Nymphaeum (Illyria) Explained

Nymphæum or Nymphaion (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Νυμφαῖον, Νύμφαιον or Νυμφαίη; Latin: Nymphaeum) was an ancient harbour on the coast of Illyria, three miles to the north of Lissus.[1] [2] The site has been identified with the area of modern day Shëngjin, Albania.

Perhaps emerged since the 5th century BC, Nymphaeum would have been presumably one of the earliest Greek colonies on the Albanian coast. The harbor of Nymphaeum was mentioned by Pliny the Elder (23 CE – 79), Lucanus[3] (39 AD – 65 AD), Livy (59 BC – AD 17) and Julius Caesar[4] (100 BC - 44 BC). The harbour was used by Marcus Antonius and his fleet when they arrived in Illyricum during Caesar's Civil War.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0059:entry=Nymphaeum1&highlight=nymphaeum Charlton T. Lewis
  2. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0068:text=comm:book=4:commline=574&highlight=nymphaeum George W. Mooney, Ed.
  3. Luc. Pharsalia 5.720, "Past Lissus' shelter which they vainly sought, till bare to northern blasts, Nymphaeum's port..."
  4. https://books.google.com/books?id=WqKvMe_jCtcC&dq=nymphaion+lissos&pg=PA4439 Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt...