[SunkenCiv]

A typical King Ballaios coin thought to be minted at Rhizon. image: Janusz Reclaw

[gotribe]

“an extremely large coin hoard”

Looks like the Illyrians got the physical against rome’s expansionary fiat.

[Verginius Rufus]

The article in Der Kleine Pauly by the great Geza Alfoldy (1935-2011) goes like this (rough translation) (under "Rhizon" it says to see "Risinium"):

Risinium (Risan) on the Adriatic in the bay of Kotor (Cattaro) was under the name Rhizon around 230 B.C. a base of the pirate-state of the Illyrian Ardiaioi. In 167 B.C. it accepted a Roman garrison and received exemption from taxes. Under Augustus the inhabitants were granted civic autonomy (Iulium Risinium) at least a later proves the rank of a "colonia" for the city. The settlement was in the late Republic an important commercial center in which many Italian colonists settled. In the imperial period many knights and senators originated from the civic society.

[1010RD]

Several interesting things about this. A queen as leader/ruler would indicate a more dynamic role for women in the ancient world than feminists let on. Also, did she resist the demand to reduce piracy because she was so economically tied to the piratical gains or were the pirates beyond her ability to control?

[colorado tanker]

Risan is on the Bay of Kotor, which is a fine anchorage and protected by mountains from land approach. It’s a fjord surrounded by mountains in modern day Montenegro, near Croatia.