--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Alvin Ekmekciu" <a96_aeu@...>
wrote:
>
>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Piotr Gasiorowski" <gpiotr@>
wrote:
>
> > ...Ptolemy's Albanoi (presumably identical with the later
> Albanoi/Arbanoi) can be placed somewhere in the northern part of
Roman
> Macedonia, possibly in modern Kosovo...
>
> But according to Wikipedia
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Albanians> :
> "In the 2nd century BC
<
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_century_BC> ,
> the History of the World written by Polybius
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybius> , mentions a city named
Arbon in
> present day central Albania. The people who lived there were called
> Arbanios and Arbanitai."
>
> Also Noel Malcolm on Origins: Serbs, Albanians and Vlachs
> <http://knigite.abv.bg/en/nm/kosovo.html> /Kosovo, a short history
> writes:
> "In the second century Ptolemy referred to a tribe called
the 'Albanoi',
> and located their town, 'Albanopolis', somewhere to the east of
Durres.
> Some such place-name must have survived there, continuously if
somewhat
> hazily, ever since; there was an area called 'Arbanon' in north-
central
> Albania in the eleventh century, and in the early twentieth century
> 'Arben' was the local name for a region near Kruja (which lies just
> north of Tirana)"
>
> Alvin
>
In one long review about `Reise durch die Gebiete des Drin und
Vardar, 1867' by Johann G. von Hahn I have write: Of big importance
are Hahn's thoughts about place name Arbni/Arbëri: (...) noun
Arbni/Arbëri is an authentic Albanian name, that is used till now to
name the province that lays in the east of the town Vlora
. The
trunk of this name I found again in the old Illyrian isle of Arba
and in the edge that divide old Liburina from old Panonia, that
Strabo nams Albion, until by Ptolemy to Albanon oros, but in other
side I was not in position to determine exactly in today's Shqipëria
Albania and its capital Albanopolis, mentioned by this later one,
i.e. by Ptolemy". But, thanks to archeological researches today is
known that Albanopolis is village Zgërdheshi, near the Kruja city.
Hahn mentions the contribution of archbishop of Tivari, Karl Poten
from Köln, which work accomplished and continues the work of
Farlati "Illyricum Sacrum", who came to conclusion that Episcopatus
Arabanensis, that confines with Episcopatus of Kruja, when the
position of clerk was vacant, its administration was taken over by
Episcopatus of Arbanensis. Asking explanation from archbishop of
Durrazzo concerning the existence of the noun Arbanum in his
diocese, he told him that till now all the seashore field, that lays
between the pours of rivers Mati and Erzen, together with the valley
of Tirana, that confines with it from the east, was called by its
inhabitants Arben, so not only exists a name with such name, but in
it are included three old cities Isamnus, Preza and Ndorq together
with city of Tiran, in which is comprehended the Rodoni cape
together with the ruins of Scanderbeg's fortress. This is proved not
only by inhabitants of these placese, but, according to bishop of
Lissus, Dodmaseti: "All field of the archdiocese of Durrazzo is
called Arbni, so that highlanders (that are under the jurisdiction
of the Lissus diocese), when stet down from their mountains, say: We
go to Arbni."
This is a reason why I am inclined to see in Albanian ethnic names
Arb- a bilabial extension of root *arH- `to plow', that have yielded
Gheg Arbni and Tosk Arbëri, due to plural suffix VnV. This is also
proved by antinomyc pair mal e arben `mountain and field'. Gotfired
Schramm claims that diocese of Arbanensis is dated from 11th century.
Objecting with many facts those that doubt in Ptolemy data, like
Manertini, he concluded: "For this reason I say: Albania is
autochthon place name, it exists from the Strabo's time and
Albanians are old European inhabitants". Also is worth to be
mentioned that Hahn claims that Ptolemy's place name Almene, from
the source of Kalamas to the bay Ambarakia, because I am sure that
linguistics will not put veto absolutely, if I consider this form of
noun as a variant of the noun Albania.
Indeed, there are place names, like Abantia/Amantia that confirms
its view. I thinks that b > m alternation is much more
characteristic for Thracian.
It is to be noticed that also in many chrisobulas in OCS is
mentioned katundi Arbanash.
Konushevci