Chaonia


Chaonia or Chaon was the name of the northwestern part of Epirus, the homeland of the Epirote tribe of the Chaonians. Its main town was called Phoenice. According to Virgil, Chaon was the eponymous ancestor of the Chaonians.

Geography

in his Geography, places Chaonia between the Ceraunian mountains in the north and the River Thyamis in the south. The Roman historian, Appian, mentions Chaonia as the southern border in his description and geography of Illyria.
Important cities in Chaonia included Chimaera, Buthrotum, Phoenice, Panormos, Onchesmus and Antigonia.

Mythology

In Vigil's Aeneid, Aeneas visits Chaonia and meets Andromache and Helenus. He is told he must continue on to Italy, and instructed to meet the Sibyl concerning a more specific prophecy as to Aeneas's destiny.