About the Name "Dodona"

The name Dodona refers to the ancient sanctuary and oracle of Dodona in Epirus, one of the oldest religious centers in Europe.

The origins and cultural identity of Dodona have long been debated by historians, linguists, and archaeologists. While the sanctuary later became an important part of the Greek world, several scholars have argued that its roots may lie in an earlier, non-Greek cultural tradition associated with the peoples of Epirus.

Among them, the classical scholar Martin Litchfield West noted in his study of Indo-European religion that:

"The oak of Zeus at Dodona in Thesprotia (an Illyrian rather than a Greek institution)..."

The choice of the name Illyrian Dodona reflects an interest in the ancient history of the Albanians, the study of historical sources, and the ongoing scholarly discussion surrounding the cultural heritage of Epirus and its peoples.

Source of the quotation:
Martin L. West, Indo-European Poetry and Myth (Oxford University Press, 2007)
Oxford Academic – Indo-European Poetry and Myth