- Dropull
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Dropull (Albanian: Dropulli; Greek: Δρόπολις, Dropolis) is a predominantly Greek-inhabited region in Gjirokastër District, in southern Albania. The region stretches from south of the city of Gjirokastër to the Greek-Albanian border, along the Drinos river. The region's villages are part of the Greek "minority zone" recognized by the Albanian government, in which live majorities of ethnic Greeks.[1] Dropull is divided into two municipalities: Dropull i Sipërm (Upper Dropull) and Dropull i Poshtëm (Lower Dropull).
Contents
History
During the Middle Helladic period (2100-1550 BC), a double tumulus was excavated, in Vodhinë, with strong similarities to the grave circles at Mycenae, showing a common ancestral link with the Myceneans of southern Greece.[2] In classical antiquity, the area was inhabited by the Greek tribe of the Chaonians.
From the Roman period there was a fortified settlement named Hadrianoupolis in the region, named after the Roman emperor Hadrian. The settlement was built on a strategic spot in the valley of the river Drinos near the modern village of Sofratika, 11 kilimetres south of Gjirokastër. During the 6th century the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, as part of his fortification plans against barbarian invasions, moved the settlement 4 kilometers southeast in the modern village of Peshkëpi, in order to gain a more secure position. The city is also referred in Byzantine sources as Ioustinianoupolis. Today, ruins of the fortifications are still visible, as are the aqueduct and a medieval Orthodox Christian church.[3]
During the 11th century the city was named Dryinoupolis, a name possibly deriving from its former name or from the nearby river. It was also, from the 5th century, the see of a bishopric (initially part of the Diocese of Nicopolis, Naupactus and then Ioannina).
The bishopric of Dryinoupolis included the region of modern southwest Albania and from the 16th century its center was Gjirokastër.[4] At the end of the 19th century, many inhabitants migrated to the United States.[5]
Villages
Some of the villages of the region are:
- Goranxi
- Jorgucat
- Peshkëpi
- Sofratikë
- Sotirë
- Zervat
Notable people
- Spiro Ksera, politician.
- Lefter Millo, famous soccer player, capped with Albania.
- Vasilios Sahinis, leader of the Northern Epirote Liberation Organization.
- Kosmas Thesprotos, scholar.
- Tasos Vidouris, poet.
See also
References
- ^ Second Report Submitted by Albania Pursuant to Article 25, Paragrapg 1 of the Framework Convetion for the Protection of National Minorities.
- ^ Komita, Nuobo (1982). "The Grave Cicles at Mycenae and the Early Indo-Europeans". Research Reports of Ikutoku Tech. Univ. (A-7): 59–70. http://www.kait-r.com:8080/dspace/bitstream/10368/103/1/kka-007-006.pdf.
- ^ Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization. M. V. Sakellariou. Ekdotike Athenon, 1997. ISBN 9602133716, p. 154, 191
- ^ Albania's captives. Pyrrhus J. Ruches. Argonaut, 1965, p/
- ^ Religion in Post-Communist Albania. Muslims, Christians and the idea of ‘culture’ in Devoll, Southern Albania. Gilles de Rapper. p. 7
Northern Epirus & Greeks in Albania History Ancient Epirus (Chaones • Dassaretae) • Despotate of Epirus • Revolt of 1854 • Revolt of 1878 • Himara revolt of 1912 • Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus • Protocol of Corfu • Battle of Morava-Ivan • Northern Epirus Liberation FrontSociety and Culture Greeks in Albania • New Academy • Zographeion College • Himariote dialect • Laiko Vima • Polyphonic song of Epirus • Postage stamps and postal history of Northern EpirusSettlements Ancient: Phoenice • Vouthroton • Apollonia • Thronium • Amantia • Antigonia • Antipatreia • Dimale • Oricum
Modern: Gjirokastër • Korçë • Himarë • Delvinë • Sarandë • Dropull • Pogon • Tepelenë • Permet • Leskovik • Ersekë • Moscopole • Bilisht
Other1: Nartë • Vlorë • Berat • Tirana • Elbasan • Durrës • Fier • ShkodërOrganizations Omonoia • Panepirotic Federation of America • Panepirotic Federation of Australia • Unity for Human Rights PartyIndividuals Benefactors: Alexandros Vasileiou • Apostolos Arsakis • Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas • Ioannis Pangas • Georgios and Simon Sinas • Alexandros and Michael Vasileiou • Christakis Zografos • Literature: Theodore Kavalliotis • Katina Papa • Konstantinos Skenderis • Takis Tsiakos • Tasos Vidouris • Stavrianos Vistiaris • Andreas Zarbalas • Politics: Vasil Bollano • Georgios Christakis-Zografos • Vangjel Dule • Spiro Ksera • Military/Resistance: Kyriakoulis Argyrokastritis • Panos Bitsilis • Dimitrios Doulis • Konstantinos Lagoumitzis • Zachos Milios • Athanasios Pipis • Ioannis Poutetsis • Vasilios Sahinis • Spyromilios • Spyros Spyromilios • Sports: Pyrros Dimas • Sotiris Ninis • Panajot Pano • Leonidas Sabanis • Andreas Tatos • Clergy: Vasileios of Dryinoupolis • Panteleimon Kotokos Eulogios Kourilas
1 Cities and towns in Albania with Greek-speaking communities, outside the political definition of 'Northern Epirus'.National parks of Albania National Butrint • Dajti Mountain • Divjaka-Karavasta • Lura • Llogara • Prespa • Thethi • Tomorri Mountain • Valbona Valley • Fir of Hotova-Dangëlli • Fir of Drenova • Shtam Pass • Shebenik-Jabllanica • Zall-GjoçajArchaeological Marine Karaburun-Sazan
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