Dyrrhachium
(
Δυρράχιον). The modern Durazzo, formerly called
Epidamnus (
Ἐπίδαμνος); a town in Greek Illyria, on a peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. It was
founded by the Corcyreans and received the name of Epidamnus; but since the Romans regarded
this name as one of bad omen, reminding them of
damnum, they changed it
into Dyrrhachium. It was the usual place of landing for persons who crossed over from
Brundisium, and was to that town what Calais is to Dover. Here commenced the great Via
Egnatia. The place was one of much commerce, so that Catullus (
xxxvi.
15) calls it
taberna Hadriae, “the shop of the
Adriatic.” During the Civil Wars it was the headquarters of Pompey, who kept his
military stores here. In A.D. 345 it was destroyed by an earthquake.