Author: David Popović, an expert in foreign and diplomatic affairs
Echoes of the Past: Unearthing Forgotten Stories
Legend has it that giants once constructed and inhabited this place. The ruler of Doclea, according to the legend, triumphed over St. Ilia in a duel and subsequently bound him with chains to a rock along the Morača banks, a location that continues to bear the name Verige, meaning chains. According to the legend, the city of the Illyrian tribe of Docleatae met its demise at the hands of the wrathful saint who broke free from his confines. Another legend suggests that the Roman emperor Diocletian (284 – 305), notorious for his severe persecution of Christians, was actually born in this location rather than in Salona near Split. So says the folklore…
Doclea. A city that honors the legacy of the Illyrians, the Romans, and the early Slavs… A city that, even in ancient times, boasted a sophisticated water supply and sewerage systems, paved streets, temples, and thermal baths, lies as an archaeological site just 3 km northwest of the capital Podgorica, now forgotten and scarcely acknowledged. The Doclea settlement was founded by 22 the Romans in the first century AD in a place where the Illyrian tribes known as the Docleatae lived, at the confluence of the Zeta and Morača Rivers, a place where legends and history entwine like the strong currents of rivers carrying ancient memories. Doclea is believed to have evolved from a village into a city in the second century AD, when it adopted a unique layout typical of Roman towns, including water and sewage infrastructure. The city was encircled by a formidable fortress featuring defensive towers. At the heart of it lay a square, positioned at the crossroads of two principal streets. To the west, a grand basilica towered majestically, while to the north stood the courthouse. The significance of Doclea as a vital trading hub with a sophisticated infrastructure in ancient times is underscored by the discoveries in the necropolis, where a wealth of artifacts including ceramic and glass dishes, jewelry, coins, tools, ornaments, and weapons have been unearthed… Amidst the shattered remnants of palaces, villas, and thermal baths, a wealth of stone sarcophagi—more than 300—was uncovered, alongside triumphal gates and three temples. One temple was devoted to the goddess Roma, while the other two honored the goddess Diana. During this time, the city was home to approximately 40,000 residents. In 297, Doclea emerged as the capital of the newly established Roman province of Praevalitana, fostering robust trade connections with Dalmatia, Macedonia, and Greece. The city faced destruction on multiple occasions. During the 4th century, this area faced multiple assaults and was repeatedly ravaged by barbarian tribes amid various military campaigns. By the conclusion of the 5th century, it met its total destruction at the hands of the Western Goths. The most significant destruction to the city occurred due to an earthquake in 518, yet its ultimate decline will coincide with the final campaign of the Slavs in 620. Despite the collapse of the city of Doclea, it is noteworthy that the medieval state of Duklja, which preceded Montenegro, derived its name from this settlement. From the 9th to the 11th century, this region will be known by that name, with its people, the Dukljans, embodying a legacy of spiritual and political evolution until the 12th century, when Stefan Nemanja will decisively conquer the Dukljan state, leading to the destruction of its cities, after which the state will be referred to as Zeta, named after the river of the same designation.
Remarkable civilizations are unveiled, acknowledged, and immortalized through their ancient cities: Rome through the Colosseum, Athens through the Acropolis, Egypt through the Valley of the Kings and the pyramids… Over time, Doclea in Montenegro has transformed into a mere pile of stones. The most precious stones that Montenegro possesses.