Hadrianopolis (Epirus)
Hadrianopolis or Hadrianoupolis (Ancient Greek: Ἁδριανούπολις) was an ancient town in the valley of the river Drin and in the province of ancient Epirus and Illyricum. It is located near Sofratikë, Dropull, in Albania.[1][2]
It lies on the site of a late Greek Classical and Hellenistic settlement from the late 5th century BC.[3] The oldest buildings found are from the early Roman Imperial age: a small temple in opera quadrata and a circular structure later obliterated by the theatre. Under Hadrian (117-138 AD) the settlement, about midway between Apollonia and Nicopolis[4], was elevated to the status of city, becoming the capital and administrative centre of the region. It then reached its greatest expansion and monumentalisation with public buildings including the theatre and baths. Organised on an orthogonal urban plan, the town occupies an area of 400m x 300-350m.
The theatre was located above a large artificial embankment and has a cavea of 58 m in diameter constructed in opus caementicium. During the 4th century AD it was restored and reorganised to host venationes (hunts of wild animals) and perhaps gladiator fights. The baths visible today of the 3th century AD replaced the previous Hadrianic complex with a smaller version. A necropolis has been found to extend over a significant area beyond the urban limits.
After a period of crisis from the beginning of the 4th and until the end of the 5th century AD, it was repaired by Justinian I, and called Justinianopolis,[5]. It became the see of a bishop.[6] During this period a small church was built inside the theatre, houses and shops occupied the area of the baths and the small ancient temple was demolished and embedded in a complex of buildings, perhaps with a residential function.
As early as the 7th century AD the city was abandoned but the name of Drynopolis and its bishopric continued to be attested throughout the Byzantine and medieval periods.
About twelve miles lower down the river are the ruins of a fortress or small town of the Byzantine age, called Dryinopolis. The probability is that when Hadrianopolis fell into ruins Dryinopolis was built on a different site and became the see of the bishop. Hadrianopolis in Epiro remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church.[7]
Excavations
Excavations have been carried out recently over many years by a team from Macerata University and of the Albanian Archaeological Institute, with a team from Oxford University.[8]
References
- ^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 54, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
- ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
- ^ di Andrea Marziali (A.M.), Roberto Perna (R.P.), Vladimir Qirjaqi (V.Q.), Matteo Tadolti (M.T.), LA VALLE DEL DRINO IN ETÀ ELLENISTICA, Marziali infra, p. 225. hadrianopolis II. Risultati delle indagini archeologiche 2005-2010 • ISBN 978-88-7228-683-8- © 2012 · Edipuglia s.r.l. - www.edipuglia.it
- ^ Tabula Peutingeriana
- ^ Procopius de Aed. 4.1.
- ^ Hierocles. Synecdemus. Vol. p. 651.8.
- ^ Catholic Hierarchy
- ^ https://www.9colonne.it/79353/excavations-at-hadrianopolis-resume
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Hadrianopolis". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
39°59′47″N 20°13′29″E / 39.996370342758°N 20.224664669342°E
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