The position of the river Telavium and the question of Japod costal part

Abstract

The position of the river that Plinius Senior calls Telavium aind Ptolomeus Tedanios is the subject of an old conitroversy which is connected with the question of the presence of the Japods on the coast of the Kvarner bay. Some Greek authors attribute this coast only to the Libuirnians or to some smaller units. (Heikateus and some later writers who rely on the tradition). Other Greek authors, especially Strabon and in some oi Plimius’s sources1, are acquainted with the Japods on this coast. Plinius states that Telavius is the border of Japud (according ot Libuimia historical inscription no. 3, 140). According to Ptolomeus (2, 16, 2) Telavius is placed in between Lapsika (Jurjevo, south from Senj) and Ortopla (Starigrad k/S or Stinica). Plinius’s location can be interpreted only in one way: the analysis of the context only shows that Telavius is found between Raša (Airsia) and Ntn (Aenona). There are no philological reasons to doubt in the accuracy of Ptolomeus’s data. Plinus and Ptolomeus do not contradict one another. Analysing the geographical, ecological and cultural elements it is far more likely that the water-spring of Telavius is Žrnovnica, south from Jurjevo rather than Zrmanja. In this, as much as is some other reconstructions of historical times, the modern interpretation supports the A. Degrassi’s theses. It seems that in the 5/4 century B. C. some small ethne around Kvarner joined together under the name of Libumia and under the leadership of Jadasins they attacked Pharos (compare CIG II 1837 c.). During the 3rd century the union of Japods penetrated to the west (Kvarner, south of Slovenia) and conquered over the coastal Liburnlians. This must have been the time when the bonder on Žrnovnica was formed, i. e., qlose to Žrnovnica. At the end of the 2nd and the 'beginning of the 1st century the Romans took over the Japods. It its quite possible that the part of 'the township between Raša (Arsia) and Telavius by keeping the Liburnian importance in the ethnic sense helped the Romans and thus got their privileged position (Alulae, Flanates, Lopsi, Cunictae, Fulfinates: Plinius, hist, inscription 3, 139). The author especially stresses the fact that the area under the Japods’ domination does not coincide with its ethnical territory.