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Tujan or Turan was the God of love and fertility. And there is a legend about her, that this goddess fell in love with the God of war, Laran, which surprisingly resembles the name Lana of the Tirana river. Such a love is almost impossible in any other mythology, but we find it here in the Tujan and Laran area, toponyms that have survived to our days. The love story of Turan (the girl) with Laran (the boy) is very interesting and can be narrated by guides, always in the context of legends. This story can be told either near Tujan or near the Lana River.

The Legend of Love

Before Tirana as we know it today existed, this area was believed to be blessed by deities. One of them was Tujan — or Turan — the goddess of love and fertility, similar to Aphrodite in Greek mythology, or Venus in Roman mythology. According to an old legend, she often descended to these lands and brought life wherever she passed… It is said that near the shores of Lana, she met Laran, the god of war. It was an unusual meeting — love and war facing each other. But instead of clashing, they united. And it was here, according to legend, that a balance was born between strength and life, between destruction and creation. A story of resistance over the centuries, of continuity.

Some scholars and folk tales connect this story with the name of Tujan, a place near Tirana that preserves very ancient traces, traces that go deep into prehistory. Here lies a much older story old a story of divine love that, according to legend, gave life to this area.” Professor Massimo Pittau, an Etruscan who has dedicated his entire life to the study of Etruscan studies, concludes that Tirana is Turan, or Venus.

PROFESSOR PITTAU about Turran and Tirana

Professor Massimo Pittau, expert in Etruscology. He talks about many finds that are very similar and show that the Etruscans gave and took with the territory opposite, and many Etruscan finds are today in the Archaeological Museum of Durrës. Pittau has been involved in Etruscan studies for over 40 years and his statement about Tirana should have encouraged local scholars to return to this toponym. He says that Tirana derives from Turan-Venus, who is the goddess of love and fertility.

SHTEGTIM – PROFESOR PITTAU , ETRUSKET