If you love history, nature, or architecture or you’re just a curious traveler
Bylis will leave a lasting impression.
The Myth of Its Beginning
At the dawn of history, when myth and reality intertwined, the legends of the Illyrian cities were born. One of them is that of Bylis. Stephanus of Byzantium, a 6th-century scholar, tells us that this city was founded by none other than Neoptolemus – the son of Achilles and one of the greatest heroes of the Trojan War. According to him, Bylis was a city of Illyria by the sea, founded by the descendants of the Myrmidons, the legendary tribe that followed Achilles across the battlefields of Troy.
This kind of myth was not unique in southern Illyria. Cities like Amantia and Butrint were also linked to Homeric legends, but Bylis embraced this origin with particular pride, so much so that Neoptolemus was engraved on one of the city’s coins, a symbol of its heroic ancestry.
Although archaeological evidence shows that the city was founded later, around the second quarter of the 4th century BCE, the myth of Neoptolemus places Bylis within the network of Mediterranean cities that share a common historical and cultural consciousness, reaching back in time from the Trojan War, at the end of the Bronze Age. This ancient myth elevates Bylis beyond a simple urban center, transforming it into a symbol of historical identity and Illyrian pride.
The Koinon of the Bylinians
Byllis was the political and cultural heart of the koinon of the Bylliones, an Illyrian federation founded in the 4th century BCE. As the capital of this alliance of cities and tribes, Byllis became a center of regional power, diplomacy, and identity. The federation helped its members navigate shifting alliances with Macedonia, Epirus, and later Rome. Unlike many other cities destroyed during Rome’s expansion, Byllis was spared—rewarded for its loyalty by becoming a Roman colony.
On Klos Hill lies the ancient city
believed to have been
The earliest urban Center of the Bylinians,
with defensive walls dating back
to the second half of the 5th century BCE.
News & Updates
Discover Bylis, the crown jewel of ancient Illyria and the largest city of southern Illyria, one of Albania’s most significant archaeological sites. Explore ruins dating back to the 4th century BC. Visit the ancient theater, and marvel at the basilicas and the intricate mosaics that adorn their floors. Perched above the stunning Vjosa Valley, Bylis offers a unique opportunity to experience the rich history of this ancient city in perfect harmony with Albania’s natural landscape. Visit today and walk through centuries of history.