Po redaktohet Stobi

{{Short description|Archaeological site in Macedonia, ancient town of Paeonia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Stobi
  |native_name = Στόβοι
  |alternate_name = Stoboi
  |image = Stobi aerial.jpg
  |alt = 
  |caption = Aerial view of main excavation area
  |map_type = North Macedonia
  |map_alt = 
  |map_size =
  |coordinates = {{coord|41|33|06|N|21|58|30|E|display=inline,title}}
  |location = [[Gradsko, North Macedonia|Gradsko]], [[Vardar Statistical Region]], [[Republic of North Macedonia]]
  |region = [[Paeonia (kingdom)|Paeonia]]
  |type = Settlement
  |part_of = 
  |length = 
  |width = 
  |area = 
  |height = 
  |builder = 
  |material = 
  |built = 
  |abandoned = 
  |epochs = <!-- actually displays as "Periods" -->
  |cultures = 
  |dependency_of = 
  |occupants = 
  |event = 
  |excavations = 
  |archaeologists = 
  |condition = 
  |ownership = 
  |management = 
  |public_access = 
  |website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
  |notes = 
}}
[[File:Stobi tlocrt.gif|thumb|Map of the site]]

'''Stobi''' or '''Stoboi''' ({{lang-grc|Στόβοι|Stóboi}}; {{lang-la|Stobi}}; {{lang-mk|Стоби|Stobi}}), was an ancient town of [[Paeonia (kingdom)|Paeonia]], later conquered by [[Macedon]], and finally turned into the capital of the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] province of [[Macedonia Salutaris]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Roisman |first1=Joseph |last2=Worthington |first2=Ian |title=A Companion to Ancient Macedonia |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |year=2010 |page=549 |isbn=978-1-405-17936-2}}</ref> It is located near [[Gradsko, North Macedonia|Gradsko]], [[North Macedonia]], on the main road that leads from the [[Danube]] to the [[Aegean Sea]] and is considered by many to be the most famous archaeological site in North Macedonia. Stobi was built where the [[Crna River (Vardar)|Erigon]] (Crna River) joins the [[Vardar|Axios]] (Vardar), making it strategically important as a center for both trade and warfare.

== The pre-Roman period ==
Stobi developed from a Paeonian settlement established in the [[Archaic Greece|Archaic period]]. Located on the northern side of a terrace, the early town covered an area of about {{convert|25000|m2|ft2|abbr=on}}. Its proximity to the junction of the Erigón and Axiós Rivers as well as its position in the fertile central Vardar valley allowed it quickly to develop a flourishing economy and to establish trade. Nearby [[Mount Klepa]] was a lucrative source of marble. The initial Paeonian population was later supplemented by other immigrant groups.

It is believed that in 217&nbsp;BCE, [[Philip V of Macedon|Philip V]] annexed Paionia during his campaign against the [[Dardani]] who had entered [[Bylazora]], the largest Paeonian town.
[[File:Stobi theater.png|thumb|320x320px|The Roman theater at Stobi]]

== The Roman period ==
The city was first mentioned in writing by the historian [[Livy]], in connection with a victory of [[Philip V of Macedon]] over the [[Dardani]] in 197&nbsp;BC. In 168&nbsp;BC, the [[Roman republic|Romans]] defeated [[Perseus of Macedon|Perseus]] and [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] was divided into four nominally independent republics. In 148&nbsp;BC, the four areas of Macedonia were brought together in a unified Roman province. In the reign of [[Augustus]] the city grew in size and population. The city grew further in 69&nbsp;BC once it became a [[municipium]], at which time it began to produce coins printed with ''Municipium Stobensium''. The citizens of Stobi enjoyed [[Ius Italicum]] and were citizens of Rome. Most belonged to the Roman tribes [[Aemila]] and [[Tromentina]]. During Roman times Stobi was the capital of the Roman province Macedonia Salutaris. Emperor [[Theodosius I]] stayed in Stobi in 388. Late in the 5th century the city underwent a terrible turn of events. In 479, it was robbed by [[Theodoric the Great|Theodoric]], an [[Ostrogothic]] king. The citizens reconstructed the city, but in 518 it was struck by a powerful earthquake. Avaro-Slavic invasions in the 6th century destroyed the city's economy and infrastructure.

== Etymology ==
The name ''Stobi'' is a [[Paeonian language|Paeonian]] word meaning "post, pillar" and is akin to [[Old Prussian]] ''stabis'' "rock," [[Old Church Slavonic]] ''stoborъ'', ''stъlbъ'' "post, pillar," English ''staff'', [[Old English]] ''stapol'' "post   archaic Greek ''stobos'' "scolding, bad language''b''k ''stephein'' "to tie around, encircle," ''staphyle'' "grapevine, grape bunch," and [[Middle Irish]] ''sab'' "shaft."<ref>Katicic', Radoslav. ''Ancient Languages of the Balkans, Part One''. Paris: Mouton, 1976: 53.</ref> Such a name suggests that it was the site of a large local cultic pillar, though there is no evidence of this.

== History of excavation ==

The Museum of Belgrade was the first and only institution to investigate the city from 1924 to 1936. Yugoslavian archaeologists first discovered public and private buildings in the city and then the city's theater, built in the 3rd century, and religious artifacts from the central and western part of the city. Research into the city officially ended in 1940. During [[World War II]] late [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] graves were found in the Palace of Peristerius, many of which had been covered by buildings. In 1970, between the North and Central Basilica and in the western necropolis 55 graves were discovered. In 1955 in the southern part of the North Basilica 23 Slavic graves dating from the 9th to 12th centuries were discovered. Bronze statues from the archaic and [[Classical Greece|classical]] periods as well as ceramic objects from the [[Neolithic]] era were discovered in the two parts of the civil [[basilica]]. An older part of the second synagogue was discovered in the Central Basilica, as well as architectonic structures and 23 Slavic graves in the North Basilica. The most significant finds were uncovered between 1970 and 1980 by [[Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] and [[United States|American]] archaeologists. In this period more buildings were discovered and new expeditions in the western necropolis, the ''Casa Romana'' and in the [[aqueduct (water supply)|aqueduct]] network of Stobi revealed more mosaics. From 1981 to 1988 the Episcopal Basilica was unearthed. These investigations confirmed predictions concerning the religion, culture and daily life of its population.
[[File:Stobi deer mosaic.jpg|thumb|Mosaic at Stobi]]
A well-preserved marble head of Augustus was unearthed at Stobi in April 2009.<ref>[http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/13536/1/ MINA]</ref>
[[File:Stobi baptisterium.jpg|thumb|Baptisterium in the basilica]]

== Religion in Stobi ==
[[File:Stobi temple of Isis.jpg|thumb|Temple of Isis at Stobi]]
The Grand Palace near the eastern wall of the city was built during the Roman period and contains beautiful [[fresco]]es. The Temple of [[Nemesis (mythology)|Nemesis]] in the theater, and religious items related to [[Hygeia]] and [[Telesphorus (mythology)|Telesphorus]], [[Artemis Locheia]], [[Apollo|Apollo Clarious]], [[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]], [[Dionysus]] and [[Hera]] were common during this time. In the early Christian period Stobi was an episcopal see by 325, when the bishop Budius took part in the [[First Council of Nicaea]]. Stobi is one of a small number of cities from the [[Late Antiquity|late antique]] and early Christian period that kept a large number of mosaics. From the 4th to 5th century, several big churches were built and were known for their interior decoration of mosaics and frescoes. Decorative mosaics can also be found in private luxury buildings from late Antiquity, such as the Villas of Theodosius, Policharmosius and Peristerius. New archaeological research has shown that all Christian basilicas in the city discovered thus far were built over ancient buildings.

An ancient [[synagogue]] dating from the 3rd or 4th century AD attests to a [[Jew]]ish presence in the city.<ref>[http://www.stobi.mk/Templates/Pages/Excavations.aspx?page=176 Stobi Archaeological Site: THE SYNAGOGUE BASILICA]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623230214/http://www.centropa.org/reports.asp?rep=HR&ID=5968&TypeID=36658 |date=23 June 2006 }}</ref>

== Historical sites in Stobi ==
The '''Northern Basilica''' has three main parts: a [[narthex]], an [[narthex|exonarthex]] separated by colonnades and an [[Atrium (architecture)|atrium]] constructed mostly of marble. In the northern part there is a [[baptistry]] and in the southern part are Slavic graves. The church, which was built at the beginning of the 5th century, can be entered from the street [[via principalis|Via Principalis Inferior]]. The Civil Basilica is south of the north basilica and was discovered in 1937. In 1956 archaeologists found that there were seven building phases. Between the North and Civil Basilicas are the ancient Thermae Minores, or "Little Baths" made of stone blocks.

The '''Central Basilica''' and '''synagogue''' can be entered from the Via Principalis street. The Central Basilica was built on a synagogue at the beginning of the 5th century and had two building phases. The floor of the synagogue was discovered {{convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} under the level of the Central Basilica. Dating from the 4th century, it was built on an older synagogue from the 3rd century, created by the father of the Synagogue of Stobi, Tiberius Claudius Polycharmos. Inside were two vases dating from 121 to 125.
[[File:Stobi inscription.jpg|thumb|Inscription at Stobi]]
The '''House of the Psalms''', in front of the Central Basilica, has a central room with a mosaic floor, a room with colonnades, a big pool and columns in the western part of the yard.

'''Via Axia''' is one of the main streets in Stobi, oriented east-west. Only a small part of the street has been discovered.

The '''Main Town Public Fountain''' is located on a small square created by the streets Via Axia and Via Principalis Inferior.

The '''Magnae Thermae''', or Big Bath, discovered in 1931, consisted of two rooms: one large room with a statue and a pool made of stone blocks. The reconstructed bath was in use until the late 6th century.

'''Via Principalis Inferior''' was a major street of the city running from the central basilica to the main town fountain, then to house of Partenius, the 'Palace of Theodosius' and the house of Psalms.

The '''House of Peristerius''' was a large living complex for several families and also had rooms for shops. The Peristerius family owned the rooms in the southern part of the complex. The central part of this complex is a yard under open sky, with fountains on the western side. In the eastern part is an excellent example of floor mosaics and in the middle there is a fountain made of marble. The complex and the mosaics date from the late 4th or the early 5th century. The '''Via Theodosia''' street is parallel to Via Axia and it is located between the house of Peristerius and the 'palace of Theodosius'.

The '''Palace of Theodosius''' was where the emperor Theodosius first stayed while in Stobi. The floor is covered with marble blocks and the peristyle with mosaics in the technique [[opus sectile]]. The other rooms are also decorated, dating from the 4th to the 5th century.

The '''House of Partenius''' is located near the southern part of the Palace of Theodosius, and is connected to it by a wall making it into an L-shaped building.

'''Valavica''' (''Domus Fullonica'') is a complex of connected shops and residences, built on older objects. The name describes only an earlier phase of the complex, as later in the 5th century there was also a workshop for painting and making carpets. The complex was in use from the 1st century to the 6th century.
[[File:Stobi Mosaik.jpg|thumb|A peacock mosaic from Stobi, now depicted on North Macedonia's currency]]
The '''Episcopal Basilica''', dating from the 5th and 6th centuries, with a baptistery to the south. A peacock from the baptistery's mosaic floor is depicted on the [[Obverse and reverse|reverse]] of the Macedonian 10 [[Macedonian denar|denars]] banknote, issued in 1996,<ref>[http://www.nbrm.gov.mk National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia]. Macedonian currency. Banknotes in circulation: [http://www.nbrm.gov.mk/default-en.asp?ItemID=A82826138490824E874DC0F6B8BCE3DE 10 Denars] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329085722/http://www.nbrm.gov.mk/default-en.asp?ItemID=A82826138490824E874DC0F6B8BCE3DE |date=29 March 2008 }}. – Retrieved 30 March 2009.</ref> and of the 10 denars coin, issued in 2008.<ref>[http://www.nbrm.gov.mk National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia]. Macedonian currency: [http://www.nbrm.gov.mk/default-en.asp?ItemID=1B8768ACE0FF3D48AB35EDF312190262 Coins in circulation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223161508/http://www.nbrm.gov.mk/default-en.asp?ItemID=1B8768ACE0FF3D48AB35EDF312190262 |date=23 February 2009 }}. – Retrieved 30 March 2009.</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Heraclea Lyncestis]]
*[[Scupi]]
*[[Nikola Vulić]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
*[http://www.stobi.mk Official web page of the archaeological site and National Institution Stobi]
*[http://www.soros.org.mk/konkurs/076/angver/stobi.html The Foundation Open Society Institute – Macedonia (FOSIM) Article about Stobi]
*[http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/macedonia/stobi.html St. Louis Community College Article and Photographs about Stobi]
*[http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/macedonia/stobi/t.html Coins from Stobi]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places disestablished in the 6th century]]
[[Category:1924 archaeological discoveries]]
[[Category:Geography of ancient Paeonia]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in North Macedonia]]
[[Category:Former populated places in the Balkans]]
[[Category:Macedonia (Roman province)]]
[[Category:Gradsko Municipality]]
[[Category:North Macedonia in the Roman era]]