[God Sabazios National Museum
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The origins of the Albanian people are not definitely known, but data drawn from history and from
linguistic, archaeological, and anthropological studies have led to the conclusion that Albanians are the
direct descendants of the ancient Illyrians and that the latter were natives of the lands they inhabited.
Similarly, the Albanian language derives from the language of the Illyrians, the
transition from Illyrian to Albanian apparently occurring between the 4th and 6th
centuries AD. Illyrian culture is believed to have evolved from the Stone Age and to
have manifested itself in the territory of Albania towardthe beginning of the Bronze Age, about 2000 BC.
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The Illyrians were not a uniform body of people but a
conglomeration of many tribes that inhabited the western part of the Balkans, from
what is now Slovenia in the northwest to (and including) the region of Epirus, which
extends about halfway down the mainland of modern Greece. In general, Illyrians in
the highlands ofAlbania were more isolated than those in the lowlands, and their
culture evolved more slowly--a distinction that persisted throughout Albania's
history. In its beginning, the kingdom of Illyria comprised the actual territories of
Dalmatia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, with a large part of modern Serbia
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[Gold & Garnet chains Tirana Arch-Museum
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Shkodra (Scutari) was its capital, just as it is now, the most important center of Northern Albania. The earliest
known king of Illyria was Hyllus (The Star) who is recorded to have died in the year 1225 B.C. The Kingdom,
however, reached its zenith in the fourth century B.C. when Bardhylus (White Star), one of the most
prominent of the Illyrian kings, united under scepter the kingdoms of Illyria, Molossia (Epirus*) and a good
part of Macedonia. But its decay began under the same ruler as a result of the attacks made on it by Philip
of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. In the year 232 B.C.
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The Illyrian throne was occupied by Teuta,
the celebrated Queen whom historians have called Catherine the Great of Illyria. The depredations of her
thriving navy on the rising commercial development of the Republic forced the Roman Senate to declare war against the Queen. A huge army and navy under the command of of Santumalus and Alvinus attacked Central Albania, and, after two years of protracted warfare, Teuta was induced for
peace (227 B.C.) The last king of Illyria was Gentius, of pathetic memory.
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In 165 B.C. he
was defeated by the Romans and brought to Rome as a captive. Henceforth, Illyria
consisting of the Enkalayes, the Taulantes, the Epirotes, and the Ardianes, became a
Roman dependency. She was carved out into three independent republics the
capitals of which were respectively Scodar (Shkoder), Epidamnus (Durres) and
Dulcigno (todays' Ulqin in Montenegro). Authors of antiquity relate that the Illyrians
were a sociable and hospitable people, renowned for their daring and bravery at war.
Illyrian women were fairly equal in status to the men, even to the point of becoming
heads of tribal federations.
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In matters of religion, Illyrians were pagans who believed
in an afterlife and buried their dead along with arms and various articles intended for
personal use. The land of Illyria was rich in minerals--iron, copper, gold, silver--and Illyrians became
skillful in the mining and processing of metals. They were highly skilled boat builders and sailors as well;
indeed, their light, swift galleys known as liburnae were of such superior design that the Romans
incorporated them.
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Welcome to Albania
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