Penestae and Penestia from a New Perspective

Abstract

The name of Dibra province is one of the best known, not only in Albania and in Albanian-speaking lands, but also in the entire diaspora and beyond. Dibra and the people of Dibra have been distinguished since antiquity, for their faith and hospitality, true features of personality and culture, at the same time as fighters for the defense of the homeland,
overcoming the difficulties for the freedom of their native lands. The author has used historical sources on the Balkans written before him by Aravantini, Ami Bue, Kanty Dezobri and Bashale, Farlati, Hammer- Purgstall, Heckard, Lavale, Le Bo, Lekyje, Parzo and Kais.
According to studies, the ancient historian Herodotus, in V century before our era, was the first to deal with history of Dibra. On the map of Prolemeus, 2nd century AD, the city of Deboros appears on the land of Dibra. The historians, Ana Komnena and Kedoros, mention not only the city of Debar, but also the province of the same name.
Titus Livy tells us about Perseus (book.43, chapter.19) that the Penestaes (an Illirian Tribe) could be none other than the Dibrans, that Uskana should be in Dibra and that Oeneus should be towards the River. Departing from Stubera towards Pelagonia, Perseus arrives for three days in Uscana, the capital of the Penestaes. Uskana should be in the Dibra area since it takes less than three days, from Stubera to Resen. Going back to Ohrid or Lyhnid. Polybius and Strabo described it as a city and we learn that the road “Egnatia” has passed there. Since Polybius passed away in 122 BC and Macedonia became a Roman province in 148 BC, then they should place in this time frame the construction of the road “Egnatia” or the Illyrian extension of this military route.
The “Congress of Monastery” would not find proper implementation. Its importance would be overlooked and over time could even fade. Thus, the “Congress of Dibra”, in addition to the other national aid, enlightened and advanced the work of the “Congress of the Monastery”, because in for the first time was decided the concrete use of the albanian alphabet which came out the “Congress of Monastery”.