rhizon

Rhizon is an ancient toponym used in Classical sources to designate a coastal settlement on the eastern Adriatic coast. The locality corresponds to the modern town of Risan, Montenegro, situated along the Bay of Kotor. In antiquity, Rhizon was a maritime site with Illyrian roots that later came under Roman influence, serving as a small hub within broader coastal and inland trade networks.

Archaeological and historical evidence indicates continuous occupation from the Illyrian era through the Roman period and into late antiquity. Excavations and surveys have uncovered urban remains, mosaics, inscriptions, and other material culture that illustrate Rhizon’s role as a coastal town integrated into regional economic and administrative structures. The site provides insight into patterns of settlement, architecture, and daily life along the Adriatic littoral during antiquity.

Name and toponymy: The form Rhizon appears in Latin and other Classical sources, while the contemporary settlement bears the Montenegrin name Risan. The continuity of the site through different historical eras reflects broader processes of cultural and political change in the Dalmatian and Montenegrin littoral regions.

In historiography, Rhizon is primarily referenced in discussions of ancient Adriatic geography, Illyrian heritage, and Roman-era coastal towns. Today, Risan is a modern village that preserves a record of this classical past through its archaeological remains and local museums.