- Risan
Risan (
Cyrillic : "Рисан",Latin : "Risinium", Greek: "Rhizon", "Ρίζων", Venetian: "Risano") is a town in theBay of Kotor ,Montenegro . It is the oldest settlement in the Bay of Kotor.Lying in the innermost portion of the bay, the settlement was protected from the interior by inaccessible limestone cliffs of the
Orjen mountain, the highest range of eastern Adriatic, and through several following narrow straits in theBay of Kotor from the open sea.While the
Krivošije karst plateau that hangs steep above the narrow shores of Risan bay receives over 5000 mm rain annually (European record), several strong karst springs that form a short brook collect in the narrow cultivable belt at Risan. Today Risan is a small port with roughly 3500 inhabitants ( In 1900: Around 5000 inhabitants; of them 80%Orthodox Christians , 20%Catholics . ) where logs from the vast virgin forests of theBijela gora are shipped mostly toItaly . Risan is a tourist destination that has a fine hotel called after its most famous citizen,Queen Teuta , with accompanying fine beaches.History
The earliest mention of "Rhizon" dates back to the 4th century BCE. "Rhizon" had been the main fortress in the Illyrian state where
Queen Teuta took refuge during theIllyrian Wars . During the short reign of theIllyrian Queen Teuta, "Rhizon" became the capital of her empire.During theses periods a mint was established that issued several coinages:
* autonomous coinages of the town, in bronze,
* the royal coinage of kingBallaios , in silver and bronze,
* most probably, the coinage labeled “Coinage from the Rhizonian Gulf”, which has been considered as the coinage of an alliance in which Rhizon played a part, in silver and bronze.The
chronology of thesecoinage s is still not defined with precision, primarily because the historical background of their issuance remains little known. There is hardly any mention in the literary sources of the town of "Rhizon", and none of the king Ballaios. However, several features of these coinages - such as the characteristics of style, elements of inscription and iconography (especially the presence of the title “basileus ” on the coinage of Ballaios, and the presence of a Macedonian shield on the “Coinage from the Rhizonian Gulf”), metrology, choice of coined metals, etc. – point to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE as the general chronological framework for the activity of the Rhizonian mint and for the successive issuance of the coinages of different issuing authorities there.Formerly the
Bay of Kotor was known as Sinus Rhizonicus after the (Greek) name of "Rhizon", the leading town in anticity of the bay. "Rhizon" had also its own protector, a deity called Medaurus, who was depicted as carrying a lance and riding on horseback.In Roman times, "Rhizinium" is documented as an oppidum civium Romanorum. Two Roman routes led through the
Bay of Kotor .The most prosperous time for Roman "Rhizinium" came during the first and second centuries. Five mosaics are the most valuable remains of that period - not only for Risan but also forMontenegro . The best preserved one showsHypnos , the Greek deity of dreams. It is the only known image of this kind in theBalkans . The famous Englisharcheologist SirArthur Evans led those initialexcavation s.The invasions of the Avars and
Slavs left Risan deserted. The last reference of abishop in Risan dates back to 595. In the 10th century, theByzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus includes Risan among the inhabited towns ofTravunia , while the priest ofDoclea considers Rissena to be a district.During the
Middle Ages , Risan lost the significance it used to have in the ancient times. In the mid 15th century, Risan was referred to as the town of Herceg (duke) Stjepan. In 1466, the Venetians offered to giveBrač island and a palace inSplit toHerceg Stjepan , in exchange for his two towns (Risan and Novi) in theBoka Kotorska .In 1482, the Turks took Risan, together withHerceg Novi , from Herceg Stjepan's son Vlatko. Only in 1688 Risan became Venetian as part of theAlbania Veneta with the venetian name of "Risano". In the following centuries Risan has had the same fate as the whole ofDalmatia . Actually it is part of the newly independentMontenegro .According to the 1627 population census, Risan had 800 citizens. 570 were Muslims, 150 Orthodox and 80 Catholic.
In the present-day Risan, there are no elements that could connect it to the
medieval town. Risan by the sea was probably just a settlement. However, on the Gradina hill, above the famous archeological site of Carine, a fortification is situated containing remains of an Illyrian-Greek acropolis, as well as the medieval and Turkish stratum. The position of the fortification was excellent, particularly for the control of Risan –Onogošt route, while the hilltop itself was inaccessible.See also
*
List of Illyrian cities External links
* photos from Risan [http://www.fotokate.pl/?act=gal&kat=0&podkat=1&str=2&desc=Risan fotokate.pl]
* [http://www.mzrisan.0catch.com/ MZ Risan]
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