Epidamnos

This article is about the ancient settlement in Illyria. For the modern city, see Durrës. For mythological figure, see Epidamnus (mythology).

Dyrrhachion (Epidamnos)
Δυρράχιον / Ἐπίδαμνος (Greek)
Dyrrhachium (Lat.), Dyrrah, Durrës
The amphitheater of Durrës
Location within Albania
41°16′N 19°30′E
Type	Settlement
Periods	Archaic Greek; Classical; Hellenistic; Roman; Byzantine; Medieval
Cultures	Greek, Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine
Location	Durrës, Durrës County, Albania
Region	Adriatic coast, Illyria
Part of	Durrës
History
Built	7th century BC

Dyrrhachion (Latin: Dyrrhachium; Ancient Greek: Δυρράχιον), originally founded as Epidamnos (Ancient Greek: Ἐπίδαμνος, Albanian: Epidamn), was a prominent city on the Adriatic coast, located in the territory of the Illyrian Taulantii and corresponding to modern Durrës, Albania. Founded around 627 BC by settlers from Corinth and Corcyra (modern Corfu), the city developed into a major political, commercial, and military hub. While established as a Greek colony, Epidamnos stood within Taulantii territory and long remained entangled with Illyrian power, before becoming a key Roman and later Byzantine stronghold.