Mazaei
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Maezaeis or Maizaioi or Mazaioi, in Bosnian Mezeji, (Greek: Μαζαῖοι) were a sub-tribe of the Illyrians, settled in what later became Pannonia.[1] They were autochthonous, and inhabited the interior of today's Bosnia and Herzegovina, mainly in the Sana river basin, the middle course of Vrbas, and around the Vrbanja and Ugar rivers (550., BC – 300). AC.y.[2]
On the maps from that period, this area is marked as Donji Kraji (Lower end-lands). [3] [4] [5] Some areas of their territory were also shared between the Dassaretae and Autariates. They were bordered on the east by the Dardans, on the west by Iapodes, the Una river, Krka waterfalls, and Iasis, on the north by Sava – Drava – Danube, and on the south by Liburni, Delmatae, and Breuci on the north-east.
Like other Illyrians, Maezaeis lived in fortified or semi-fortified settlements, subsisting on agriculture, hunting and fishing. Ancient writers like Herodian, Livy, Pliny, Strabo, Theophrastus and others described the Illyrians as tall, strong warriors, and heavy drinkers. They did not maintain personal hygiene, and they lived in patriarchal communities. Every eight years they divided their lands according to each other's struggles and resistance to the enemy. Maezaeis had 269 judges.[5]
In 10 AD Roman administrators divided the province of Illyricum into the new provinces: Pannonia in the north and Dalmatia in the south. The term Illyria remained in use in Late Latin and throughout the medieval period.
See also
References
- ^ Wilkes, J. J. (1992): The Illyrians, ISBN 0-631-19807-5.
- ^ Šašel Kos M., Kos P., Talbert R., Gillies S., Elliott T., Becker J.. Places: 197364: Maezaei. Pleiades.
- ^ Wilkes J. J. (1992). The Illyrians. ISBN 0-631-19807-5.
- ^ Benac A. (1986). Bosna i Herzegovina / Bosnia and Herzegovia / Bosnien und Herzegowina. Sarajevo: Svjetlost.
- ^ a b Šentija J., ed. (1977). Opća enciklopedija Jugoslavenskog leksikografskog zavoda, 3: Foc-Iw. Zagreb: Jugoslavenski leksikografski zavod.
