A Glimpse Into History
Let us journey back to antiquity, where we find the earliest records of the ancient Illyrian city mentioned in historical texts. Credit must be given to the Latin historian Titus Livius (59 BCE – 17 CE), one of the foremost chroniclers of the Roman Empire, for documenting the existence of Bassanias. Livius, or Livy, authored the monumental “Ab Urbe Condita” (From the Founding of the City), a 142-volume work on Roman history. Fortunately, 35 of these books survive, including the ones detailing the Illyrian-Roman wars.
Livy provides invaluable information on Bassanias in Book 44, describing how King Gentius of Illyria besieged the city in 168 BCE. Gentius, the son of King Pleuratus, ascended the throne in 181 BCE and strengthened the Illyrian state through alliances with Dardania and Macedonia, creating a powerful opposition to Rome. His naval fleet of 270 ships and an army of 15,000 posed a formidable challenge to Roman supremacy. However, a defeat near Apollonia forced Gentius to retreat to Shkodra, abandoning his efforts at Bassanias—a city Livy identifies as an ally of Rome.
Livy notes that Bassanias was located five miles from Lissus (modern-day Lezha). Despite this description, the exact location of the city remained uncertain for centuries due to the lack of visible ruins. Scholars speculated it might be near modern-day villages like Pdhanë or Berzanë, with some even suggesting connections to Elbasan based on linguistic similarities. Others, like N. Ceka, explored areas closer to Beltoja. However, the misinterpretation of “five miles” and the omission of critical details in Livy’s text led to confusion and conflicting hypotheses.
Adding to the mystery, an 18th-century Italian study, which included maps, clearly pinpointed Bassanias in the area where its ruins were eventually discovered. Yet, this evidence was overlooked, and researchers dismissed local oral traditions that might have guided them to the city’s true location.
The Legend of Beksene
In the Nënshkodra plains, locals have long preserved the legend of Queen Beksene (or Peksene) and her waterway, known as “Vija e Beksenes.” The story tells of a queen who established her seat near Zefjana, a hill rising 250 meters above the surrounding area. Zefjana is located near modern villages such as Bushat, Rranxa, and Melgushë, as well as the site of the recently discovered Bassanias ruins.
According to the legend, Queen Beksene expanded and adapted a waterway that stretched from the base of Zefjana to Lake Murtepës, connecting to the Buna River and the Adriatic ports. This waterway, still called “Vija e Beksenes,” has retained its historical name despite changes to the landscape over the centuries.
The oral tradition endured despite skepticism from researchers who dismissed the legend due to the lack of physical evidence of a royal residence or settlement. Yet, recent discoveries suggest that Bassanias could indeed be the city linked to this legendary queen, reinforcing the connection between folklore and historical fact.
Bassania Rediscovered
The ruins of Bassanias, uncovered near Zefjana, align with the descriptions provided by Livy and the local legend. The city’s strategic location near a waterway supports its role as a significant settlement in antiquity. Scholars now recognize that dismissing oral traditions and older studies may have delayed this rediscovery.
The name “Bassanias” itself is recorded in multiple variations: Bassania, Bexenia, and Pexena. In Latin, the letter “x” is pronounced as “ks,” suggesting that Livy’s transcription closely reflects the local pronunciation preserved in the legend.
The Mystery of Bassania’s Disappearance
Despite its prominence, Bassania vanished from historical records for 22 centuries. Hypotheses range from destruction during sieges to gradual abandonment due to resource shortages. Livy records that King Gentius failed to conquer the city, but later invasions or internal decline may have led to its fall. Unlike other ancient cities, Bassania left no visible traces above ground, deepening the mystery.
Recent archaeological expeditions have provided some answers, yet much remains to be uncovered about the city’s sudden disappearance. Its fate evokes comparisons to ancient Troy, sparking hope that future research will shed light on this enigmatic chapter of Illyrian history.
