Emperor Justinian inscription estimated the most important discovery in Kosovo archaeology

That is what archaeologists say, according to which the discovered inscription shows the importance the emperor had dedicated to Ulpiana, which was unknown earlier.

The discovery clears up that it was Emperor Justinian, and his wife, Theodora, who had initiated construction of the city called Justiniana Secunda.

And according to the inscription discovered, besides building the city, Emperor Justinian and his wife had built several churches, one of which is part of the recent discovery of archaeologists in Kosovo.

The discovery has been achieved after co-operation between French institutions, the University of Pristina and the Kosovo Archaeological Institute, with financial support from the European Union.

Christophe J. Goddard, representative of the “Ecole Normal Supereure” from Paris, and who runs the lab “Aoroc”, says that for the first time, the dedication of Emperor Justinian for Dardanian, his country of origin can be seen.

I mean, it's new to a lot of people and we saw all the emotions about it, it's perfectly understandable to the name of the province, but we always knew that here was Dardania. I mean, this is it. It's not something that's silent, to be honest, by no one. There are many sources. So, but what's new is that for the first time we have a commitment from this great Emperor and the other thing that we know also that this emperor is that he was very close to his native province, because he was born here, his family was from Dardania, from the little place called Tarrazona Skki, today's Skopje, and this building, this reconstruction of the town of Ulpiana, is the fact that he gave his name to the city, Justiniana Seconda, shows clearly how close he was to the city of<>

According to him, the great surprise is that the inscription is well preserved.

And the great “The big difference was that this inscription was really well preserved, wide, so it's almost complete and with its original floor, and the other great monuments that I referred to, there are very famous monuments, famous worldwide because they're really beautiful and they've lost their original floor, but in this case we have it, and this is the only place in the world where you would have such a <x1 inscription, he says.

He also stresses that the fact that the inscription is in Latin shows the Emperor's connection to the West.

The next very interesting thing about this inscription that makes it remarkable is that it is in Latin, and Justinian was described as Western, spoke Latin, governed by Constantinople most of the time people spoke Greek, but he was a Latin speaker and was very much connected with his Latin culture. So the fact that this inscription is in Latin here in Dardan shows the connection not only to its native province but also to its Latin culture. And that shows that even if the West was lost, this place was again West for him, and it makes you understand why someone is so determined to regain what has been lost and especially Italy, which was the origin of the Roman Empire because he clearly thought himself as a Westerner”, he says.

And the university professor of archaeology, Arben Hajdari, who is also a co-director of the project, details how they have reached this discovery.

“We have begun archaeological excavations which have confirmed the results of geophysic recordings and we have discovered the remains of a magnificent basylic, among the larger ones ever discovered in the Balkans, built by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century. During this year we have continued the next campaign, and the idea has been to follow the planning of the basilica, and then we have discovered an inscription that has enormous, historical significance, and according to me, historical weight represents the greatest discovery that ever occurred in Kosovo or in Kosovo archaeology”, he says.

It shows that the inscription confirms some historical records involving Ulpiana and Dardania.

According to him, this is important because it shows that Emperor Justinian, along with his wife, Theodore, had decided to rebuild the city, which they had called Justiniana Secuda.

“Mbiscript confirms some historical data, and here I'm referring to what I'm saying is that you're reporting copies of cypresses about Ulpiana and Dardania, on the other hand, is equally important because it shows that Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora, who had made a decision to build the city, respectively, to rebuild, as you inform us of copies of Cezares Ulpina and after the reconstruction, calls Justiniana Sechunda Secuda for the fact that there was another settlement that was built by Justinan was built so called after the name of the Prime Minister.

Hajdari indicates that the inscription confirms the binding of Emperor Justinian with the country of origin, Dardania.

This inscription shows the devotion of Emperor Justinian to his country of origin, his relationship with the country of origin, which was Dardania, and especially the importance that he had dedicated to the city of Ulpiana, which was unknown before. According to the inscription, besides building the city, Emperor Justinian and his wife, Theodore, had built some churches - one of which we have discovered - some churches that he had dedicated to Jesus Christ, which is December 25,”, he points out.

Among other things, Hajdari relates that the discovered Basilica is part of the larger churches that the emperor of Justinian built.

“Bazilica is one of the largest in the Balkans, and if it is considered that Emperor Justinian was known for his many constructions, known as the builder of magnificent monuments, and I would say that the basilica that we discovered among the churches or constructions among the largest of the countries that Emperor Justinian has built, and that is an enormous value which then with good conservative work, with a good presentation can become a tourist attraction with the potential to generate even jobs, even inflows and so on and so on and so on, say the 16th.

The discovery of a Latin inscription by Emperor Justinian that testifies to his connection to Dardania has become known two days ago.

From Kosovo state institutions it is considered the discovery that shapes history and as a powerful dedication by the Justinian emperor.