The first historical settlers of the area were the Illyrians, who arrived in the 2nd century BC. The first homes were built in the 1st century BC. In 2010, two Illyrian graves were found and excavated near the city wall. After the end of the Third Macedonian-Roman War in 168 BC. In the 4th century BC, all of Illyria came under Roman protectorate. 146 B.C. In the 4th century BC, the Romans laid out the Via Egnatia trade route, which served as a continuation of the Italian Via Appia in the Balkans and provided a direct connection between Rome and Byzantium. It began at the two port cities of Dyrrhachium and Apollonia on the Adriatic and united west of Elbasan on the Genusus River. At this point there was a Roman trading center called Mansio Scampa. Scampa is the Illyrian word for “rock”
Elbasan is a city in central Albania. It is the headquarters of a Bashkia and the capital of Qarks Elbasan. The stronghold of the industrial town located north of the river Shkumbin. 146 BC the Romans built the trade route Via Egnatia, which served as a sequel to the Italian Via Appia on the Balkans and established the direct connection between Rome and Byzantium. It commenced with the two port cities Dyrrhachium and Apollonia on the Adriatic and united west of Elbasan at the Riverfront Genusus. There was a Roman trading post, which was called Mansio Scampa.
Elbasan is located in a wide valley, an extension of the coastal plain inland to around 150 m above sea level. A few kilometers east the Shkumbin enters from its rocky valley and enabled here in history-yield agriculture. To the north and south of the city high mountains rise up to 1.000 and 1.800 meters.
The first historically known settlers in the area of Elbasan belonged to the ethnic group of the Illyrians, which in the 2nd century erected first dwellings at the river Shkumbin, at that time called Genusus.
Due to the expansion policy of the Ottoman Empire in the 13th and 14th century, the Ottoman Turks also came to Elbasan, no wonder that one finds their marks in today's city architecture.
There was actually rain on Lake Ohrid, one more reason to explore the area. We wanted to continue the pursue of the roman footsteps along the Via Egnatia and took off from Kalista which is just 8 kilometres away from the border station between Macedonia and Albania on the pass at Quafe Thane.
Together with Lake Baikal and Lake Tanganyika, Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest and most fascinating lakes in Albania and Macedonia.
From Durres, where you should definitely visit the Archaeological Museum, the Roman Amphitheater and the Byzantine walls (to be followed by separate reports), it is only about 50 km to Pequin to the inner part of Albania.