- Grumentum
Grumentum was an ancient town in the centre of
Lucania , in what is now the "comune " ofGrumento Nova , c. 50 km south ofPotenza by the direct road throughAnxia , and 80 km by the "Via Herculia ", at the point of divergence of a road eastward to Heraclea (coord|40|17|2|N|15|54|22|E|type:landmark_region:IT|display=inline,title).The first settlements, of the
Lucani , in the area date from the 6th century BC, but the town was founded by the Romans in the 3rd century, during theSamnite Wars , as a fortified vanguard. In215 BC the Carthaginian general Hanno was defeated under its walls, and in207 BC Hannibal made it his headquarters. In the Social War it appears as a strong fortress, and seems to have been held by both sides at different times. It became a colony, perhaps in the time ofSulla , at latest underAugustus , and seems to have been of some importance.In 370 Grumentum became a bishopric seat, but soon afterwards it began to be abandoned. Due to the Saracen inroads (9th-10th centuries), in 954 a new town ("Saponara" or "Saponaria", the modern Grumento Nova) was founded.
The site is a ridge on the right bank of the
Aciris (Agri) about 600 m above sea-level, c. 800 m below the modern Grumento Nova, which lies much higher (772 m).Its ruins include those of a large amphitheatre (arena 62.5 by 60 m, 1st century BC), the only one in Lucania. There are also remains of a theatre. Inscriptions record the repair of its town walls and the construction of thermae (of which remains were found) in 57-51 BC, the construction in 43 BC, of a
portico , remains of which may be seen along an ancient road, at right angles to the main road, which traversed Grumentum from south to north. A "domus" with 4th century AD mosaics is also present, as well as tewo small temples of imperial times. Outside the walls monumental tombs, a Palaeo-Christian basilica and an aqueduct have been found.Much of the findings can be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Grumento Nova.
References
*1911
External links
* [http://www.basilicata.beniculturali.it/beni.php?ev=dett&id_bene=500074&tipo=area_archeologica Page of the Basilicata Direction of Culture] it icon
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