Original scientific paper

The beginning of Pliny’s description of Illyricum (Nat. hist. 3, 139) and the Liburnians

Slobodan Čače

Abstract

Opinions on the initial section of Pliny’s description of Illyricum
(Nat. hist. 3, 139) diverge. It is believed that this part
of the text is incomplete due to discrepancies in information
borrowed from various sources. The emphasis placed on the
Liburnians, where one would expect an introduction to Illyricum
and neighbouring regions, is problematic. Lacking suitable
sources for a comprehensive introduction, Pliny began the text
with the Liburnians and associated them with other peoples,
such as the Mentores, Himani. In doing so, Pliny essentially describes
the situation that preceded the emergence of the term
Illyricum. This was, as Suić rightfully stated, yet another reminiscence
about the importance of the Liburnians in the distant
past. However, the statement on the Liburnians, from the Raša
(Arsia) to the Krka (Titium), should not be downplayed, as it
originates from erudite sources within educated, literary circles
of the late Augustan era. This paper offers a new reflection on
Pliny’s initial description of Illyricum and suggests that the text
reflects Pliny’s “encyclopaedic” style, wherein the author, not
having uniform sources for all the areas he intended to describe,
decided to leave out an introductory section, and proceed
with the remaining text in his customary, concise style.
Moreover, the question of the ethnic and/or political affiliation
of the communities around Kvarner was left unresolved and
remained open to further research.

Keywords

Pliny, Liburnians, Illyricum, Peucetii/Peucetiae, range of the Liburnians

Hrčak ID:

271182

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/271182

Publication date:

22.12.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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