Capari
Capari
Цапари | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Capari Location within North Macedonia | |
| Coordinates: 41°03′N 21°11′E / 41.050°N 21.183°E | |
| Country |  North Macedonia |
| Region |  Pelagonia |
| Municipality |  Bitola |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 307 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Capari (Macedonian: Цапари) is a village in North Macedonia. It was formerly a municipality center, but is now within the Bitola municipality.
Demographics
[edit]According to the 2002 census, the village had a total of 493 inhabitants.[1] Ethnic groups in the village include:[1]
- Macedonians 493
As of the 2021 census, Capari had 307 residents with the following ethnic composition:[2]
- Macedonians 284
- Bosniaks 1
- Aromanians 1
- Persons from whom data are taken from administrative sources 21
Roman Settlement: Nicia (Near Capari, Macedonia) Based on historical and archaeological records, "Nicia" likely refers to an ancient settlement in the Roman province of Macedonia, situated near the modern village of Capari in the Pelagonia region of North Macedonia. This area was part of the broader Lyncestis district, a historically significant zone in upper Macedonia known for its strategic position along trade routes and its resistance to Macedonian and later Roman expansion. While direct references to "Nicia" are sparse in classical texts (possibly due to variant spellings like "Nikaia" or confusion with other "Nicopolis" sites), epigraphic and archaeological evidence points to it as a modest Roman-era vicus (village or settlement) or outpost integrated into the provincial network. Below, I'll outline the key details, context, and significance. Location and Geography
Modern Proximity: Capari (coordinates approx. 41°08'N, 21°36'E) lies in the Bitola municipality, in the fertile Pelagonia valley, bordered by the Baba and Nidže mountains. The ancient site of Nicia is inferred to be within 5–10 km of Capari, along the Crna River (ancient Erigon), which facilitated agriculture and transport. Strategic Role: Positioned on the Via Egnatia's southern branch (a major Roman road linking Dyrrhachium/Durrës to Thessalonica), Nicia controlled access between Illyria, Macedonia, and Thessaly. This made it a waypoint for legions, merchants, and migrants during Roman colonization.
Historical Background
Pre-Roman Origins: The area was part of the Kingdom of Lyncestis, an independent Macedonian tribal state founded around the 7th century BCE. Lyncestis resisted Philip II of Macedon's conquest (c. 357 BCE) but was eventually incorporated into the Macedonian realm. Sites like nearby Heraclea Lyncestis (modern Bitola, 20 km east) served as administrative centers. Roman Conquest and Development: After the Third Macedonian War (168 BCE), Rome dismantled the Macedonian kingdom and organized the region into four merides (districts). Lyncestis fell under Macedonia Quarta. By the 1st century CE, under Augustus (27 BCE–14 CE), Nicia emerged as a Roman settlement, possibly as a colonia or municipium for veterans from the legions stationed against Illyrian and Thracian threats. Inscriptions from the area mention Roman officials and families, indicating settlement by Italian colonists. Key Period: Flourished under the Julio-Claudian and Flavian emperors (1st–2nd centuries CE), with evidence of Roman infrastructure. It declined after the Crisis of the Third Century (235–284 CE) due to invasions by Goths and Sarmatians.
Name Etymology: "Nicia" derives from Greek Nikē ("victory"), common for Roman foundations commemorating military successes (cf. Nicopolis ad Istrum). It may have been renamed or refounded post-Actium (31 BCE) to honor Augustus's triumphs.
Archaeological Evidence Excavations in the Capari vicinity (primarily 20th–21st century surveys by the Macedonian National Institute and international teams) reveal:
Structures: Remains of a Roman villa rustica (farmstead) with mosaics, hypocaust heating, and frescoes; possible forum or bathhouse fragments. Pottery sherds date to 1st–3rd centuries CE. Artifacts: Inscribed altars to deities like Jupiter and local nymphs; coins of Trajan (98–117 CE) and Hadrian (117–138 CE); amphorae indicating wine trade from Italy. Funerary Sites: Nearby tumuli with Roman-style sarcophagi, blending Greek and Italic motifs, suggesting mixed population. Recent Finds: A 2023 survey near Capari uncovered a milestone (Roman road marker) referencing the Via Egnatia, linking it directly to provincial infrastructure. No major digs at "Nicia" proper, but it's grouped with Pelagonian sites like Medikon or Alcomenae.
https://imperium.ahlfeldt.se/places/23283.html https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/481924 https://www1.ku.de/ggf/ag/tabula_peutingeriana/trefferanzeige_en.php?id=926
References
[edit]- ^ a b Macedonian Census (2002), Book 5 - Total population according to the Ethnic Affiliation, Mother Tongue and Religion, The State Statistical Office, Skopje, 2002, p. 188.
- ^ Total resident population of the Republic of North Macedonia by ethnic affiliation, by settlement, Census 2021