Poliçan, Dropull

Antiquity and Byzantine period

In classical antiquity the region was inhabited by the Chaonians,^[6] one of the three major Greek tribes that inhabited ancient Epirus.^[7] Polican was identified with the Chaonian settlement Politeiani (Greek: Πολιτειανή) also known as Polyani (Greek: Πολυανή). The name appears to be borrowed from the nearby mountain Polyainos.^[6] Ancient coins depicting Alexander the Great have been unearthed in Poliçan.^[8]

The ancient name has changed to the present form (Polyts(i)ani) during the Slavic invasion (7th-8th century).^[6] In the late Byzantine period (11th-15th century) two Christian Orthodox monasteries were erected next to Polican.^[6] After the Fall of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade (1204), Polican became part of the Greek Despotate of Epirus and refuge for various Byzantine noble families.^[9]

Ottoman period

At the period of Ottoman occupation, that started in mid-15th century, Polican enjoyed a privileged semi-autonomous status which led to economic and cultural flourishing.^[9] The settlement was included in the Koinon of Zagori, although geographically it was not part of the Zagori region, but belonged to the Pogoni villages.^[4]

In the early 16th century two significant church buildings were erected in the town: Saint Athanasius (1513) and Saint Demetrius (1526). Both of them display unique features of early post-Byzantine art.^[10] A Greek school was founded in 1672 by the local Orthodox missionary Sophianos next to the church of Saint Athanasius.^[11] The school attracted also students from the nearby regions next to Gjirokastër (Zagori and Riza).^[12]

A second school started operating in 1750, sponsored by a local businessman and benefactor.^[11] Greek education was expanded with the foundation of two secondary level schools in 1866, in addition to a boys' and a girls' school in 1866 and 1874 respectively.^[13] The local educational institutions became renowned to such a degree that their graduates were eligible for admission to any Greek college in the Ottoman capital Constantinople (Istanbul) without qualifying examinations.^[14] The schools of Polican were financed by the local community and especially by local businessmen and benefactors as well as by the town's diaspora.^[15]

20th century

Polican and the rest of the settlements in the Pogon municipality became part of Albania in the 1920s.^[16] In 1940, when Axis Italy launched a failed invasion against Greece from Albanian territory during World War II, the town came under the control of the II Army Corps of the Greek forces.^[17] In 1941, Nazi German units invaded, and in 1944 they burnt much of the settlement.^[18]

The Greek communities that reside in Pogon have a recognized minority status by the Albanian state.^[19] A Greek elementary school is currently operating in Polican.^[20]