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| The truth of this claim, considering the mythological chronology of the grammatical ''Alexandrian Heratostene'', would oblige us to go back to approximately 1184 BC, at the time in which according to the Bible, Gideon judged Israel: 126 years prior to David coming to the throne. But the historian, more traditional than anything else, cannot rely on these vague claims. Yet least of all when facing criticism. ''Ditti'' and ''Darete'' did not know how to support their historical theory. Whether Antenore or Aeneas was the leader, or Gnidi or the Trojans the colonists, the study of local antiquities arouses a belief that Korčula in ancient times was not some Greco-Phoenician post. Even though during this period there are inferences which are not at all unfounded, none are of a particular positive nature. | | The truth of this claim, considering the mythological chronology of the grammatical ''Alexandrian Heratostene'', would oblige us to go back to approximately 1184 BC, at the time in which according to the Bible, Gideon judged Israel: 126 years prior to David coming to the throne. But the historian, more traditional than anything else, cannot rely on these vague claims. Yet least of all when facing criticism. ''Ditti'' and ''Darete'' did not know how to support their historical theory. Whether Antenore or Aeneas was the leader, or Gnidi or the Trojans the colonists, the study of local antiquities arouses a belief that Korčula in ancient times was not some Greco-Phoenician post. Even though during this period there are inferences which are not at all unfounded, none are of a particular positive nature. |
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− | The mystery clears then when the '''Illyrians''' become powerful lords of the Adriatic. Their king Agron, asserting his authority on the other neighbouring islands also occupied Korčula, in 250 B.C. On his death regaining its independence, the widow queen '''Teuta''' <ref>Editors notes: '''Queen Teuta''' (Ancient Greek: Τεύτα) was an Illyrian queen of the Ardiaei tribe who reigned approximately from 231 BC to 227 BC.</ref> took control of it again until Demetrius Fario, appointed as its prefect, surrendered it to the '''Romans''' together with Lesina (Hvar) his homeland. Whether Agron and Teuta had forcefully occupied the island with the use of arms, cannot be affirmed. The Alexandrian Appiano says no more than: ''"and once (they) conquered the island of Pharum (Hvar)"'' <ref>[[Latin]] section: Pharumque bello captum</ref>; which makes us think it occurred due to combined dedication. Only in the times of ''Caesar'' '''Octavian Augustus''' (42 B.C.) does the name in the history of human events appear clear. It is known now for the first time, that the Curzolani (inhabitants of Korčula) tried to seal their reacquired freedom with their own blood. They resisted with anguished courage to the arms of the Triumvir who had come in person to conquer it. The punishment was equal to the resistance. | + | The mystery clears then when the '''Illyrians''' become powerful lords of the Adriatic. Their king Agron, asserting his authority on the other neighbouring islands also occupied Korčula, in 250 B.C. On his death regaining its independence, the widow queen '''Teuta''' <ref>Editors notes: '''Queen Teuta''' (Ancient Greek: Τεύτα) was an Illyrian queen of the Ardiaei tribe who reigned approximately from 231 BC to 227 BC.</ref> took control of it again until Demetrius Fario, appointed as its prefect, surrendered it to the '''Romans''' together with Lesina (Hvar) his homeland. Whether Agron and Teuta had forcefully occupied the island with the use of arms, cannot be affirmed. The Alexandrian Appiano says no more than: ''"and once (they) conquered the island of Pharum (Hvar)"'' <ref>[[Latin]] section: Pharumque bello captum</ref>; which makes us think it occurred due to combined dedication. Only in the times of ''Caesar'' '''Octavian Augustus''' (42 B.C.) does the name in the history of human events appear clear. It is known now for the first time, that the Curzolani (inhabitants of Korčula) tried to seal their reacquired freedom with their own blood. They resisted with anguished courage to the arms of the Triumvir who had come in person to conquer it. The punishment was equal to the resistance. The Alexandrian Appiano tells us of the severity of the punishment and the cause of the war: {{Cquote|''After a fierce war, Divus Augustus defeated the inhabitants of Malta and Corcyra (Corfu) who, at that time, were running out of supplies; the reason for the war was that these islanders had resorted to piracy and used to infest the sea with their fleet. All the adults were killed at once, while the remaining people were sold as slaves '' <ref>Latin section: Divus Augustus deficientes Melitenses et Corcyrenses qui Insulas incolunt; ingenti belli mole superavit, quoniam maria classe praedebatur. Puberes ad unum caesi cetera multitudo sub corona venit</ref>}} But if Octavian in the repression caused it to be damaged, he didn’t consider it unworthy of his attention for its benefit; sending Roman colonists to it to direct it for better understanding and regulated habits, paving the way to a much greater cultivation and lessening the original coarseness. If the gravestones which are being unearthed among the ruins scattered across the island bear witness to the existence of the Roman colonies, they explain their purpose. |
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− | The Alexandrian Appiano tells us of the severity of the punishment and the cause of the war: {{Cquote|''After a fierce war, Divus Augustus defeated the inhabitants of Malta and Corcyra (Corfu) who, at that time, were running out of supplies; the reason for the war was that these islanders had resorted to piracy and used to infest the sea with their fleet. All the adults were killed at once, while the remaining people were sold as slaves '' <ref>Latin section: Divus Augustus deficientes Melitenses et Corcyrenses qui Insulas incolunt; ingenti belli mole superavit, quoniam maria classe praedebatur. Puberes ad unum caesi cetera multitudo sub corona venit</ref>}} But if Octavian in the repression caused it to be damaged, he didn’t consider it unworthy of his attention for its benefit; sending Roman colonists to it to direct it for better understanding and regulated habits, paving the way to a much greater cultivation and lessening the original coarseness. If the gravestones which are being unearthed among the ruins scattered across the island bear witness to the existence of the Roman colonies, they explain their purpose. | |
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| Korčula, from its origins to the present time, has been in existence for 3,038 years, and history classifies its political life in the following phases: | | Korčula, from its origins to the present time, has been in existence for 3,038 years, and history classifies its political life in the following phases: |