Grabaei

Grabaei was a tribe in Illyria, somewhere in what is today Albania.^[a] They were mentioned by Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD).^[1]

After Philip II of Macedon defeated Bardylis (358 BC), the Grabaei under Grabos became the strongest state in Illyria.^[2] Philip II killed 7,000 Illyrians in a great victory and annexed the territory up to Lake Ohrid.^[3] Next, Philip II reduced the Grabaei, and then went for the Ardiaei, defeated the Triballi (339 BC), and fought with Pleurias (337 BC).^[4]

After 9 AD, the remnants of Illyrian tribes moved to new coastal cities and larger and more capable civitates; the Grabaei (called Kambaioi) were among these, mentioned by Pliny the Elder.^[5]

Kretschmer etymologically connected their name to Slavic grabǔ, "hornbeam", with a cognate in Epirote Greek gabros (γάβρος, "oak-wood"), approved by most scholars (1924).^[6] Their name has been connected to Umbrian Krapuvi and Grabovie, gods of Iguvium.^[6] Gabraeum (Gabraion^[7]), a place in Epirus,^[8] may be connected to the tribe.^[9] The name of Grabus, the Taulantii ruler, suggests a connection with the tribe,^[10] and Hammond believes that Grabos was his descendant.^[2]

See also

• List of ancient tribes in Illyria

Annotations

1. ^ Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD) mentioned them as one of the tribes that had inhabited the area between Epidaurus and Lissus.
   • Wilkes (1992) placed them around Shkodër.^[11]
   • Hammond (1994) placed them in the Zadrima plain.^[12]
   • Hubert Zehnacker placed them around the Drin.^[13]
   • Johann Hahn (1840) placed them between Drin and Acroceraunia.^[14]

References

1. Wilkes 1969, p. 166.
2. Hammond 1994, p. 438.
3. Hammond 1993, p. 106.
4. Hammond 1993, p. 107.
5. Wilkes 1969, p. 156.
6. "Balkan languages". Cambridge Ancient History. Cambridge University Press. 1924. p. 871. ISBN 978-0-521-22496-3.
7. Procopius : Caesariensis (1729). Procopii Caesariensis Opera: Prokopiou Kaisareos Ton kat'auton historion tetras altera. Procopii Caesariensis historiarum temporis sui tetras altera. p. 443.
8. Annales. impensis Ed. Weberi. 1838. p. 548.
9. Kos, M. Š. (1993). "Famous Kylikes in Illyris". Historia: Zeitschrift fur Alte Geschichte: 247–251. Gabraeum may certainly be connected with the Dalmatian tribe Grabaei, probably named after the oak tree.
10. Wilkes 1992, p. 121.
11. Wilkes 1992.
12. Hammond 1994, p. 427.
13. Zehnacker, Hubert (2004). Pline l'Ancien. Histoire naturelle: Livre III. Belles Lettres. p. 274. ISBN 978-2-251-01407-4.
14. Hahn 1854, p. 240.

Sources

• Hahn, Johann Georg von (1854). Albanesische Studien: Nebst einer Karte und andern artistischen Beilagen. F. Mauke. p. 240.
• Hammond, N. G. L (1993). Studies concerning Epirus and Macedonia before Alexander. Hakkert.
• Hammond, N. G. L. (1994). "Illyrians and North-west Greeks". The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 6: The Fourth Century BC (Cambridge University Press): 422–443.
• Wilkes, J. J. (1969). Dalmatia. Harvard University Press.
• Wilkes, J. J. (1992). The Illyrians. Blackwell. ISBN 06-3119-807-5.