Palasë Explained

Type:v
Official Name:Palasë
Other Name:Παλάσα
County:Vlorë
Municipality:Himarë
Municunit:Himarë
Coordinates:40.165°N 19.6247°W
Population Total:413

Palasë (Albanian: Palasë or Palasa; Greek, Modern (1453-);: Παλάσα, Palasa) also Paljasa (Albanian: Paljasë) (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Παλιάσα),[1] is a village in Himarë municipality (13 kilometres from the town), Vlorë County, southern Albania.[2] It is located near the Llogara National Park and next to the Ionian coast on the Albanian Riviera. The village is inhabited by ethnic Greeks who speak the unique Himariote Greek dialect.[3]

History

In classical antiquity, Roman writer Lucan recorded a site named Palaeste on the Ceraunian Mountains in Chaonia,[4] [5] [6] [7] which may correspond to modern-day Palasë.[8] [9] The name Palaeste is considered to be Illyrian. Palaeste was also considered as being geographically located in southern Illyria, next to Oricum.[10] In Palaeste, Julius Caesar landed from Brundusium, in order to carry on the war against Pompey.[11]

According to another local legend the settlement was initially located on the coast on a location once known as Meghalihora (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Μεγάλη χώρα), but due to pirate attacks in 12th-13th century it was slightly moved inland.[12] In the local Greek dialect of Himara the change /st/ > /s/ is a typical phonetic rule. Thus if Palaeste is linguistically connected with modern Greek Paliasa then this change must have taken place before 1582.[13]

Palasë is recorded in the Ottoman defter of 1583 as a settlement in the Sanjak of Delvina with a total of 95 households. The anthroponymy recorded predominantly belonged to the Albanian onomastic sphere (e.g., Gjin Gjoni, Leka Kosta, Nika Pali), however, personal names reflecting broader Orthodox Christian anthroponymy - both Greek (e.g., Andrea Komnini, Jorgo Kristulli) and Slavic (e.g., Vaso Petko, Dhimo Bojko) - are also recorded.[14]

In 1632 an Albanian school was established in Palasë.[15] [16] In 1663 a Greek school was established in Palasë.[17]

The Italian missionary Giuseppe Schirò wrote in 1722 that Palasë was inhabited by Greeks.[18] [19] [20] It is still not clear if there was any significant migration to or from the village. Andrei Sobolev in fieldwork in the 21st century further documented that the families Babe, Gjinajt, Çaço, Paço, Xhelilaj, and Mëhilli hailed from Dukat, while few others (Milaj, Papadhates) from Krujë and the Peloponnese. In 1720, the villages of Himara, Palasa, Ilias, Vuno, Pilur and Qeparo refused to submit to the Pasha of Delvina.[21]

Until the 1750s Himarë was composed of more than 50 villages,[22] but by the end of the 1780s it comprised only 16, situated by the seashore from Saranda to Palasë.[23] Later on, with Ali Pasha's defeat, the region of Himara shrunk to only seven villages. In 1872 a Greek elementary school was operating in Palasa sponsored by a wealthy local, Nasios Dimoulis.[24]

In 1914 Palasa joined the movement of Spyros Spyromilios during the establishment of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus.[25] In September 1916, the provinces of Himarë and Tepelenë became part of the Vlorë prefecture and were placed under the control of the Italian armed forces. The city of Himarë became the official capital of the region and was responsible for the administration of the traditionally Orthodox coastal villages of Palasë, Dhërmi, Kudhës, Qeparo, Vuno and Iljas.[26] With the incorporation of the region in the Albanian state the locals were officially recognized as part of the Greek minority. In 1934 part of the local population asked for intervention by the League of Nations for the opening of a Greek school in the village.[27] However, the minority status in Palasë was revoked during the People's Republic of Albania with the explanation that there were not enough Greek speakers.[28]

Geography

The village is located several kilometres northwest of the town of Dhërmi, and is accessed via the main road leading out of the town. The Llogara Pass and Çika Mountain are nearby. The Thunderbolt Mountains, the western chain of the Ceraunian Mountains, enclose the area on its northern and northeastern side. The area opens up on its southwestern side with the mountain of Çika and descends towards the Ionian coast, with the Greek Islands of Othonas and Corfu in the distance.The village contains narrow stone roads and quaint white houses and is built around a 400-year-old platanus (plane tree), which is central to village life and the pride of the village. Geologically the terrain belongs to the western part of the Ionian Tectonic plate.[29] This section of the coastline is referred to by geologists as the Palasë-Butrint coastline. Palasë's beach is 1.5 kilometres in length.[30]

North of Palasë, is located a small bay, named Gramma ('letter' in Greek), accessible only by sea, with the surrounding cliffs containing various epigraphs, texts and symbols, perhaps carved out by sailors.[31]

Language

The inhabitants of Palasë are bilingual as they mainly speak a variant of the Himariote Greek dialect, and partly the Tosk Albanian.[32] The local Greek idiom retains features of an older Greek linguistic substratum.[33] Though Greek speakers the locals are also fluent in Albanian.[34] Bilingualism in Palasa often takes the form of compartmentalized or situational, bilingualism. In this form of bilingualism, different languages are used in different social contexts. In Palasa, Greek is used in the context of Greek Orthodox rituals, while Albanian is used in transmitting traditional, folk mythological rituals. Lexical borrowings from Albanian to Greek are found in the terminology which concerns village life. It indicates that the culture of the village was originally Albanian and reflects the function of the older language (Albanian) as prevailing in affairs of village life.[35]

Toponyms of Greek origin are found more densely in the area of Palasë than in other area of southern Albanian coast. Some of them are of archaic origin and preserve unique features of the Greek language.[36]

Notable people

Movies

The 1987 film The Waxed Shirts (albanian: Këmishët me dyllë) was filmed in Palasë.[37]

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=TDoNAQAAIAAJ&q=Palas%C3%AB A Gazetteer of Albania
  2. Web site: Law nr. 115/2014 . sq . 6376. 25 February 2022 .
  3. Web site: Kallivretakis . Leonidas . 1995 . Η Ελληνική Κοινότητα της Αλβανίας υπό το Πρίσμα της Ιστορικής Γεωγραφίας και Δημογραφίας [The Greek Community of Albania in Terms of Historical Geography and Demography] ]. 2 February 2015 . Εκδόσεις Σιδέρης . 53 . Greek.
  4. de Ligt. Luuk. An Eteocretan inscription from Praisos and the Homeland of the Sea Peoples. Talanta. XL-XLI. 2008. 153. In classical times Palaiste was a small town on the South-Illyrian coast, while Pliny’s list of peoples inhabiting the more northerly parts of Roman Illyricum include the Siculi and the Sardeates (Lehmann 1985, 42-49)..
  5. Wylle . Graham . The Road to Pharsalus . Latomus . 1992 . 51 . 3 . 560 . 41541372 . 24 August 2020 . 0023-8856.
  6. Book: Barca, Natale . Knossos, Mycenae, Troy The Enchanting Bronze Age and Its Tumultuous Climax . Oxbow Books . 2023 . 9781789259490 . 239 . En.
  7. Book: Westall, Richard W. . Caesar's Civil War: Historical Reality and Fabrication . 2017 . . 978-90-04-35615-3 . 27 . en . On the following day, Caesar and his men effected a landing at an Epirote coastal site known by the name of Palaeste. In the shadow of the Ceraunian mountains, he disembarked the whole force of 7 legions without losing a single ship. Both the timing and the choice of beachhead were inspired, as Caesar avoided problems with the fleet of M. Calpurnius Bibulus and the garrison at Oricum..
  8. Book: Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization. Sakellariou M.V.. Ekdotikē Athēnōn. 20. 1997. 978-960-213-371-2. The sea-ward face of the Akrokeraunian range, from Hagios Basileios northwards, to Palasa, the ancient Palaiste....
  9. Book: Caesar . Civil War . 2016-05-23 . Harvard University Press . 978-0-674-99703-5 . 369 . en.

  10. "Zu *pal- "Sumpf, seichtes Gewasser". Es gab illyrische Stämme der Plaraioi bzw . Palarioi ; s . auch Palaeste, Stadt in Südillyrien bei Orikon"

  11. [Lucan]
  12. Web site: Gregorič Bon . Nataša . Contested spaces and negotiated identities in Dhërmi/Drimades of Himarë/Himara area, southern Albania : dissertation . University of Nova Gorica, Graduate School . 22 October 2020 . 45 . 2008.
  13. Web site: Doris . Kyriazis . Relation of the Greek Idiom of Himara with the Rest of the Modern Greek Idioms . Infognomon Politics . Institute of Modern Greek Studies . 18 October 2020 . el . 1 November 2015.
  14. Book: Frashëri . Kristo . Himara dhe Përkatësia Etnike e Himarjotëve . 2005 . Toena . 40–1.
  15. Book: Temo, Sotir . Education in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania . 1985 . "8 Nentori" Publishing House . 7 . en . ... the primary schools in Korça (1637), in Pedhanë and Blinisht in the Shkodra district (1639) where a secondary school was opened that same year, the Albanian schools in the region of Himara : Dhërmi, Vuno, Palasë (1632) ..
  16. Book: Gaçe, Bardhosh . Lëvizja kombëtare në Vlorë, 1878-1912 . 1999 . Botimet Toena . 978-99927-1-185-9 . 224 . sq . Shkollat e para u çelën në Dhërmi, Palasë, Vuno dhe Himarë . Këtu vinin nxënës nga Dukati, Tërbaçi, Kuçi, Lukova, Piqerasi e tjerë . Shkollat e para i çeli Noefit Rodinoja, që besohet se në fshatrat e Himarës arriti në vitin 1632.
  17. Web site: Gregorič Bon . Nataša . Contested spaces and negotiated identities in Dhërmi/Drimades of Himarë/Himara area, southern Albania : dissertation . University of Nova Gorica, Graduate School . 22 October 2020 . 67 . 2008.

  18. "Δεν τα έφερε εκείνος τα ελληνικά στη Χιμάρα, αλλά τα βρήκε εκεί, κι αυτό μας το μαρτυρά ο εξ Ιταλίας ιεραπόστολος Giuseppe Schiro (Zef Skiro) από το έτος 1722,... O Schiro έγραφε ότι «η Cimara (Χιμάρα)..., Drimades (Δρυμάδες), Balasa (Παλάσα) [είναι] ελληνικής εθνότητας -"di natione greci"-, ενώ τα υπόλοιπα χωριά της Χιμάρας είναι αλβανικής εθνότητας -"di natione albanesi"»."

  19. "Nach der Relation von Giuseppe Schirò aus dem Jahre 1722 waren von den 14 himariotischen Ortschaften drei (Himara, Dhërmi und Palasa) "di natione greci", die restlichen 11 (Ilias, Vuno, Kalarat, Piluri, Qeparo, Piçerras, Lukovë, Shën-Vasil, Hundëcovë, Nivicë e Bubarit und Lëkurës) wurden als "di natione albanesi" bezeichnet."

  20. "IV. Relacioni i pare i At Schirò-it... Fillimisht kjo provincë, e cila motit ishte shumë e populluar me të krishterë, tani nuk ka më shumë se katërmbëdhjetë fshatra, që ushtrojnë ligjin e Krishtit në ritin grek (lindor): domethënë: Cimara (Himara) kryeqendra e provincës, Drimades (Dhërmiu) dhe Balasa (Palasa) të kombësisë greke (di natione greci); Egliates (Iliates, Ilias), Vuno (Vuno), Caloghirates (Kallarati), Piluri (Pilur), Clapero (Qeparo), Pichierasi (Piqeras), Lúculo (Lukovë), S. Basili (Shën Vasil), Gudezzona (Hundëcova), Nivizza (Nivica) e Licunisi (Lëkurësi) të kombësisë shqiptare (di natione albanesi)."

  21. Book: Etnografia shqiptare. 15. 1987. Akademia e Shkencave e RPSH, Instituti i Historisë, Sektori i Etnografisë. 199.
  22. Bulletin of Social Sciences (Albanian: Buletin për Shkencat Shoqërore, II, Tiranë, 1955, p. 159: part of the Letter sent from the people of Himara to the Tzarine Elizabeta Petrovna
  23. Studime historike. 1964. Dokumente: Kapiteni Dedoviç, Vjenë, më 30 korrik 1787. (English: Documents: Captain Dedowitch, Vienna, July 30th, 1787). Studime Historike (English: Historical Studies). 4. sq.
  24. Web site: Koltsida . Athina . Education in Northern Epirus during Late Ottoman Period . invenio.lib.auth.gr . University of Thessaloniki . 18 October 2020 . 175 . el.
  25. Book: Vakalopoulos . Kōnstantinos Apostolou . History of Epirus from Early Ottoman Times to Present . 2003 . Hērodotos . 9789607290977 . el . Χιμάρα, Κήπαρό, Βούνος, Δρυμάδες, Παλιάσα, Πήλιουρι... Οι Χιμαριώτες δεν υπάκουαν σε κανένα παρά μόνο στις εντολές του συμπατριώτη τους μακεδονομάχου Σπύρου Σπυρομήλιου".
  26. Book: Returning Home to Rome - The Basilian Monks of Grottaferrata in Albania, Volume 7. Murzaku, Ines Angeli. Analekta Kryptoferri. 112. 2009. 978-88-89345-04-7.
  27. Manta . Eleftheria . Οψεις της ιταλικής επίδρασης στη διαμόρφωση των ελληνοαλβανικών σχέσεων κατά την περίοδο του μεσοπολέμου [Aspects of the Italian Influence upon Greek-Albanian Relations during the Interwar Period]]. University of Thessaloniki . 2005 . 219 . 20 October 2020.
  28. Book: Katić . Dr Mario . Eade . Professor John . Pilgrimage, Politics and Place-Making in Eastern Europe: Crossing the Borders . 28 June 2014 . Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. . 978-1-4724-1594-3 . 140 . en . During his rule .... Palasa... was revoked with the explanation that there were not enough Greek-speakers living in the area..
  29. Book: Volume 2 of Engineering Geology and the Environment, International Association of Engineering Geology. Marinos, Paul G.. Taylor & Francis, organized by the Greek National Group of IAEG, Athens, Greece. 1311. June 1997. 90-5410-879-7.
  30. Web site: Destination Guide. Tourism in Albania. August 26, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20091211214615/http://www.tourism-in-albania.com/destination_guide. December 11, 2009. dead.
  31. https://www.scribd.com/doc/8203799/Himara-Turistic-Guide-English-Version Tourist Guide of Himara
  32. Gregorič. Nataša. Storytelling as a spatial practice in Dhërmi/Drimades of southern Albania. Anthropological Notebooks. 2. 14. 5. 1408-032X. 2009-11-28. They use the Albanian (Tosk) language..
  33. Kyriazis . Doris . Διατοπικότητα και διαχρονικότητα των νεοελληνικών γλωσσικών ιδιωμάτων της νότιας Αλβανίας . Modern Greek Dialects and Linguistics Theory . 18 March 2019 . 8 . 1 . University of Patras . 19 October 2020 . 118.
  34. Brian D. Joseph, Rexhina Ndoci, & Carly Dickerson . Language Mixing in Palasa . Proceedings of The8thInternational Conference of Modern Greek Dialects and Linguistic Theory . 371 . 19 October 2020 . The villagers are Greek-speaking but are fully fluent in Albanian as well,.
  35. Joseph . Brian . Ndoci . Rexhina . Dickerson . Carly . Language mixing in Palasa . Journal of Greek Linguistics . 2019 . 19 . 2 . 236 . 10.1163/15699846-01902002 . Another interesting domain where lexical borrowing is not unusual is terminology related to village life. We find it interesting because we would not expect Albanian being used here by the Greek villagers unless the village culture was originally Albanian and these borrowings are an indication that the older language in the village prevails in domains pertaining to village life.. free .

  36. "Για τα τοπωνύμια ελληνικήςαρχήςδιαπιστώνουμε ότι, αν και απαντάνε καθ’ όλη την παραλιακή γραμμή από την/τον Αυλώνα και μέχρι το Βουθρωτό, πυκνώνουν ωστόσο σε ορισμένα σημεία του Bregu i Detit(Παλάσα, Δρυμάδες, Χιμάρα), ενώ αλλού αραιώνουν (Πικέρας-Piqeras) ή απαντάνε κυρίως ως μακροτοπωνύμια. Επίσης, μερικά βρίσκουν τα αντίστοιχά τους στις απέναντι ακτές των Διαποντίων Νήσων(Μαθράκι, Ερείκουσα, Οθωνοί),της Κάτω Ιταλίας και των Επτανήσων. Βασικό τους χαρακτηριστικό είναι τα αρχαϊκά γνωρίσματα, αλλά και η μοναδικότητα, πράγμα που σημαίνει ότι ορισμένα απαντάνε μόνο εδώ."

  37. https://www.aqshf.gov.al/arkiva-36-1.html?movie=179

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