Kodrion

Kodrion, Codrion or Codrio (Ancient Greek: Κόδριον, romanized: Kodrion; Latin: Codrio/Codrion) was an ancient town in southern Illyria, located somewhere to the north of Mount Tomorr, in present-day Albania. The settlement have been presumably identified with the archaeological remains of a fortified site at Kalaja e Irmajt, in the district of Gramsh.^[1]^[2]^[3] The town is mentioned in the events concerning the Illyrian Wars and Macedonian Wars.^[4]

Roman writer Livy describes Codrio as a sufficiently strong and fortified town (oppidum).^[5] It was located in a strategic position enough to warrant a Roman garrison after its capture.^[6]

The name of the town is certainly pre-Roman. A Paleo-Balkan origin has been suggested, relating it to the Albanian: kodër (definite form: kodra) 'hill', and Romanian: codru '(wooded) mountain, forest', with the same root as the ancient toponym Scodra (present-day Shkodër).^[7]

References

Citations

^ Morton 2017, p. 37
^ Hammond & Griffith 1972, p. 100: "[...] into the district of Gramsh, is probably to be identified with Codrion [...]"
^ Hammond 1976: "RRMAIT ("Kodrion") Albania: "To the N of Mt. Tomor. The earliest coins yielded by excavation are of Philip II of Macedon; the massive circuit wall with a fine gateway dates probably to the late 4th century BC. Names are preserved on tile stamps and amphora seals; weapons, tools, and fibulas were found. Kodrion figured in the wars between Macedon and Rome (Livy 31.27.4)."
^ Morton 2017, pp. 17–18
^ Morton 2017, p. 18
^ Morton 2017, p. 35
^ Poruciuc 1998, p. 120.