Budva, the city founded by the Illirian heroes Kadmi and Harmoni

 Budva, a coastal city of Montenegro, situated near a small bay in the Adriatic Sea is not protected by nature but favorable to maritime trade.

According to the legend, Budva was founded by the mythical heroes, Kadmi and Harmony, called by the tribe of Enkelejt to defeat another Illyrian tribe in a battle. The mythical heroes come in a wagon runned by buffalo and win over the other Illyrian tribe. The llyrian tribe, Enkelejtë establish the city.

In the opinion of D. Rendiq Miovciq, the first name of the city would be Butua, as recorded in Plak1 Pliny or writen to Ptolemeus. The name of the city was Illyrian anyway. It's unfounded the etymological connection of this name with the Greek language, based on the myth of Kadmosit and Harmonias who come here with the wagon, drawn by buffalo. Suffix "ua" is taken as typical Illyrian one.

Budva, the city founded by the Illirian heroes Kadmi and Harmoni

Budva is mentioned for the first time in written sources in the first centery. It is known that the city originally belonged to the Illyrian tribe and their residents were Enkelejtë. Stefan Bizantini 4 mention Buthoe (for Budva) as the city of the Illyrians.

Traces of urban architecture found in Budva show that the the city is build in the second half of  IV century, when the Greeks in the Adriatic began with the establishment of their colonies. Budva was basically fortified and built by Mediterranean city system, while the findings of the necropolis testify to its residents after establishing strong links with Greece, took fully the Mediterranean culture. 

The Roman city Budva, or Oppidium Romanorum Butuanum, as Pliny calls it, from which derived its name Butua, judging from archaeological findings, has been lying in the same place where the Illyrian settlement was located, but occupied an much bigger area, which cross the perimeter of the medieval walls.

A large number of rich and monumental tombs, often luxurious shows their wealthy economic conditions.

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