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Athens’s triera
(Greek’s war ship)
’’Liburska liburna’’
(Illyrians war ship)
Foundations of Demetrius fortress in Sucuraj
Part of queen Teuta place in Sucuraj
’’Velika gomila’’ in Sucuraj
(old Illyrians grave-yard)
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 In Oglavak and Koscak (near Sucuraj) by the tradition was the
position of the Illyrian queen Teuta place (who lived here). Sucuraj lies
on the foundations of the town she was building. It was not finished it
because she lost the war with the Romans.
To confirm these legends there are no written documents because the
Illyrians were illiterate. The historical facts are: in the middle 4th
century BC the Illyrians tribe Ardians came to the sea and settled around
the river Neretva and toady’s Makarska Riviera; the Ardians where famous
warriors, and after arriving to the coast they learnt the seaman ways and
became pirates who first attacked Greeks and after Romans ships; for
pirate-activity Sucuraj was ideal, because of it’s deep bay where war-ships
are invisible and the hill above Sucuraj was a excellent look-out for all
ship traffic in this region; from Sucuraj they could quickly attack and
conquer ships in the area. Besides the bay was a big fertile field, and it
is known that Ardians had 300 000 serfs who worked in there fields while they
were at war or having fiestas with lots of beer, wine and drink sweetened
with honey.
In the middle 3rd century BC the Ardians king Argon united
several Illyrians tribes and extended his country from Biograd (near town
Zadar) to the river Drim (in today’s Albania). King Argon died in 231 BC of
enjoying too much alcohol. The authority over he kingdom inherited his wife
Teuta because their son Pinnes was under-age. Teuta ruled until 219 BC, she
was glorified by heir warlord Demetrius of Pharos (today town Stari Grad on
the island Hvar). Teuta was in war with the Romans because of the pirate
attacks. After the first successes she lost the war when Demetrius turned
sides to the Romans. Teuta took refuge to the fortress Risan in Boka
Kotorska (today in Montenegro). The big Illyrians country was reduced to
the territory between Boka Kotorska and the river Drim.
So, if the legend of Queen Teuta it true, Sucuraj is one of the oldest
towns in Europe. Contribution to this legend is many sunken Roman galleys
around Sucuraj.
Soon after Demetrius of Pharos went into battle with the Romans who
destroyed Pharos in 219 BC. By the legend the Illyrians soldiers fled over
the island to the east and come to Sucuraj. With no were to go they
occupied Teuta’s fortress. Illyrians objects confirm that they fortify the harbour of Sucuraj and protected the village, which means that the Illyrians lived in
Sucuraj after 219 BC.
The remains of the queen Teuta palace and the fortress of Demetrius of
Pharos are still visible. Also, many Illyrians graves with bones, ceramic
and seashells are found. There are many Illyrians stone-piles; the most
famous is ‘’Velika Gomila’’ (old Illyrians grave-yard). Around Sucuraj
there are many more localities from the Illyrians time that testifying the
presence of Illyrians before 2300 years.
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