PARTHE´NI PARTHI´NI(Παρθηνοί, Παρθινοί, Παρθῖνοι, Strab. 7. p. 326; Appian, Illyr. 1; Dio Cass.; Cic. in Pis. 40; Pomp. Mela, 2.3.11; Plin. Nat. 3.26), a people of Grecian Illyricum, who may be placed to the N. in the neighbourhood of Epidamnus, and, consequently, next to the Taulantii. They are often mentioned in the course of the war with Illyricum, B.C. 229, but as friends rather than foes of the Romans, having submitted at an early period to their arms. (Plb. 2.11; Liv. 29.12.) After the death of Philip, king of Macedon, they appear to have been added to the dominions of Pleuratus, an Illyrian prince allied to the Romans. (Plb. 18.30; Liv. 30.34, 44.30.) Their principal town was PARTHUS(Πάρθος, Steph. B. s. v.), which was taken by Caesar in the course of his campaign with Pompeius. (Caes. B.C. 3.41.) In Leake's map the sits is marked at Ardhenítza(?). The double-hilled Dimallum, the strongest among the Illyrian places, with two citadels on two heights, connected by a wall (Plb. 3.18, 7.9), was within their territory. There is no indication, however, of its precise situation, which was probably between Lissus and Epidamnus. Of EUGENIUM and BARGULUM two other fortresses noticed by Livy (Liv. 29.12), nothing further is known.
[E.B.J]