Shkoder = Skudra ?!

Cyrus... im actually from that city  ... Shkodra was the capital of the "Illyrian" empire if you could call it so under king Agron and queen Teuta who managed to unite Illyrian tribes at some kind of degree.  I doubt the name you refer to in the Persian inscription has anything to do with my city. Why would Illyrians be paying tribute to Persians which did not control Illyria in the first place?
Here's a pic of Rozafa by the way... ive visited a couple of times. I think it was constructed sometime around 300-200BC.
It has a legend of three Illyrian brothers who were building it would work during daytime and during night time an "evil spirit" would make it crumble. Another spirit told them than in order to undo this they would have to put inside the wall one of their wives so they decided that the one who would bring them the food the next day would be the one to die. The two older brothers broke their word by telling their wives to not come that day meanwhile the younger one didn't. So the younger wife was put in the wall but she requested that one of her breasts be kept outside to feed her newborn baby. After this was done the wall never crumbled and the castle was built.

Isn't it an Illyrian helmet:

I don't think also that they were an Iranian people but there is almost no doubt that they live somwhere near Greece, of course it is said to be Thrace and Macedonia, as it is mentioned here:

http://www.iranica.com/articles/v7f1/v7f136a.html

[According to the ancient Persian inscriptions] Four new "satrapies" were added to Darius' empire: Saka tyaiy paradraya "Overseas Scythians," Skudra (Thrace and Macedonia), Yauna takabara or Yauna tyaiy paradraya (Thessalians and Greek islanders), and Putaya (Libya).

very interesting but i still doubt it

Yes we call it a fustanella. It is also used among Greeks and Vlachs(Romanized populants in the area).

Here are two pics showing a varienty of national clothngs.

Northern Albania(area called Mirdita and Malesi i Madth)


And from Shkodra


Some of the above were developed throughout the Ottoman years however. But the Fustanella can be dated back much further. It has also been used by the Tosks(people who live in southern Albania) of Albania for a while.

Shkodra(Scutari) has also had a large ROman Catholic population.


Edited by Iskender Bey ALBO

I thought Greeks called it foustanella?

even so your basically right. I believe the word is of latin origin.

Hmmm, those tripes. How thick are they? Were they attached to the armor? That kind of kilt is found throughout much of the medieval world. BTW, Phallanx thats not a dress. Rather armor.

Edited by Iskender Bey ALBO

Actually the earliest evidence of the Fustanella is found in Northern Illyria in the 5th century BC.


This was found in Slovenia, dating 5th century BC.


This found near Durres, dates back to the 4th century...

As the centuries pass we find signs of it moving to the south.

Korce, 2-3rd century AD


Vlore, 3-4th century AD



Also, have you read Lord Byrons poem about Albs? If no, then in the one part he comments;

LVIII.

The wild Albanian kirtled to his knee,


And even studies say it was adopted from Albanian soldiers and even the 1911 encycloepedia states this...


COnsidering however that "Fustanella" is a latin term. It could mean that it was spread by Romanized Illyrians of the north(Slovania) southward into Epirus. Meaning it could have Vlach origin...


Edited by Iskender Bey ALBO

I saw you mentioned Durres. Wasn't Epidamnus (it's ancient name) founded by Hellinic colonists sometime around 650BC?

it was found it 4AD not BC. Sorry for the mistake.

Looks like alot longer than just the knee

Yes, I found that strange too. I don't know why he would say to knees when in that era just about all.
I guess thats the one that stuck out in his mind.



Edited by Iskender Bey ALBO

Now add that to Vlore and Korce both in the South, that makes me at least skeptical.

Well, like I said. Im pointing to Vlach aboriginal origins since we can find very early evidence of it northern Illyria(Slovenia), in the 5th century BC.

But still, when was the first actual mention of the fustanella?
Most mentions of the dress I have seen stated it was found among ALbanian soldiers and rich folk.

Dogmatic Balkan pride. Which man wore the dress first?

Edited by Iskender Bey ALBO