MACEDONIA AS A HOLY AND
BIBLICAL LAND (1)
PART OF THE BOOK “SELECTED PAPERS FOR MACEDONIA”
BY SLAVÉ KATIN
With its ancient and with millennial-long history, Macedonia is the pride, joy and sorrow, dream and reality of every Macedonian. Its geographic location makes it the crossroads of various civilizations, religions, traditions, and customs. It is no coincidence that the paths of many tradesmen and caravans passed here, and for many military expeditions, armies, winners and losers it was the battleground for many centuries. It means that every stone, every lump of black earth, every river and mountain speak of the turbulent history of Macedonia. Even today, Macedonia continues hiding in itself many secrets from the past, which will probably be a challenge for future generations.
About the historical development of Macedonia from ancient time up today, a large number of both foreign and domestic authors have written from ancient times up to the present. Some authors have tried to distort the Macedonian story, while others have presented the historical facts about Macedonia and the Macedonian people too easily. Macedonia has been a country of turmoil, but also a country of beauty and mystery where the strong survived war, famine, conquerors, insults and empires; preserving their name at the same time.
Macedonia is a Holy and Biblical land. Since the glorious times of Philip and Alexander of Macedonia, during the reign of Rome, the Byzantines and the great migrations of the Slavs to the south, During this long and rich period only two nations, two peoples have chosen the name of this country as an integral part of their identity – the ancient Macedonians and the present-day Macedonians. It is this strong connection which spans millennia that shows the dedication of these peoples to their country.
In the rich history of Europe, it is hard to find a people like the Macedonian one who suffered so many upheavals during their national establishment. It is hard to find another people in the world who had so turbulent history, as well. Every single storm struck them. There was no war that failed to strike them. Each misfortune that took place in those areas put Macedonia in the very center, while the Macedonians received the first blows. Following their destiny in the last thirteen centuries, it could be said that destiny was history to many peoples, while for the Macedonians, history was their destiny.
Judging objectively, the people, whose best dance is the ancient one called “Teškoto” could not help having such fate and past. Macedonia was not only always at the point where many swords and yataghans crossed, where sabers and daggers crossed, but it was also the place where a number of different cultures clashed and intersected each other. In fact, Macedonia of that time was and now is a cradle of civilization, a focal point as one of the most ancient civilization.
Since ancient times the name Macedonia stood for a small province in the immediate vicinity of Pella, today the village Postol – the capital of the ancient Macedonian Empire. It covered the area between present-day Lake Pazar, which is dried out, and the lower basin of the Vardar River. But parallel to the expansion of the borders of the Macedonian Empire, this province named Macedonia gradually became larger and larger. .
Therefore the ancient Macedonians started to distinguish between Upper and Lower Macedonia mainly based on the geographical characteristics of the area. However, such a division of Macedonia had political, cultural, military and administrative importance. As a result Macedonia, as an historical and geographical region, is mentioned in the Bible several times
As a geographical region, Macedonia covers the middle part of the Balkan Peninsula, the space which is enclosed by the Sar Mountain, Skopska Crna Gora, Kozjak, Osogovo and Rila to the north and by the river Bistrica and the coast of the Aegean Sea up to the mouth of the Mesta River to the south. The Bigla River and the watershed of the early-ridged mountains of Korab, Jablanica, Gramos and Pind enclose Macedonia to the north, while the Mesta River and the western parts of the Rhodopes enclose Macedonia to the east. Within these borders Macedonia covers an area of 67,741.2 km2.
Unlike Upper Macedonia, Lower Macedonia is mainly a flatland. To the south, Lower Macedonia is enclosed by the waters of the Aegean Sea; it is enclosed by the waters of the Therma Gulf and the Perian Mountains to the southwest; and by the mountains of Vermin, Veras and Payko to the west; it is enclosed by the mountainous massif of the Balkans to the north, while it is enclosed by the hilly dividing line between the valleys of the Vardar and Struma rivers to the east. Vardar divides Lower Macedonia into eastern and western Macedonia.
The western half of Lower Macedonia is spacious and its geographical characteristic is the central plain created by the alluvium of the rivers Vardar, Bistrica, Lydias and Galiakos. This fertile soil (of around 1,500 km2) borders the waters of the Therma Gulf to the south, the mountains of Peria to the southwest, the mountain Vermion to the west, the Payko Mountain to the north, and the Vardar River to the east.
It seems Philip II of Makedon and Alexander III of Macedon (the Great), are the most significant figures in the ancient period. They were warriors, strategists, geniuses and kings of ancient Macedonia. They have changed the course of history, the boundaries of continents, the philosophy of the life paths, therefore even after three thousand years they remained to be constant inspiration and admiration in perpetuity.
Philip II of Macedon (359-336 B.C.) came from Argeada dynasty. He is the son of King Amynta, the Macedonian king became of 23 years of age. Philip the monarch in all his wisdom, knowledge, experience, courage and militancy, opened the doors of his native Macedonia to the world.
However, most, territorial, political, military and economic rise and flourishing, and most unnoticed anywhere else on Earth, Macedonia experienced at the time when on the throne was the most successful sage, strategist, military commander and fearless fighter Alexander III of Macedon (the Great) . He was born in Pella, of father Philip, and mother Olympia from Epirus, in July 356 B.C. of the Argeada dynasty.
He bebame acquired the fame ingenious strategist, warrior, general, sage and a visionary for a great world state. He subdued his successful military campaigns in Anatolia, Syria, Egypt, Persia and Mesopotamia, extending the boundaries of Macedonia to Afghanistan and India. Under his command were a number of countries, kingdoms, empires, tribal communities, peoples and nations on thousands of square miles.
Wherever he fought and conquered, he introduced special power and authority, with respected local traditions and customs. At the same time he was the initiator and organizer of major contruction feats. To this day remain traces of some names, cities, towns and landmarks erected in Alexander's time.
Just one month before he was 33 years, the legend died under still controversial circumstances in July 323 B.C. in Babylon.
Heroes go - but acts, records, myths and legends remain. Alexander III of Macedon (the Great) Insert a new chapter in world history, military doctrine, in literature and culture.
To be continued
By Slave Nikolovski-Katin
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