Apollonia (Illyria)

Apollonia was an important ancient Greek trading town located in a place called Illyria, near what is now Albania. It was founded around 600 BC by people from a Greek city named Corinth. These settlers built their town near a river, about 10 kilometers from the coast. Over time, Apollonia grew from a small trading spot into an independent city with its own government.

The people of Apollonia lived under a system where a small group of Greek leaders made the rules, while most of the people were from the local Illyrian groups. Later, Apollonia became friends with the Roman Republic and even had a Roman army base there. During the Roman time, Apollonia became famous for its school where people studied philosophy, speaking skills, and learning how to be a good leader. Even the first Roman emperor, Augustus, went to school in Apollonia when he was young.

Unfortunately, Apollonia began to fall apart in the 3rd century AD after an earthquake caused its harbor to fill up with sand. By the 4th century AD, the city was completely abandoned. Today, the old ruins of Apollonia are protected as an archaeological park in Albania. The name Apollonia is still used for a church area in that part of the country.

Name

The settlement was first called Gylakeia after its founder, Gylax. Not much is known about Gylax, except that he might have been linked to rulers from Corinth. Later, the settlement’s name was changed to Apollonia, possibly when the rulers of Corinth lost power. The name Apollonia first appears in 588 BC and refers to the god Apollo.

Apollonia was one of 24 cities in the ancient Greek world with this name. To tell it apart from the others, it was called “Apollonia towards Epidamnos,” referring to the nearby colony of Epidamnos.

History

Pre-foundation period

Apollonia was located at an important crossroads in southern Illyria, where trade routes met. This spot linked the Adriatic coast to the interior and the northern Adriatic to the Aegean Sea. Before Greek settlers arrived, the area had been used by Illyrian people since the Early Bronze Age, as shown by burial mounds called tumuli. These mounds were part of a culture that spread from the northern Balkans along the Adriatic.

Early Greek traders from places like Euboea and Corinth began visiting the area in the 7th century BC. They found a landscape with these old burial mounds, which may have reminded them of their ancestors. There was little permanent settlement here before the Greeks arrived, though Illyrian people may have used the area seasonally.

Foundation and Archaic period

Around 600 BC, a group of 200 settlers from Corinth, led by a leader named Gylax, established a trading post that became the city of Apollonia. Some historians think the Illyrians invited them, while others suggest the settlers worked with local tribes like the Taulantii. The city grew slowly at first but became an important trading center because of its location near rivers and trade routes.

Apollonia became a key port and trade hub, linking the Adriatic Sea with areas further east. It had its own mint for making coins and developed into a significant city in the region.

Classical period

In the 5th century BC, Apollonia began making its own coins. Around 450 BC, the city expanded its territory southward after winning a battle at Thronion. This gave Apollonia control over more land and resources, including valuable farmland and mines.

The city’s growth brought changes, with both Greek settlers and local Illyrians living together. Though the original Greek families held most of the power, the two groups shared the land and worked together.

Hellenistic period

During the Hellenistic period, Apollonia grew much larger, with estimates suggesting around 60,000 people lived there at its peak. The city became wealthy from trade, farming, and the valuable resource of asphalt, used for building ships. Apollonia was well-governed and maintained strong ties with its original home, Corinth.

Roman period

In 229 BC, Apollonia came under Roman control and remained loyal to Rome. It played a role in Roman wars and later became part of the Roman province of Macedonia. The city continued to thrive under Roman rule, becoming known as an important and respected town.

Legacy

Apollonia was abandoned in the 4th century AD after an earthquake changed the course of a river, causing the land to become swampy and unhealthy. Today, the ruins of Apollonia can still be visited, though unfortunately some parts were damaged in 2020. The nearby Ardenica Monastery still stands as a reminder of the area’s long history.

Archaeology

The city of Apollonia seems to have sunk when the nearby town of Vlora grew. European scholars rediscovered it in the 1700s, but real archaeological work began during the Austrian occupation from 1916 to 1918. After that, French and Albanian teams continued exploring the site, though some parts were damaged during the Second World War.

Sadly, in 1967, heavy machines and the building of military bunkers damaged the site a lot. Some discoveries are shown in the Archaeological Museum of Apolonia in a nearby monastery, with other pieces kept in Tirana. The museum faced hard times after 1990 but reopened in 2011 with help from UNESCO. In 2006, workers found an ancient Greek temple from the 6th century BC near the city. In 2010, a team found a bust of a Roman soldier, adding to earlier statue finds from the 1950s.

Episcopal history

A bishopric was founded in Apollonia around 400 AD but was later closed around 599. In 431, a bishop named Felix took part in a big meeting called the Council of Ephesus. Sometimes he signed as the Bishop of Apollonia and Byllis, which makes some people think these two places might have shared one bishop at the time.

Later, in 451, another bishop named Eusebius also took part in a meeting called the Council of Chalcedon and signed simply as the Bishop of Apollonia.

Culture

Apollonia grew in importance around 450 BC after it took control of the nearby area of Thronion. A special monument was built to remember this victory, and it was later described by a traveler named Pausanias. The monument showed heroes from the Trojan and Achaean sides facing each other, with the god Zeus watching in the middle. This reflected Apollonia’s connection to stories about the Trojan War, which were popular in the region.

By the 2nd century BC, Apollonia became an important place for learning Greek culture and studying astronomy. A building called the Agonothetes, constructed in this time, served as a meeting place for local leaders, showing how the city was governed.

Notable people

Apollonia was home to Isocrates of Apollonia, a skilled speaker who studied under the famous teacher Isocrates.