The Ceraunian Mountains ( sq, Malet e Vetëtimës, "Thunderbolt mountains"; el, Κεραύνια Όρη, ''Keravnia ori''; la, Cerauni Montes), also commonly Akroceraunian Mountains ( grc, Ἀκροκεραύνια, sq, Malet Akrokeraune "malet Akrokeraune, sot Malet e Vetëtimës"), are a coastal mountain range in southwestern Albania, within the county of Vlorë. The range rises on the northeastern bank of the

Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea ( el, Ιόνιο Πέλαγος, ''Iónio Pélagos'' ; it, Mar Ionio ; al, Deti Jon ) is an elongated bay of the Mediterranean Sea. It is connected to the Adriatic Sea to the north, and is bounded by Southern Italy, including C ...

. It extends for approximately in a southeast-northwest direction near Sarandë along the Albanian Riviera nearby to Orikum. Geologically, the

Karaburun Peninsula Karaburun Peninsula may refer to: *Karaburun Peninsula, Albania, a peninsula in Albania *Karaburun Peninsula, Turkey Karaburun Peninsula is a peninsula in the extreme western end of Turkey, a component of the larger Urla-Karaburun-Çeşme Penin ...

belongs to the mountain range, forming the eastern Akroceraunian Mountains. The mountains are about long and about wide. The highest peak is Maja e Çikës with an elevation of . The Llogara Pass () divides the mountains into a western and the Akroceraunian Mountains within the

Name

The name ''Ceraunia'' is derived from Ancient Greek Κεραύνια ὄρη, meaning "thunder-split peaks" and illustrates the bad weather and the danger found there by ancient seafarers and travellers.

History

The Ceraunian mountain range is located in the northernmost part of the wider historical and geographical region of Epirus. According to Greek mythology, the Abantes from Euboea who had previously joined the Ancient Greek army in the Trojan War settled in the Ceraunian Mountains. They were later expelled by the forces of the Ancient Greek city-state of Apollonia.Joaquim Carvalho
Religion, Ritual and Mythology: Aspects of Identity Formation in Europe
Pisa University Press, p. 148 The Ceraunian Mountains have been described by ancient writers such as Ptolemy,

Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...

and Pausanias. Consequently, the mountains are still known under their classical name.

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

first set foot on Llogara Pass and rested his legion at Palasë on the Ionian coast during his pursuit of Pompey.

References

{{Portal bar, Geography, Ecology Mountain ranges of Albania Albanian Ionian Sea Coast Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park Llogara National Park Geography of ancient Epirus

Name

History

See also

References