The scientific congress "La Dalmazia e l'altra sponda. Problemi di archaiologhia adriatica", organized in memory of the famous Italian historian Massimiliano Pavan, former professor of Roman history at the University of Rome (Sapienza) and president of Societa dalmata di storia patria, was held in Venice on 16th and 17th of February, 1996. Along with the leading Italian historians and archaeologists who deal with the problems of the Greek colonization of the Adriatic and with the history of the Roman influence on both Adriatic coasts and their hinterlands, some Croatian archaeologists also took part in the congress.
The scientific congress, dedicated to various problems of the ancient history of the Adriatic region, was organized by the Fondazione Giorgio Cini and Societa dalmata di storia patria from Rome. Three years after the congress, the two institutions managed to publish the proceedings of the congress (Atti del convegno in memoria di Massimiliano Pavan, promosso e organizzato dalla Fondazione Giorgio Cini e dalla Societa dalmata di storia patria).
In his numerous works, Massimiliano Pavan wrote about history of the Roman province of Dalmatia. He was also the editor of two important volumes: La Venezia dall'antichita al Medioevo (Roma 1988) and La Venezia nell'area padano-danubiana (Padova 1990). Lorenzo Braccesi and Sante Graciotti, editors of La Dalmazia e l'altra sponda concieved their volume as the last part of a kind of trilogy dedicated to the region between the Danube and the Adriatic Sea.
Leandro Polverini, in his paper entitled "Pavan e la Dalmazia" gives a chronological review of the Massimiliano Pavan's scientific research.
In the paper "Rapporti tra le coste dell'Adriatico in eta classica ed i traffici con Grecia e Magna Grecia", Mario Luni compares data from different historical sources, especially the data given by Scylax Periplus and those coming from archaeological sources, and tries to synthesize contacts between the Greek world and the ethnic groups that lived on both Adriatic coasts.
"Atene in occidente e Atene in Adriatico" by Flavio Raviola is an attempt to clarify the role Athens had played in the intensive trade relations that crossed the Adriatic. Apart from its mythical fame, the role of Athens in the Adriatic trade is confirmed by numerous archaeological finds.
Giuseppe Sassatelli's paper is entitled "Spina e gli Etruschi padani". Sassatelli takes a look at Spina, but also Verucchio, important Etruscan strongholds at the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, both in the context of the Padan Etruria and as mediators in the contacts with the eastern Adriatic coast and the Alpine region.
In "I due Dionigi, i Celti e gli I Iliri" Marta Sordi uses information from literary sources and talks about the "Adriatic project" by Dionysius the Elder (430-367 BC) and his son and heir Dionysius the Younger (397-344 BC), especially in view of the diplomatic manoeuvres and complicated relations of Syracuse with the rest of the Greek world, the Celts, Illyrians, Etruscans, Carthage etc.
Pietrina Anello's paper "La colonizzazione siracusana in Adriatico" is a systematic review of the whole Dionysius's project of the colonisation of the Adriatic at the beginning of the fourth century BC and of its importance for trade and economy, but also of its political and strategic implications.
In his works published in the English language, Branko Kirigin discusses the issue of the Greek presence in central Dalmatia. Therefore, in his paper entitled "The Greeks in Central Dalmatia", he summarizes the results of the latest archaeological excavations, especially at the islands of Korcula, Hvar, Brac and Palagruca.
In "La presenza di moneta greca in Adriatico" Giovanni Gorini attempted to reevaluate the Greek coins, but at the same time he questioned some of the theses and datations established by Paul Visona.
The role of Rome in political and economic relations on both coasts of the Adriatic between the beginning of the third and the beginning of the second century BC is the subject of the paper "Roma e l'Adriatico nel III secolo a. C." by Gino Bandelli.
Alessandra Coppola in her work "Ottaviano e la Dalmazia: Imitatio Alexandri, Aemulatiio Caesaris" presents some interesting views on Octavian's planning of the military campaigns in Illyricum between the year 35 and 33 BC. It turns out that the personality of Alexander the Great influenced not only the literary portrayals of the feats of Julius Caesar and Octavian, his adopted son, but also the strategic decision-making and consideration of their political and military moves.
In the paper "La Dalmazia in eta imperiale" Marin Zaninovic presents in broad lines the evolution of the Roman presence in Illyricum until the time of the barbarian raids and the dissolution of the Roman provincial sysstem.
La Dalmazia e l'altra sponda is an important continuation of the interdisciplinary dialogue on the issues concerning the ancient history of the Adriatic Sea, which will involve all interested scientists. However, the research of the oldest history of the Adriatic to date has been marked by the projections of contemporary ethnic identities and interests into the ancient past. Let us hope that these proceedings will contribute to the full emancipation of the scientific treatment of this region, whose geopolitical and geostrategic importance has not diminished, from an always present modelling of the past reality according to the present interests.