Ulza (or Ulëz) is a small charming town in the municipality of Mat in north-central Albania. This village occupies an acropolis-like plateau overlooking Ulza Lake, a water formation created by the nearby Ulëz Hydroelectric Power Station’s Dam. The town of Ulza stands within the Ulza Regional Nature Park, where ecotourism has emerged quite rapidly in recent years. The credentials of […]
Fatmir Frashëri (1941-2019) is one of the best fullbacks to play for the Albanian national football (soccer) team. He is still considered one of the best right-backs in the history of Albanian football. Unfortunately, he belonged to a lost generation of footballers who suffered setbacks and isolation under the Albanian communist regime. Early Career Frashëri started his football journey with […]
The attractive coastal village of Zvërnec stands 14 km (8.7 mi) away from the port city of Vlora in southern Albania. It stands in the middle of a beautiful natural habitat with the forest of Soda south and the Narta Lagoon east and north. Since 2015, Zvërnec has been part of the Vlorë municipality. The houses of Zvërnec occupy the […]
Many consider Qemal Vogli (1929-2004) the best Albanian goalkeeper ever. He was born in the small city of Kavajë, where he made his first steps in football. At 1.87 meters tall (6.1 feet), the notable goalkeeper was imposing enough to stand at the foundation of a good, solid defense. Vogli had the same age as the famous Russian goalkeeper Lev […]
Bënjë, Përmet, (or Bënja) is a unique, small, and peculiar village in southern Albania. The village stands in a strategic elevated place that controls the gorge of the Langarica river and canyon. The few, silent houses of Bënja cut almost vertically into the mountain side upon which they stand. Their strict rectangular shapes resemble more medieval fortified towers rather than […]
Strabo in his Seventh book mentions the cities of the Iapodes: Metullum (likely Vinica in Josipdol), Arupium (Vitali in Prozor), Monetium (likely near Brinje), and Avendo (Kompolje). Other sources mention the cities of Terponos (Likely Trojverhi in Plashke), Ancus (likely Strazhbenica near Verbacit), Ausancalio (likely Medaku), Bivium (likely Josipdoli), and Epidotium (likely Kvarte). The poet Tibulus (55-19 B.C.E.) sing to […]
Audoleon was king of the kingdom of Paeonia during the late IV-early III century B.C.E. He remains the most renowned king of Paeonia despite the lack of sources to solidly back up this claim. Audoleon’s early reign Audoleon succeeded his father Patraus to the throne of the Paeonian kingdom in about 310 B.C.E. Diodorus reports that this year Audoleon was […]
Dassaretia or Dassaretis (or Dassaretae) was an ancient region located in the area that currently corresponds to the southwest Greek border or southeast Albania. The region was inhabited by the Illyrian tribe of the Dexari (i.e. the Dassareti), just south of the tribe of the Enchelees; that is, immediately south of the lakes Lychnidos (Ohrid) and Lyncestis (Great & Small […]
The kingdom of Paeonia was created sometime during the late V – early IV century B.C.E. It was inhabited by the Paeonians, an Indo-European/Illyrian population made up of several smaller tribes. Before creating their kingdom, as attested by sources, the Paeonian tribes occupied way larger territories than that held by the kingdom. However, due to pressures from the Persians, Thracians, […]
The Hellenistic Era swept three continents into perpetual wars for military supremacy. Among countless battles, there were several instances when military leaders themselves stepped in and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Below, we publish three such epic duels as described by ancient authors themselves. Neoptolemus of Epirus vs Eumenes of Cardia Described by: Plutarch “In the meantime, Neoptolemus also was engaged […]
