CITIES IN WORKS OF PROCOPIUS IN THE SOUTH OF MODERN SERBIA

Abstract

The main source for the reign of Justinian the Great (527–565) is Procopius. This writer, born in Caesarea, wrote three books: De bellis, Historia arcana, and De aedificis. De aedificis is important because the Еmperor’s construction activity in the whole Empire can be overviewed, included in the interior of the Balkans, where the sites are listed in the south of modern Serbia. However, it is very difficult to locate all cities and fortresses which are mentioned in Procopius papers. For some of them, as Naisopolis, Rumisiana, Ulpiana (cities), or Sarmates, Dusmanes, Mediana, Ad Herulem (fortresses), it is known for sure where they were located. For most of them, it is not, for example, cities Iustinopolis, Cratiscara, or fortresses named Bedriana, Timiana, Viculea, Tomes, Briparo. The particularly intresting case is Iustiniana Prima, the new seat of the archbishop, whose localization is not completely determined, but it is, with high probability, identifed with arhaelogical site Caričin Grad. All in all, only extensive large investiation of all archaelogical sites located in the south of modern Serbia will discover other Procopius lost cities and fortresses.