Hadrianopolis (Epirus) Explained

Hadrianopolis or Hadrianoupolis (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἁδριανούπολις), was a town of ancient Epirus and Illyricum, founded by emperor Hadrian, and situated on the road from Apollonia to Nicopolis, about midway between those two towns.[1] It was repaired and moved by Justinian I, and called Justinianopolis,[2] and became one of the cities of the government of old Epirus and the see of a bishop. The small theatre and other vestiges in the plain below Libohovë mark the position of this city. Ten or twelve miles lower down the river are the ruins of a fortress or small town of the Byzantine age, called Dryinopolis. These remains are of a later age than the theatre, which belongs to Paganism. 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.[3]

Its site is located near Sofratikë, Dropull, in Albania.

References

39.9964°N 20.2247°W

Notes and References

  1. Tabula Peutingeriana
  2. [Procopius]
  3. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/d2h05.html Catholic Hierarchy