Sites & cities that bear the name of Hadrianopolis in Epirus

Hadrianopolis in Epirus

Today in : Albania
First trace of activity : ca. 4th century B.C.E
Last trace of activity : ca. 4th century C.E
Recorded names : Ἁδριανούπολις, Hadrianoupolis , Justinianopolis, Ioustinianoupolis, Ἰουστινιανούπολις, Drynópoli

Description : Hadrianopolis or Hadrianoupolis, was a town of ancient Epirus and of Illyricum, founded by Hadrian, and situated on the road from Apollonia to Nicopolis, about midway between those two towns. It was repaired and moved by Justinian I, and called Justinianopolis, and became one of the cities of the government of old Epeirus and the see of a bishop. The small theatre and other vestiges in the plain below Libókhovo mark the position of this city. Ten or twelve miles lower down the river are the ruins of a fortress or small town of the Byzantine age, called Drynópoli, which name has been taken for a corruption of the old city, though it really is derived from the river on which the place is situated, still called Dhrýno or Drýno. These remains are of a later age than the theatre, which belongs to Paganism. The probability is, that when Hadrianopolis fell in ruins Dryinopolis was built on a different site, and became the see of the bishop. Hadrianopolis in Epiro remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church. Its site is located near Sofratikë, Dropull, in Albania.

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