The Parthini, Partini or Partheenatai were an Illyrians tribe that lived in southern Illyria (modern Albania). They likely were located in the Shkumbin valley controlling the important route between the Adriatic Sea and Macedonia, which corresponded to the Via Egnatia of Roman times. Consequently, their neighbours to the west were the Taulantii and to the east the Dassaretii in the region of Lake Ohrid.
Name
The Parthini often appears in ancient accounts describing the
Illyrian Wars and
Macedonian Wars. Their name was written in Ancient Greek as Παρθῖνοι,
Parthînoi, Παρθηνοι,
Parthenoi, Παρθεηνᾶται
Partheēnâtai and in
Latin as
Parthini or
Partheni. They are mentioned by
Livy,
Caesar,
Strabo vii.;
Appian,
Illyr. 1;
Dio Cassius xli. 49;
Cicero in Pis. 40;
Pomponius Mela, ii. 3. § 11; Plin. iii. 26.
According to a mythological tradition reported by Appian (2nd century AD), the Parthini were among the South-Illyrians tribes that took their names from the first generation of the descendants of Illyrius, the eponymous ancestor of all the Illyrian peoples.
Geography
The Parthini most likely inhabited the area between the hinterland of
Dyrrhachium at the
Tirana plane in the north, and the hinterland of Apollonia at the Apsus river (
Seman river) in the south. Their territory likely included the
Shkumbin valley, hence they controlled the important route between the
Adriatic Sea and Macedonia, which corresponded to the
Via Egnatia of
Roman times.
Initially, the Parthini may have held the lands around Epidamnus-Dyrrhachium, but later they were probably pushed more inland by the
Taulantii losing their coastal holdings.
A walled city built in the 4th century BC at the latest has been found on the Gradishtë plateau near Belsh. It developed from an early 7th century BC hilltop settlement, and was located on the route leading from Apollonia along the Apsus river to the Shkumbin. Its ancient name is not known, but it can be assumed to have been the chief settlement of the Parthini. It existed until late antiquity, and was destroyed by the Slavic invasion.
The Illyrian stronghold of Dimale was situated in the vicinity or within the territory of the Parthini. Parthus was a settlement of the Parthini.
Culture
Language
The idiom spoken by the Parthini is included in the southern Illyrian onomastic province in modern linguistics.
The territory they inhabited belongs to the area that is considered in current scholarship as the linguistic core of Illyrian.
Religion
The Parthini worshiped a supreme god recognized through
interpretatio romana as 'Jupiter Parthinus'. It is attested in
Latin epigraphic material as Partinus.
History
The Parthini are often mentioned in the course of the
Roman Republic wars in
Illyria and Macedonia, 229 BCE, but as friends rather than foes of the Romans, having submitted at an early period to their arms. (
Polybius ii. 11;
Livy xxix. 12.) After the death of Philip, king of
Macedon, they appear to have been added to the dominions of
Pleuratus, an
prince allied to the Romans. (Polyb. xviii. 30; Liv. xxx. 34, xliv. 30.) Their principal town was
Parthus (Πάρθος, Steph. B.
s. v.), which was taken by
Julius Caesar in the course of his campaign with
Pompey. (Caes.
B.C. iii. 41.) The double-hilled
Dimallum, the strongest among the Illyrian places, with two citadels on two heights, connected by a wall (Polyb. iii. 18, vii. 9), was within their territory. There is no indication, however, of its precise situation, which was probably between Lissus and Epidamnus. Livy mentions (xxix. 12) two other fortresses:
Eugenium and
Bargulum.
Economy
Located in the inlands of southern
Illyria, the Parthini controlled the important route between the
Adriatic Sea and Macedonia, which corresponded to the
Via Egnatia of
Roman times.
Ancient historical sources testify agricultural economy among the Parthini, who were attested to have cultivated corn in Roman times. During the Great Roman Civil War the Parthini were obliged to deliver their corn supply for Pompey's troops. The situation changed with Caesar's arrival in Illyria. Once he had landed in Palaeste on the Ceraunian Mountains, the Illyrian communities, which were garrisoned by Pompey and the Roman Senate, welcomed Caesar.
See also
-
List of ancient Illyrian peoples and tribes
Bibliography
