The name Palaiste is considered to be
Illyrian.[3] It is linked to the
root morpheme *pal- (shallow water) and the typical Illyrian suffix -este.[6][7] The ethnic name Palaistinoi comes from Palaiste, with the typical Illyrian suffix -ino often used to form
tribal names. The root *pal is also found in the name of the Illyrian tribe of the Plaraioi/Palarioi.[7]Pseudo-Plutarch reports that Palaistinos was another name of the river
Strymon. The name has been speculated to be related to the ethnonym Philistines.[8][9][10]
Ancient Roman writer
Lucan reported that it was here that
Julius Caesar landed from
Brundusium across the Adriatic, in order to carry on the
Civil War against
Pompey in Illyricum and the oncoming
Battle of Dyrrhachium on 10 July 48 BC.[11][12] According to
Ian Longhurst, an analysis of other ancient sources, based on geographical and military data, suggests a more likely location for Caesar's landing inside the
Bay of Vlorë north of the
Ceraunian Mountains.[13]Neritan Ceka analysed the local places by a site survey on the Acroceraunia comparing their situation with the ancient sources, and accepted the historical account of Caesar's landing on Palaeste.[14]
Geography
In classical antiquity Palaeste was located in the
Ceraunian Mountains, between the southern
Adriatic and the
Ionian Sea. The town was placed south of the
Akrokeraunian Promontory, which was the natural boundary that separated
Epirus from
Illyria in
classical antiquity. Located near modern day
Palasë on the northernmost coastal part of the ancient Kemara region (modern
Himara,
Albania),[4] Palaeste was part of the territory of the
Chaones.[1] The present-day village of
Dhërmi has been proposed as a possible location of the ancient site.[1]
^de Ligt 2008, p. 154: "In classical times Palaiste was a small town on the South-Illyrian coast, while Pliny's list of peoples inhabiting the more northerly parts of Roman Illyricum include the Siculi and the Sardeates (Lehmann 1985, 42-49)."
^
abHencken 1968, p. 649: "Furthermore, there was a place named Palaiste, considered to be Illyrian, and located near the border of Illyria and Epirus..."
^
abcSakellariou 1997, p. 20: "The sea-ward face of the Akrokeraunian range, from Hagios Basileios northwards, to Palasa, the ancient Palaiste, forms the canton of Cheimara, the ancient Kemara ..."
^Abraham Malamat; Hayim Tadmor (1976). A History of the Jewish People. Harvard University Press. p. 83.
^Likaj 1990, p. 2394: "Schon lange hat man die illyrischen Suffixe - ata und - ates ( : olciniatae , Docleates , Dalmatae , Labeates u . a . ) in Beziehung zum albanischen Suffix - at ( : Demat , Zekat ; Dukat , Filat ) gebracht ; das illyrische Suffix - ista , - este (:Ladesta, Palaeste) zum albanischen Suffix - (e) është (:kopsh, vëneshtë, lagushtë u.a.)"
^
abBerktold & Wacker 1996, p. 43: "Zu *pal- "Sumpf, seichtes Gewasser". Es gab illyrische Stämme der Plaraioi bzw . Palarioi ; s . auch Palaeste , Stadt in Südillyrien bei Orikon"
^Longhurst 2016, p. 134: "Pompey's army was dispersed in winter quarters leaving his main supply base of Dyrrachium (Durazzo or Durrës) potentially vulnerable to a surprise attack. Caesar planned to land his army on the coast of Illyricum (Albania), as near as he could to Dyrrachium, march on the city and seize Pompey's supplies."
^Longhurst 2016, pp. 132: " The most significant problem is the identification of Caesar's landing place for his army with Palaeste, when it can be shown that he probably landed inside the Gulf of Valona."
de Ligt, Luuk (2008). "An Eteocretan inscription from Praisos and the Homeland of the Sea Peoples". Talanta (XL–XLI): 151–172.
Hencken, Hugh (1968).
Tarquinia, Villanovans, and Early Etruscans, Volume 1. Bulletin (American School of Prehistoric Research), American School of Prehistoric Research and Harvard University, Peabody Museum, American School of Prehistoric Research. Bulletin. Vol. 23. Peabody Museum.
Longhurst, Ian (2016). "Caesar's Crossing of the Adriatic Countered by a Winter Blockade During the Roman Civil War". The Mariner's Mirror. 102 (2). Routledge: 132–152.
doi:
10.1080/00253359.2015.1054681.
S2CID163921681.