The region of Epirus in northwest Greece has its
own special beauty and cultural identity. It extends from the
peaks of the Pindus mountains to the shores of the Ionian Sea
and is separated into four administrative districts: loanina,
Thesprotia, Preveza and Arta.
As for geography, Epirus is Greece 's most mountainous
region. The Pindus range forms its natural northeastern border,
while dozens of other mountains, big and small, are scatered throughout
the area, separated by only a few valleys.
The Vikos - Aoos National Forest - a part of the
Vallia - Kalda National Forest is of great ecological value, containing
as it does such a variety of ecosystems.
Amidst these superb mountains and forests live the
last of the Greek bears, wolves, mountain lions, wild boars and
otters. Wild goats and deer still browse on its precipitous cliffs, where eagles and
vultures nest.
To the west the Ionian stretches, its coast a diverse
blend of modern resorts, lagoons and river deltas, of which the
latter two form an important system of wetlands.
The first indications of human presence in the area,
harking back to 40.000 B.C., were discovered in the Asprohaliko
cave of Haradra on the Louros River.
Important finds were also unearthed from caves in
the Vikos Gorge, proving that life continued without a break up
to the Mesolithic era (6000 B.C.), This is confirmed by finds from the
prehistoric settlement of Kastritsa, which also date to the Middle
- Neolithic (5000 B.C.), while other artifacts - mainly stone axes with a
hole on one side and pottery - belong to the Bronze Age or Early
Helladic period (2500 B.C.).
With the start of the Middle Helladic period (1.900
- 1.550 B.C.), the first Greek tribe, the Thesproti, settled in
Epirus, followed by the Molossi and the Chaones.
In 800 B.C. the Corinthians founded colonies in the
area, such as Amvrakia, Apollonia, Epidamnos and others. These
colonies initiated contact between the Epirots and the Greek
culture of southern Greece. In the 5th century, Tharypas, the
King of the Molossians, united the various clans into a federation
and endeavoured to introduce his people to culture by inviting
scholars and artists from southern Greece to his court. At the
end of the 4th century B.C., Arybbas came to the throne and gave
his niece Olympias in marriage to Philip II of Macedonia. Their
son was Alexander the Great.
After a period of unrest, Pyrrhus ascended to the
throne of Epirus. In 280 B.C. he decided to mount a campaign against
the Romans, but following some impressive but exhausting
victories he was defeated by the more powerful state and returned
to Epirus, from where he continued his attacks.
With the subjection of Epirus by the Romans, the
Roman Senate ordered the destruction of seventy Epirot towns.
Later, most of the region 's inhabitants were forced
to settle at Nikopolis, built by Octavian (Augustus) to celebrate
his victory at Actium (31 B.C.) over the fleets of Antony and Cleopatra.
In 369 A.D., the Goths led by Alaric attacked and
conquered the region.
In 550 great number of Slavs invaded the region,
resulting in the establishment of Slavic tribes on Epirot soil.
In 1108 the Normans raided the area with Bohemond at their head.
In April 1204, the Crusaders occupied Constantinople
and dismembered the Byzantine Empire. Michael Komninos Doukas
then founded the Despotate of Epirus with Arta as its
capital.
Later, with the resurgence of Byzantine power, Ioanina
became an independent Byzantine province, thus entering into a
period of prosperity for the whole region. But in 1430 the
Ottoman occupation which was to last almost 500 years began.
As we have seen life in Epirus had its origins well
before the dawn of history. The region witnessed all the ups and
downs of Ancient Greece, Rome, Byzantium and the modern era, gaining
a uniquely individual sense of history and culture.