“Periplus” by Pseudo-Scylax (4th century BC) is one of the most important ancient sources for our knowledge of the geography of the Adriatic and, in particular, of the Illyrians. It is a Greek work that describes the coasts of the Mediterranean. It was erroneously attributed to Scylax of Caryanda (an explorer of the 6th–5th century BC), but was probably written in the 4th century BC by an unknown author of Athenian origin.
Now, since the Illyrians are portrayed only as mountain brigands and pirates of some seashore, they must refute Pseudo-Scylax, who provides this testimony in the 4th century BC:
Greek original (as quoted):
” ΙΑΛΥΡΙΟΙ. Μετὰ δὲ Λιβυρνούς εἰσιν Ἰλλυριοὶ ἔθνος, καὶ παροικοῦσιν οἱ Ἰλλυριοὶ παρὰ θάλατταν μέχρι Χαονίας τῆς κατὰ Κέρκυραν τὴν Ἀλκινόου νῆσον. Καὶ πόλις ἐσὶν Ἑλληνὶς ἐνταῦθα, ᾗ ὄνομα Ἡράκλεια, καὶ λιμήν. Εἰσὶ δὲ καὶ οἱ λωτοφάγοι καλούμενοι βάρβαροι οἵδε· Ἱεραστάμναι, Βουλινοὶ (Ὑλλινοί) s Βοωλινῶν ὁμοτέρμονες Ὕλλοι. Οὗτοι δέ φασιν Ὕλλον τὸν Ἡρακλέους αὐτοὺς κατοικίσαι· εἰσὶ δὲ βάρβαροι. Κατοικοῦσι δὲ χερρόνησον ὀλίγῳ ἐλάσσω τῆς Πελοποννήσου. Ἀπὸ δὲ χερρονήσου παραστόνιον⋯ ὀρθόν· ταύτην παροικοῦσι Βουλινοί. Βουλινοὶ δʼ εἰσὶν ἔθνος Ἰλλυρικόν. Παράπλους δʼ ἐστὶ τῆς Βουλινῶν χώρας ἡμέρας μακρᾶς ἐπὶ Νέστον ποταμόν.”
English translation
“Illyrians. After the Liburnians is the nation of the Illyrians, and the Illyrians dwell along the sea as far as Chaonia, opposite Kerkyra (Corfu), the island of Alkinous. There is a Greek city there named Herakleia, with a harbour.
The so-called Lotus-eaters barbarians here are the following: the Hierastamnai, the Boulinoi (also called Hyllinoi). The Hylloi, who border the Boulinoi, say that Hyllos, son of Herakles, settled them here; but they are barbarians.
They inhabit a peninsula a little smaller than the Peloponnese. From the peninsula stretches an island like a straight ribbon, which the Boulinoi inhabit. The Boulinoi are an Illyrian people.
The coastal voyage along the country of the Boulinoi is one long day up to the Nestos river.”
(The text continues with the Nestaioi living on the Nestos river, followed by a gulf called the Manios.)
Source
Scylax of Caryanda, Periplus Scylacis
Chapter 1, Section 22 (1.22)
Image: Pseudo-Scylax manuscript pages describing the coast of Syria and Phoenicia. Source: Wikipedia
