Manastir, the City of Pride and Misery
Manastiri, throughout the cosmopolitan history of the epochs, undoubtedly emphasizes a conglomerate of civilization values influenced by cultural processes developed through the broad lines of history from which the monuments of the past are proudly depicted and in particular, the old architecture w...
| Published in: | Univers |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English Albanian |
| Published: |
Albanian Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://albanica.al/univers/article/view/3003 |
| Summary: | Manastiri, throughout the cosmopolitan history of the epochs, undoubtedly emphasizes a conglomerate of civilization values influenced by cultural processes developed through the broad lines of history from which the monuments of the past are proudly depicted and in particular, the old architecture with the main promenade called “Shirok Sokak”, where the eminent figures of Albanianism walked. During the 16th and 17th centuries the Turk administration named the city Manastir due to the legend of seventy churches and monasteries that existed in Manastiri and its surroundings during the Turks’ arrival. Manastiri is an ancient medieval town inhabited by the Arber population. Situated at the border with Greece it represents an important junction connecting the south Adriatic Sea to the Aegean Sea and Central Europe. It is known as the “city of the consuls” from the Ottoman period, since many European countries established consular offices in the cross-border area through which the European spirit penetrated. Evliya Çelebi in his work “Sejahatname”, four centuries ago, spoke about the mosques, the madrasa and life in Manastiri. According to the legends, “Gods were furious with Zeus because he chose Olympus as the Gods’ pivot instead of the mountainous beauty, Pelisteri. Zeus, on the other hand punished and married Pelister with his Grandmother.” Near Manastiri there is the well-preserved ancient city of Heraklea founded by Philip II of Macedonia in the 4th century BC. This town is well-known for the merchant caravan routes from east and west to Southern Pelagius since the most important crossroad in that period was the Via Egnatia road built by the Romans, stretching from Durres or Vlora to Albania and to Istanbul through Thessaloniki. Heraclea became the most important stop in the region. The railway connecting Manastiri and Thessaloniki had given special importance to this city because, as Sami Frashëri wrote, “It was a hub between Thessaloniki and Albania”. The city of the Albanian Alphabet, of Bajo Topulli, of the ... |
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