Palaeste

Palaeste or Palaiste was a town in the Ceraunian Mountains on the southern Adriatic coast between Illyria and Epirus in classical antiquity.[1][2][3][4] It was located near modern day Palasë in Albania.[3]

Etymology

The name Palaiste is considered to be Illyrian.[2] It is linked to the root morpheme *pal- (shallow water) and the typical Illyrian suffix -este.[5][6] The ethnic name Palaistinoi comes from Palaiste, with the typical Illyrian suffix -ino often used to form tribal names. The root *pal is also found in the name of the Illyrian tribe of the Plaraioi/Palarioi.[6] Pseudo-Plutarch reports that Palaistinos was another name of the river Strymon. The name has been speculated to be related to the ethnonym Philistines.[7][8][9]

History

Caesar's landing in 48 B.C

Ancient Roman writer Lucan reported that it was here that Julius Caesar landed from Brundusium across the Adriatic, in order to carry on the Civil War against Pompey in Illyricum and the oncoming Battle of Dyrrhachium on 10 July 48 BC.[10][11] According to Ian Longhurst, an analysis of other ancient sources, based on geographical and military data, suggests a more likely location for Caesar's landing inside the Bay of Vlorë north of the Ceraunian Mountains.[12] Neritan Ceka analysed the local places by a site survey on the Acroceraunia comparing their situation with the ancient sources, and accepted the historical account of Caesar's landing on Palaeste.[13]

Geography

In classical antiquity Palaeste was located in the Ceraunian Mountains on the southern Adriatic coast between Illyria and Epirus.[1][2][3][4] It was located near modern day Palasë on the northernmost coastal part of the ancient Kemara region (modern Himara, Albania).[3]

References
  1. de Ligt 2008, p. 154: "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)."
  2. Hencken 1968, p. 649: "Furthermore, there was a place named Palaiste, considered to be Illyrian, and located near the border of Illyria and Epirus..."
  3. Sakellariou 1997, p. 20: "The sea-ward face of the Akrokeraunian range, from Hagios Basileios northwards, to Palasa, the ancient Palaiste, forms the canton of Cheimara, the ancient Kemara ..."
  4. Abraham Malamat; Hayim Tadmor (1976). A History of the Jewish People. Harvard University Press. p. 83.
  5. Likaj 1990, p. 2394: "Schon lange hat man die illyrischen Suffixe - ata und - ates ( : olciniatae , Docleates , Dalmatae , Labeates u . a . ) in Beziehung zum albanischen Suffix - at ( : Demat , Zekat ; Dukat , Filat ) gebracht ; das illyrische Suffix - ista , - este (:Ladesta, Palaeste) zum albanischen Suffix - (e) është (:kopsh, vëneshtë, lagushtë u.a.)"
  6. Bercktold & Wacher 1996, p. 43: "Zu *pal- "Sumpf, seichtes Gewasser". Es gab illyrische Stämme der Plaraioi bzw . Palarioi ; s . auch Palaeste , Stadt in Südillyrien bei Orikon"
  7. Strobel 2015, p. 163.
  8. de Ligt 2008, pp. 153–154
  9. Hencken 1968, p. 649.
  10. Lucan, Phars. 5.460.
  11. Longhurst 2016, p. 134: "Pompey's army was dispersed in winter quarters leaving his main supply base of Dyrrachium (Durazzo or Durrës) potentially vulnerable to a surprise attack. Caesar planned to land his army on the coast of Illyricum (Albania), as near as he could to Dyrrachium, march on the city and seize Pompey's supplies."
  12. Longhurst 2016, pp. 132: " The most significant problem is the identification of Caesar's landing place for his army with Palaeste, when it can be shown that he probably landed inside the Gulf of Valona."
  13. Ceka 2011, p. 116.

Bibliography
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