Not far from the city of Thessalonica flows the river Rhechius, which passes through a fertile and rich country, and empties itself into the sea at that place. This river flows with a gentle current: its waters are calm and sweet. The neighbouring country is low-lying, well-watered, and forms rich pasture; but was sadly exposed to the inroads of the barbarians, having no fort or place of strength of any kind for a distance of forty miles; wherefore the Emperor built a strong fort on the banks of the river Rhechius where it joins the sea—an entirely new work, to which he gave the name of Artemisium.

IV. It is my duty to mention the other strong places in this part of Europe. I am quite sure that if I were to recount this list of the fortresses in this country, to men dwelling in a distant region and belonging to another nation, without any facts to guarantee the truth of my story, the number of the works would make it appear altogether fabulous and incredible; as it is, however, they are to be seen at no great distance, and great numbers of the inhabitants of that region are present in our city; wherefore, with the confidence which springs from truth, I shall not hesitate to give a list of the works of the Emperor Justinian in the above-mentioned countries, both in restoring ruinous fortifications and in building new ones. It will be most convenient to put them all in the form of a list, so that my narrative may not be confused by the insertion of their names.

These are the new forts built by the Emperor Justinian in New Epirus:[74]

  • Sceminites,
  • Ulpiansus,
  • Episterba,
  • Argus,
  • Aona,
  • Stephaniacum,
  • St. Sabinus,
  • Aliula,
  • Dyrlachin,
  • Patana,
  • Gemenus,
  • Bacuste,
  • Alistrus,
  • Irene,
  • Epiduta,
  • Bacusta,
  • Martis,
  • Gynæcomytes,
  • Speretium,
  • Aven,
  • Streden,
  • Deuphracus,
  • Labellus,
  • Epileum,
  • Piscinæ,
  • Cithinas,
  • Dolebin,
  • Hedonia,
  • Titiana,
  • Ulibula,
  • Brebate,
  • Thesaurus.
These places were restored:
  • St. Stephen,
  • Cethreon,
  • Apis,
  • Peleum,
  • Come,
  • Pacue,
  • Scidreonpolis,
  • Antipagræ,
  • Pupsalus,
  • Gabræum,
  • Dionaa,
  • Clementiana,
  • Illyrin,
  • Tithra,
  • Brebeta,
  • Bupus,
  • Endyni,
  • Dionysus,
  • Ptochium,
  • Tyrcanus,
  • Capaza,
  • Cilicæ,
  • Argyas,
  • Therma,
  • Amantia,
  • Paretium.
These are the new forts built in Old Epirus:
  • Parmus,
  • Olbus,
  • Cionin,
  • Marciana,
  • Algus,
  • Cimenus,
  • Xeropotoes,
  • Europa,
  • Chimæra,
  • Helega,
  • Homonœa,
  • Adanum.
These places were rebuilt:
  • Murciara,
  • Castina,
  • Genysius,
  • Percus,
  • Marmarata,
  • Listria,
  • Petroniana,
  • Carmina,
  • St. Sabinus,
  • Also a reservoir in the fort of Come,
  • Martius,
  • Pezium,
  • Onalus,

  • Two forts dedicated to
    St. Donatus, in the
    territory of Justinianopolis
    and Photice,

  • Symphygium,
  • Pronathidum,
  • Hedones,
  • Castellum,
  • Bulibas,
  • Palyrus,
  • Trana,
  • Posidon,
  • Colophonia.
In Macedonia:
  • Candida,
  • Colobona,
  • The Basilica of Amyntas,
  • Bolbus,
  • Brigizes,
  • Opas,
  • Pleurum,
  • Caminus,
  • Therma,
  • Bogas,
  • Neapolis,
  • Calarnus,
  • Museum,
  • Acremba,
  • Adrianium,
  • Edana,
  • Siclæ,
  • Nymphium,
  • Metizus,
  • Argicianum,
  • Bazinus,
  • Cassopas,
  • Parthion,
  • Melichisa,
  • Pascas,
  • Aulon,
  • Gentianum,
  • Priniana,
  • Thesteum,
  • Cyrrhi,
  • Gurasson,
  • Cumarciana,
  • Limnederium,
  • Bupoodin,
  • Babas,
  • Cyriana,
  • Pelecum,
  • Lages,
  • Cratæa,
  • Fasciæ,
  • Placidiana,
  • Hynea,
  • Limnaæ,
  • Option,
  • Charadrus,
  • Cassopes.
These forts were rebuilt in Thessaly:
  • Alcon,
  • Lossonus,
  • Gerontica,
  • Perbyla,
  • Cercinei,
  • Scidreus,
  • Phracellan.
The following new forts were built in Dardania:
  • Laberium,
  • Castimum,
  • Rabestum,
  • Castellium,
  • Acrenza,
  • Terias,
  • Drullus,
  • Victoriæ.
These were rebuilt:
  • Cesiana,
  • Tezule,
  • Usiana,
  • Besiana,
  • Mascas,
  • Liste,
  • Celliriana,
  • Zysbaës,
  • Genzana,
  • Petrizen,
  • Eutychiana,
  • Mulato,
  • Belas,
  • Cattarus,
  • Cattaricus,
  • Pentza,
  • Cattapheterus,
  • Debanus,
  • Cubinus,
  • Getmaza,
  • Victoriana,
  • Azeta,
  • Durbulie,
  • Suricum,
  • Cusines,
  • Tuttiana,
  • Ballesina,
  • Bella,
  • Catrelates,
  • Casyella,
  • Mariana,
  • Priscopera,
  • Miletes,
  • Dardapara,
  • Cesuna,
  • Veriniana,
  • Lasbarus,
  • Castellobretara,
  • Edetzio,
  • Dinius,
  • Cecola,
  • Emastus,
  • Castelona,
  • Capomalva,
  • Seretus,
  • Potchium,
  • Quino,
  • Berzana,
  • Bessaiana,
  • Arsa,
  • Blezo,
  • Labutza,
  • Quinti,
  • Bermerium,
  • Catrasema,
  • Rotun,
  • Cobenciles,
  • Marcellina,
  • Primoniana,
  • Pamylinus,
  • Aria.
These in the country of the city of Sardica:
  • Scupium,
  • Stenes,
  • Marcipetra,
  • Briparum,
  • Romaniana,
  • Struas,
  • Protiana,
  • Maccunniana,
  • Scopentziana.
In the country of Cabentza, Balbæ was built, and thefollowing were repaired:
  • Byrsia,
  • Stamazo,
  • Clesbestita,
  • Duiana,
  • Turicla,
  • Medeca,
  • Peplabius,
  • Cunæ,
  • Vineus,
  • Trisciana,
  • Parnusta,
  • Tzimes,
  • Bidzo,
  • Stenocorta,
  • Danedebæ,
  • Ardia.
In * * * these were restored:
  • Bugarma,
  • Betzas,
  • Bregedaba,
  • Borbrega,
  • Turus.
These were rebuilt:
  • Salebries,
  • Arcunes,
  • Duries,
  • Buteries,
  • Barbaries,
  • Arbatias,
  • Cuzusura,
  • Etæries,
  • Itaberies,
  • Tugurias,
  • Bemaste,
  • Stramentias,
  • Bottes,
  • Bitzimaeas,
  • Badziania,
  • Banes,
  • Bimerus,
  • Tusudeaas,
  • Scuanes,
  • Scentudies,
  • Scares,
  • Lignius,
  • Itadeba.
In the country of the city Germanae, Scaplizo was built,and the following were rebuilt:
  • Germas,
  • Candaras,
  • Rolligeras,
  • Scinzeries,
  • Riginocastellum,
  • Suagogmense.
These in the country of the city of Pauta (Pantalia?):
  • Tarporum,
  • Sobastas,
  • Cherdusceras,
  • Blepus,
  • Zespuries.
These in the region of Scassetana:
  • Alarum,
  • Magomias,
  • Luconanta,
  • Balausum,
  • Butis.
In the country of the city of * * * these new fortswere built:
  • Calventia,
  • Pharanores,
  • Stranbasta,
  • Aldanes,
  • Barachthestes,
  • Sarmates,
  • Arsena,
  • Brarcedum,
  • Eraria,
  • Bercadium,
  • Sabinibries,
  • Timiana,
  • Candilar,
  • Gurbicum,
  • Lautzones,
  • Duliares,
  • Arsaza,
  • Viculea,
  • Castellium,
  • Groffes,
  • Garces,
  • Pistes,
  • Dusmanes,
  • Bratzista,
  • Holodoris,
  • Cassia,
  • Grandetum,
  • Urbriana,
  • Nogeto,
  • Mediana,
  • Tiuncana,
  • Castengium.
These were rebuilt:
  • Hercula,
  • The fort of Mucianus,
  • Burdopes,
  • Calys,
  • Millareca,
  • Debrera,
  • Chesdupara.
These in the country of Remesiana:
  • Brittura,
  • Subaras,
  • Lamponiana,
  • Stronges,
  • Dalmatas,
  • Primiana,
  • Frerraria,
  • Topera,
  • Tomes,
  • Cuas,
  • Tzerzenuzas,
  • Stenes,
  • Aeadaba,
  • Deutreba,
  • Pretzuries,
  • Cumudeba,
  • Deurias,
  • Lutzolo,
  • Repordenes,
  • Spelunca,
  • Scumbro,
  • Britaro,
  • Tulcoburgo,
  • Longiana,
  • Lupofantana,
  • Dardapara,
  • Burdomina,
  • Grinciapana,
  • Graccus,
  • Drasimarca.
In the country of Aquiena there was built the new fort ofTimathachion, and the following were rebuilt:
  • Peteres,
  • Sculcoburgo,
  • Vindimiola,
  • Braiola,
  • Arganocilum,
  • Auriliana,
  • Gembro,
  • Clemades,
  • Turribas,
  • Gribo,
  • Chalarus,
  • Tzutrato,
  • Mutzipara,
  • Stendas,
  • Scaripara,
  • Odriuzo,
  • Cipipene,
  • Trasiana,
  • Castellonovo,
  • Florentiana,
  • Romyliana,
  • Sceptecasas,
  • Argentares,
  • Potes,
  • Amuloselotes,
  • Timalciolum,
  • Meridio,
  • Meriopontede,
  • Tredetitilius,
  • Bræola,
  • Motrees,
  • Vicanovo,
  • Quartiana,
  • Julioballæ,
  • Pontzas,
  • Zanes.