ISSA

The Mediterranean communities even in the Neolithic times, 3 thousand years BC, inhabited the island Vis. The name of the island Issa originates from that time and that is the name that the island still holds in the croatised version. The first settlements on Island of Vis originate from the Neolithic. A new era started around 1,000 BC with the arrival of warriors using more durable iron weapons and tools. These were the Illyrians who lived in hill-forts of which some spread over an area up to 2 kilometres having defence walls up to ten meters high. Their cemeteries were found on the islands of Hvar, Pakleni otoci ("Hell's Islands"), Brac, Korcula and Vis.

The Illyrians held the islands from Krk in the north to Vis in the south and the tribe of Liburnians occupied the islands and controlled the anchors around them. Greeks or Helens did not threaten them much, although there are legends (like the one about "Apsyrdites" or "Ogygia") indicating that they were the ones who created the significant Trans European/Mediterranean trade trails.

At the times of rule of Dionysiu s Jr. Issa becomes a free democratic polis “city-state”. Spreading its commercial and trade network and establishing its colonies such as Lumbarda (at the island Korcula), Tragurion (Trogir), Epetion (Stobrec), and at last Salona (Solin), Issa gets very powerful. The part of sepulchral findings from that period consists of vases, vine jars and terracotta plastics. The ancient Issa represents the oldest urban nucleus in these parts of the world. It was situated on the north part of the bay, on the locality called Gradina. As other Greek towns, it was encompasses by walls that are partly preserved, and it is supposed that it had a regular street schedule as other towns of that period. Thanks to favourable circumstances, Issa flourished for a very long time, until the conflict with the Illyrian king Argon and with queen Teuta ca 229 – 219 BC. Assessing that it would not be able to confront the attack of queen Teuta, Issa asked the Roman republic to help.

Rome helped threatened Vis and conquered almost all of Adriatic islands by 228 BC in due course. As Roman vassals inhabitants Vis maintained their state of Issa, which included both onshore and offshore colonies later. Their economic prosperity was also due to the downfall of rival Pharos' state on Hvar and Illyrians total defeat during the 2nd century BC too. Thereupon the islanders switched more to fishery and agriculture and the fast "Liburnians", the Illyrian prestigious ships, were welcome into the Roman navy. These ships contributed to Augustus Octavian's victory over of his rival Athnonius and queen Cleopatra at the fatal naval battle of 31 BC.

The island of Vis came under total rule of Rome when it was finally subdued in 47 AC. Rome introduced Italic municipal and other laws and gradually granted various privileges so the wine from Vis reached Imperial Rome. The rapid economic recovery went in hand with the substantial construction activities on Vis so a theater and several rustic villas were built for members of the imperial family staying here often. The largest aggregation of some 2,000 roman amphoras was found on the island of Ilovik (south of Losinj) and the largest roman coin sites in town of Osor, on the isthmus between islands of Cres and Losinj.

The alliance with Rome and its assistance in the conquests, Issa and its colonies prospered economically. From the Roman era there are partly preserved thermae and the foundations of the ancient theatre. Judging by the size of the theatre that could take 3,500 spectators, it is assumed that in the city of Issa and surrounding fields lived 12-14 thousand people. There are three localities found outside city walls. The one next to west walls got Slavic name Matvilo, next to east walls Vlaška njiva, while the south locality was situated on the area today called Luka. The urns from 1^st century BC are the oldest traces of burials by cremation in Dalmatia.

When barbaric tribes started bursting into the Roman Empire the economic power of big centres declined. This happened to Salona with which Issa was closely connected. The island gradually gets weaker, the life of the city slowly but surely extinguishes, and communities continue living in the Roman Villae Rusticae scattered on the whole island. Some of these Villae later became bigger rural communities. When barbaric tribes started bursting into the Roman Empire the economic power of big centres declined. This happened to Salona with which Issa was closely connected. The island gradually gets weaker, the life of the city slowly but surely extinguishes, and communities continue living in the Roman Villae Rusticae scattered on the whole island. Some of these Villae later became bigger rural communities. In the 7^th and 8^th century AD the Croats settled on the island. They merged very quickly with the naties of Greek and Roman origin. The name of the island turns into its present version – Vis. The Croatian name is mentioned in the work of Constantine Porfirogeneth (912 –959 AD) "De Administrando Imperio". By the arrival of Croats Vis develops into one of the most important war-maritime footholds on the East Adriatic.

Towards the end of 6th century AC there are first records of the Slavs' appearance at Istria. One of Slavic tribe named Croatians spread their influence along the entire Adriatic coast and onto the islands. They made the islands and the neighboring mainland in to their new cradle and their ultimate homeland. Soon after their settlement Croatians continued living side by side with the former population but established their own cultural and historical foundations too. Croatian baptizing started by late 7th century AC and completed by the early 9th one already. Emperor Constantin of Byzantium wrote that Croats were baptized under prince Porna (or Borna, 810 - 821). At that time two Croatian states cohabited side by side that were the Primorska and the Posavska Hrvatska. Prince Viseslav's baptismal font (from 9th century) is the eldest religious monument made of beautifully carved stone.