Hellenistic - Elaias Limen pre Hellenistic
- SybotaSyvotaSyvota , formerly Mourtos til 1953, is a village and a former municipality in Thesprotia, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Igoumenitsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,010...
pre Hellenistic - CheimerionCheimerionCheimerion was an ancient Greek pre Hellenistic fortified settlement and port of Epirus. Its acropolis was fortified since the archaic period. It is located in modern Stikgia , 5 km from Ephyra. It is mentioned by Thucydides and Pausanias....
pre Hellenistic - Ephyra (Epirus) or KichyroKichyroKichyros , later called Ephyra , was the capital of ancient Thesprotia, according to the myth built by the Pelasgian leader Thesprotos. Thucydides describes it as situated in the district Elaeatis in Thesprotia, away from the sea. At its site is the famous Necromanteion...
s founded by ChaoniansChaoniansThe 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...
in PartheniusPartheniusParthenius may refer to:* Parthenius of Nicaea , Greek grammarian and poet* Saint Parthenius , Armenian saint and martyr from Rome, who suffered martyrdom during the reign of Decius....
's,story of Anthippe polis - Oropos (Epirus)Oropos (Epirus)Oropos was an ancient Greek pre Hellenistic walled settlement of Epirus. Its located at Voulista Panaghia....
pre Hellenistic - ToryneToryneToryne was an ancient Greek city of Epirus.In Shakespeare's 'Antony and Cleopatra' Toryne is personally taken over by Caesar shortly after his being in Rome showing an almost mystical speed.-See also:*List of cities in ancient Epirus...
or Torone polis - Pandosia (Epirus)Pandosia (Epirus)Pandosia was an ancient Greek city of Epirus. It was a colony of Elis, and a town of the Cassopaei in the district of Thesprotia in Epirus, situated upon the river Acheron....
founded by ElisElisElis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
ians polis - EleaElaea (Epirus)Elaea or Elaia , also Elaias Limen is an ancient harbor town at the mouth of the Acheron river of Epirus. The town is mentioned by both Scylax and Ptolemy...
founded by CorinthCorinthCorinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
ians polis - Bucheta founded by ElisElisElis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
ians polis - CassiopiaCassiopiaCassiopia or Cassopia or Cassopa or Kassopa , was an ancient Greek city in Thesprotia, Epirus and also a region of the same name . It was also the name of a pre Hellenistic settlement....
pre Hellenistic - ElatriaElatriaElatria ,was an ancient Greek city in Thesprotia, Epirus founded by Elisians....
founded by ElisElisElis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
ians - PoionosPoionosPoionos was an ancient Greek city of Epirus....
polis - Berenike (Epirus)Berenike (Epirus)Berenike was an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus. It was founded by Pyrrhus II of Epirus ....
polis - KastrosykiaKastrosykiaKastrosykia is the modern name of the location of an ancient Greek city in the region of Epirus, probably of a port of Cassopa....