Ceraunian_Mountains

Ceraunian Mountains

Ceraunian Mountains

Mountain range in Albania

The Ceraunian Mountains (Albanian: Malet e Vetëtimës, Albanian pronunciation: [ˈmalet e vetəˈtiməs], 'Thunderbolt Mountains') are a coastal mountain range in southwestern Albania, within the Vlorë County.

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The mountain range rises on the northeastern bank of the Ionian Sea and protrudes into the Adriatic Sea. It extends for approximately 100 km (62 mi) in a southeast-northwest direction near Sarandë, along the Albanian Riviera, close to Orikum. Geologically, the Karaburun Peninsula belongs to the Ceraunian Mountains, and is separated from the rest by the Llogara Pass (1,027 metres (3,369 ft)) forming the western part of the Ceraunian mountain range, called Acroceraunian Mountains (Albanian: Malet Akrokeraune). The mountains are about 24 km (15 mi) long and about 4–7 km (2.5–4.3 mi) wide.[1] The highest peak is Maja e Çikës with an elevation of 2,044 metres (6,706 ft).[2][3]

Name

In classical antiquity, the name of the mountains was recorded in Ancient Greek as Κεραύνια ὄρη Keraunia ore,[4][5] meaning "thunder-split peaks"[6] The western part of the mountain chain is called Ἀκροκεραύνια Akrokeraunia, meaning 'Cape Thunder' which referred to the modern Karaburun peninsula. Both names Ceraunia and Acroceraunia illustrate the bad weather and the danger found there by ancient seafarers and travellers.[7] Moreover, the Acroceraunian promontory located on the western side of the bay of Vlorë (ancient Aulon) equates to the modern Karaburun Peninsula also known as cape Linguetta.[8]

In Latin the name of the mountains was recorded as Ceraunii montes or Acroceraunii montes. In Albanian, the native name of the mountains is Malet e Vetëtimës, while Malet Akrokeraune contains the ancient name.[9] In Modern Greek the name of the mountains is Κεραύνια Όρη Keraunia Ori.

Geology

The range consists of Maja e Çikës 2,045 m (6,709 ft) and Maja e Qorres 2,018 m (6,621 ft), which are the roughest and most rugged parts of the southwestern relief, due to their extension in the Ionian and Sazan tectonic zones. The mountain range is divided by dry streams and deep abysses, with sparsely covered vegetation, dominated by pine trees (up to 600–800 m) in the lower part and conifers (black pine, spruce, hemlock, etc.) in the upper part.[10]

History

In classical antiquity, the Ceraunian Mountains represented a natural border between the historical and geographical regions of Illyria and Epirus.[11] As a border region to the north of these mountains Illyrian populations were located, while the Epirotes, in particular the Chaonians, were located in the south of these mountains.[12]

In Hellenistic times, Maja e Çikës formed the southern border of the territory of the Greek polis of Oricum. In that period Çika also separated the territory of Oricum from the tribe of the Amantes to the east, who built the fortified settlement of Cerje beyond Shëngjergji Pass.[13]

The Akrokeraunian peninsula had the most important stone quarries in Illyria.[14] Most of the quality limestone used for the construction of temples and monuments in the Greek polis of Apollonia, in particular, came from there, perhaps after the conquest of Thronion c. 450 BC.[15]

According to Ancient Greek mythology, the Abantes from Euboea who had previously joined the Ancient Greek army in the Trojan War settled in the Ceraunian Mountains. They were later expelled by the forces from Apollonia.[16]

The Ceraunian Mountains have been described by ancient writers such as Ptolemy, Strabo and Pausanias. Consequently, the mountains are still known under their classical name. Julius Caesar first set foot on Llogara Pass and rested his legion at Palaeste on the Ionian coast during his pursuit of Pompey.

During the 15th-16th centuries the warlike community of the region of Himara emerged.[17]

Cult and mythology

Zeus, the central figure of the Greek Pantheon, was associated with the Ceraunian Mountains being a popular deity among the Chaonians as well as the rest of northern Greece as Zeus Chaonius.[18]

It was said that Geryones guarded his cattle in those mountains.[19]

The coastline of Himara seen from the pass of Llogara.
Maja e Çikës
View from Maja e Çikës

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Management Plan Llogora-Rreza e Kanalit-Dukat -Orikum-TragjasRadhime-Karaburun Complex Site" (PDF). vinc.s.free.fr (in Albanian). p. 23.
  2. [2]
    "Maja e Çikës". Geonames.org. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  3. [3]
    The Finest Peaks - Prominence and Other Mountain Measures (Adam Helman ed.). Trafford Publishing. 2005. ISBN 9781412059954.
  4. [4]
    Strabo, Geography, Book VI, 3.5 at LacusCurtius
  5. [5]
    Strabo, Geography Book VII, 5.1 LacusCurtius
  6. [6]
    Keraunia Archived December 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, at Perseus
  7. [7]
    Morton, 2017, p. 77
  8. [8]
    Suha, Mikko (2021). Late Classical - Hellenistic Fortifications in Epirus: Fourth to Second century BC. Helsinki: Helsingin yliopisto. p. 19. ISBN 9789515176738.
  9. [9]
    Basha, Nermin (2012). "Epiri dhe Botailire ne veprën e Jul Cezarit, "Mbi Luftën Civile" [Epirus and the Illyrian world in the work of Julius Cesar, "On the Civil War"]". Studime Historike (3–4): 5–25. "malet Akrokeraune, sot Malet e Vetëtimës"
  10. [10]
    Buda, Aleks (1985). Fjalori Enciklopedik Shqiptar. Tiranë: Akademia e Shkencave e RPSSH. p. 1245.
  11. [11]
    Shpuza 2022, p. 553; Shpuza et al. 2018, p. 521; Bejko et al. 2015, p. 4; Zindel et al. 2018, p. 346; Shrimpton 1991, p. 391; Chapinal-Heras 2021, pp. 20–21.
  12. [12]
    Shpuza 2022, p. 553; Bejko et al. 2015, p. 4; De Maria, Bogdani & Giorgi 2017, p. 52; Bogdani 2011, p. 121.
  13. [13]
    Shpuza & Cipa 2021, pp. 113–115.
  14. [14]
    Shpuza et al. 2018, p. 521
  15. [15]
    Davis, Jack L.; Pojani, Iris; Stocker, Sharon R. (1 June 2022). A Sanctuary in the Hora of Illyrian Apollonia: Excavations at the Bonjaket Site (2004-2006). ISD LLC. pp. 45, 459. ISBN 978-1-937040-94-9.
  16. [16]
    Joaquim Carvalho. Religion, Ritual and Mythology: Aspects of Identity Formation in Europe, Pisa University Press, p. 148
  17. [17]
    Banac, Ivo; Ackerman, John G.; Szporluk, Roman; Vucinich, Wayne S. (1981). Nation and ideology: essays in honor of Wayne S. Vucinich. East European Monographs. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-914710-89-9.
  18. [18]
    Stocker 2009, p. 294.
  19. [19]
    Stocker 2009, p. 206.

Bibliography

Morton, Jamie (18 September 2017). The Role of the Physical Environment in Ancient Greek Seafaring. BRILL. p. 77. ISBN 978-90-04-35107-3.
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