New Inscription of Ilirian City Amantia as Political-Historical Source

Abstract

The Southwest of Albanian region, in Vlora region has lived in antiquity the Illyrian tribe of Amant. Amante developed their civic life by building cities and castles that identify their region. Their main town was Amantia, a political-administrative center from which depended even other civic centers Olympia, Treporti, Kanina or quays as Cerja, Matohasanaj etc.This was accomplished through a federal political form that was known as koinon. Self koinoni formed a separate state pyramid, because each unity that federates there ,also had local government power. Amanties City is located near the present village of Ploce, in south-east of Vlora, between flow Valley Shushica in the right, and Valley Vjosa(Aos) in the river left. Regarding the etymology of the name Amantia, in English has a native word "stream, source ", which N.Joklin means" shore-river man"(bregalumas in Albanian). In the fourth century B.C, Amantia is definitely an important city in south of Illyria, in addition to his neighbor Bylys. In the III-rd century , Amante shed a coin in their own market. In the second century the city is included, along with Byllis in the Roman province of Macedonia in v. 148 BC. Romans many cities of South Illyria declared civitas libera, such that, even Amantia. From koinoni of amant, the earliest in the context of the Illyrian state, through new inscription is done more identifiable the extension and the hierarchy in koinon.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n2p387