Abroi

The Abroi ( grc, Ἄβροι) were an Illyrian tribe. They may have been a constituent northern tribe of the larger group of the Taulantii, on the Adriatic coast of southern Illyria (present-day Albania).

Name

The tribe is mentioned solely by Hecataeus of Miletus (6th century BCE), in fragment 69 of ''Periodos ges'', cited by Stephanus of Byzantium (6th century CE). The name of the tribe is recorded in Ancient Greek as ''Abroi''.

Their name may have actually been ''Arboi'' as ''Abroi'' may have been produced via a metathesis, another linguistic process or a common misassociation by Hecataeus of their name with the ancient Greek term '' abros'' to better adapt it to Greek. The name ''Arboi'' would link them to the Illyrian ''Albanoi'', who are attested in the same area in the 2nd century CE.

N. G. L. Hammond has pointed out that the name ''Abroi'' and ''Albanoi'' gave rise to the name Albania/Albanians, similar to the spread of the name Illyria/Illyrians from a small group of people on the Adriatic coast, the Illyrioi. This process can also be seen in the case of ''Graeci'' and ''Hellenes''.

Geography

Hecataeus places them near the Taulantii who lived along the Adriatic and the Enchelei. In modern scholarship the Abroi are generally placed near the Mat and Drin valleys. The Abroi may have been a constituent northern tribe of the larger group of the Taulantii.

Cuisine

They could prepare mead, a wine from honey, and were known to the Ancient Greek writers for that method.

See also

*List of ancient tribes in Illyria

References

Bibliography

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{{Albania topics

Illyrian tribes
Illyrian Albania
Ancient tribes in Albania