Amantia

Amantia was an ancient Illyrian city. Its ruins are located in the south of Albania about 30 kilometers east of Vlora.

History

Amantia is a typical Illyrian hilltop settlements that were founded in the Iron Age to easily defensible hills. The walls of Amantia enclose an area of ​​500 m length and 60 m width. The settlement was founded in the 4th century BC and was perhaps justified by the tribe of the Taulantians. An Acropolis with two goals and two strong towers protected the city.

Strategically located Amantia mastered an important passageway that led to the valley of Vjosa from the ports Aulona and Oricum. Therefore, the city developed rapidly into a prosperous urban center. Amantia was one of the first Illyrian cities that coined its own money. In the 3rd century BC Amantia was Hellenized culturally more and more. To 230 BC the city was a member of the Federal Epirus.

In the 2nd century the Romans expanded in the epirotisch - Illyrian room. First Amantia was under the influence of the allied with Rome, Greek colony of Apollonia. After the 3rd Macedonian War Amantia came as the entire region on the Ionian Sea under direct rule of Rome. The city belonged since 148 BC probably the Roman province of Macedonia. When Caesar landed BC during the Roman civil war in January of year 48 in Epirus, to Amantia sided with him.

AD 67 was assigned to the city of the new province of Epirus. Since the trade from east to west was settled primarily on the Via Egnatia in Roman times, Amantia lost its importance. In early Christian times was Amantia bishopric, who now lives on as titular Amantia. 343 a bishop Eulalius from Amantia is mentioned as a participant in the Synod of Serdica. In the course of the Slavs rush and was abandoned before the end of the 6th century.

Finds

Next to the walls and the Acropolis, a stadium was discovered and excavated in Amantia. The arena is 184 meters long and just over 12 meters wide. On the flank of the stone rows of seats are still preserved. There is also a temple of Aphrodite was identified. Of these, however, only the foundations remain. Other important architectural remains are from a small temple and an early Christian church.

Others

The city served as the namesake for Amantia a local television (TV Amantia in Vlora ) and an Albanian woman club.

Accessible Amantia is of Vlora from a 90- minute drive along 35 km of mostly paved road along a dry river in summer Shushica.

Evidence

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