Dea Dardanica is an archaeological artifact found in Kosovo that represents an ancient deity associated with the Dardania region, [1] located in the central-western Balkans, which encompasses parts of modern Kosovo and western North Macedonia. [2]
Dea Dardanica is an archaeological artifact found in Kosovo that represents an ancient deity associated with the Dardania region, [1] located in the central-western Balkans, which encompasses parts of modern Kosovo and western North Macedonia. [2]
Dea Dardanica holds significance within the historical and cultural context of the Dardania region. While the exact nature of her worship and beliefs surrounding her vary, she is generally understood to have been revered by the indigenous Dardanian people. Dea Dardanica is often associated with themes such as protection, fertility, and possibly solar symbolism, although the exact nature of her attributes remains subject to interpretation. Imagery found on archaeological artifacts offers clues to these associations. [3]
Our understanding of Dea Dardanica primarily comes from archaeological discoveries, including inscriptions and votive altars, scattered throughout the Dardania region. These artifacts provide valuable evidence of her cult and shed light on the religious practices of the ancient inhabitants. With the establishment of Roman rule in the Balkans, the worship of Dea Dardanica likely underwent changes as local traditions intersected with Roman religious practices. Inscriptions and votive monuments from this period provide insights into how indigenous beliefs were interpreted within the framework of Roman culture. [4]
Overall, Dea Dardanica represents an intriguing aspect of the cultural and religious landscape of the Balkans during antiquity, reflecting the interplay between local traditions and external influences such as Roman rule. [5]
Rexhep Qosja is an Albanian writer, literary critic and Professor at University of Prishtina. He has been considered the first postmodern Albanian novelist and one of the greatest Balkans literary critics.
The Kingdom of Dardania was a polity in the central Balkans in the region of Dardania during classical antiquity. It is named after the Dardani, a Paleo-Balkan tribe that formed the core of the Dardanian polity. Dardania was centered around present-day Kosovo, but also included parts of North Macedonia (Gostivar), Serbia and Albania. The eastern parts of Dardania were at the Thraco-Illyrian contact zone. Marcus Licinius Crassus, grandson of the triumvir Marcus Crassus, officially annexed the kingdom in 28 BC while on campaign against the Dacians and Bastarnae. The region was subsequently incorporated into the province of Moesia in 15 BC, and later in 293 AD, as the province of Dardania.
The Galabri were a Dardanian tribe, along with the Thunatae, mentioned by Strabo.
Part of a series of articles upon Archaeology of Kosovo
Classical music in Kosovo refers to the art music cultivated in Kosovo. The roots of classical music in Kosovo are found in the 1940s and include the time period from the times when Kosovo was part of Yugoslavia to this day. It can be said that there is a tradition of classical music in Kosovo, however, compared to other Balkan countries and especially European countries this tradition is younger. Classical music in Kosovo reaches back about 70 years. Even though in a short period of time, this music has evolved, passing through generations of composers and artists. In his book Albanian: Zhvillimi i stileve në veprat e kompozitorëve shqiptarë të Kosovës, Engjëll Berisha comments:
"The diversity of styles in Albanian music [of Kosovo], its national patterns with sound idea-aesthetic foundations are a characteristic of the European musical reality, so many many works are of interest abroad, too, because during this relatively short period Albanian classical music in Kosovo has compensated for the delay in its development."
Archaeology of Kosovo as a field of study and research was started in the second half of the 20th century. Kosovo's field of archaeology has developed in tandem with the historical study, studies of ancient authors' sources, classic philological studies, theological data research, topographic studies and ground survey, analysis of toponyms, deciphering of epigraphic and historiographic data. First data about antique monuments in Kosovo, were documented from the end of the 19th until the beginning of the Second World War, a time period when Kosovo was visited by researchers, guides, and archaeologists such as: Evans, Boue, Hahn, Kanitz, Tomaschek, Domaschevski, Arpad, Vulic, Jirecek, Patsch, Domenico Mustilli, etc.
This is a description of Neolithic sites in Kosovo. The warm, humid climate of the Holocene which came soon after the ice melting of the last glacial period brought changes in nature which were reflected in humans, flora and fauna. This climatic stabilization influenced human life and activities; human society is characterized by changes in community organization and the establishment of permanent settlements in dry places, near riverbanks and on fertile plateaus.
The Roman heritage sites in Kosovo represent a multitude of monuments of material and spiritual culture, which reflect the Roman period in this region. Among them, a special place is occupied by those that represent the development of art, such as the plastic monuments that are more frequent, and at the same time occupy an important place, because with the presentation of figures in relief and with numerous inscriptions they speak to us enough for this period.
Viciana or Station Viciano was a Roman road station of unclear location, somewhere in Kosovo field.
Vlashnjë is a village in the Prizren municipality of Kosovo. It has 1,700 inhabitants as of 2011. Vlashnjë is a multi-layered settlement and site area. Archaeological excavations have identified habitation and use of the area since the Neolithic era. The rock art paintings at Mrrizi i Kobajës are the first find of prehistoric rock art in Kosovo. In late antiquity, Vlashnja was a fortified settlement part of the fortification network which Justinian I rebuilt along the White Drin in Dardania.
The Bazaar of Prishtina, Kosovo, was the core merchandising center of the Old Prishtina since the 15th century, when it was built. It played a significant role in the physical, economic, and social development of Pristina. The Old Bazaar was destroyed during the 1950s and 1960s, following the modernization slogan of "Destroy the old, build the new". In its place, buildings of Kosovo Assembly, Municipality of Prishtina, PTT, and Brotherhood and Unity socialist square were built. Nowadays, instead of PTT building resides the Government of Kosovo building. Only few historical buildings, such as the Bazaar Mosque and ruins of the Bazaar Hammam have remained from the Bazaar complex. Since then, Prishtina has lost part of its identity, and its cultural heritage has been scattered.
Albania's Golgotha: Indictment of the Exterminators of the Albanian People, is a German published document of 1913 which was written by the Austrian publicist and politician Leo Freundlich (1875-1953). The document is a compilation of news which he gathered when traveling in the Vilayet of Kosovo during the Serbian invasion of 1912-1913, explaining in detail the full-scale massacres, rape, expulsions, torture and abuse which Albanian civilians suffered under rule by the Serb army and Chetnik paramilitaries. According to the documents of Freundlich, 25,000 Albanians were massacred in the Kosovo Vilayet halfway through the First Balkan War. The document describes the methods of ethnic cleansing which was used to remove the Albanian population of North Macedonia, Northern Albania, and Kosovo. The document was re-translated by Robert Elsie. The reports were confirmed by the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan War.
Jashar Rexhepagiq was a Yugoslav Albanian and Kosovar scholar and writer. Jashar Rexhepagiq was born in Plav in Montenegro and went to school in Berane and Peja. He studied education at the University of Zagreb where he finished his doctorate in 1965. Rexhepagiq taught school in Prizren and later as a professor of education taught at the University of Prishtina until 1990. He was an active member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosova until his retirement from public life.
Kosovo is characterised by a diverse biodiversity and an abundance of different ecosystems and habitats determined by the climate along with the geology and hydrology. Predominantly mountainous, it is located at the center of the Balkan Peninsula bounded by Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the north and east, North Macedonia to the southeast, and Albania to the southwest.
Romajë is a village in the Prizren municipality of Kosovo. It has 2,747 inhabitants as of 2011. The area of Romajë is the site of a multi-layered settlement of the pre-Roman Iron Age, the Roman era, and the medieval era. Excavations at the necropolis of Romajë have revealed extensive burial mounds (tumuli) of classical antiquity.
Duboc Fortress is situated above the Ceçan, part of the Ciçavica mountain chain, in the village of Duboc, approximately 10–12 km in the south-west of the Municipality of Vushtrri.
Zef Mirdita was an Albanian historian, university professor and academic from Prizren, Kosovo. He has made a significant contribution to the fields of Illyrology and Balkan studies.
Skënder Anamali was one of the founders of Albanian archaeology. He made significant contributions to the field of Illyrian studies.
The Verboc Fortress known by local residents simply as Our Fortress is an Illyrian archaeological site located on a hilltop about 2 kilometers from the village of Verboc in Drenas Municipality, Drenica region, Kosovo. Today, it is a monument of Kosovo's cultural heritage with archaeological character.