Usellus

Infobox CityIT
img_coa =
official_name = Usellus
name = Usellus
region = Sardinia
province = Province of Oristano (OR)
elevation_m = 289
area_total_km2 = 35.10
population_as_of = Dec. 2004
population_total = 933
population_density_km2 = 27
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|39|48|N|8|51|E|type:city(933)_region:IT
frazioni =
telephone = 0783
postalcode = 09090
gentilic =
saint =
day =
mayor =
website =
mapy = 8.8500
mapx = 39.8000

Usellus (Greek: polytonic|Οὔσελλις; Latin: Uselis or Usellis [Barrington|48] ) is a "comune" (municipality) and town in the Province of Oristano in the Italian region Sardinia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 993 and an area of 35.1 km².All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.]

Usellus borders the following "comuni": Albagiara, Ales, Gonnosnò, Mogorella, Villa Verde, Villaurbana.

History

Usellus is situated in the interior of Sardinia, about 25 km from the Gulf of Oristano on the west coast, and the same distance south of Forum Trajani (modern Fordongianus). Its name is not found in the Itineraries, and the only ancient author who mentions it is Ptolemy (iii. 3. § 2), who erroneously places it on the west coast of the island: but the existing ruins, together with the continuity of the name, leave no doubt of its true situation. It is about 5 km northeast of the modern town of Ales. Ptolemy styles it a "colonia", and this is confirmed by an inscription on a bronze tablet of 158 CE (a "tabula patronatus", setting forth that M. Aristius Balbinus had accepted the position of patron of the town for himself and his heirs) that speaks of the place as "Colonia Julia Augusta Uselis". It would hence appear probable that the colony must have been founded under Augustus, though Pliny ("H.N." iii.85) asserts that Turris Libisonis (modern Porto Torres) was the only colony in Sardinia at his time (79 CE, hence after Augustus' reign). (De la Marmora, "Voy. en Sardaigne", vol. ii. pp. 367, 466.) It may be that civic rights were obtained from Augustus (Mommsen in "Corp. Inscr. Lat." x. p. 816).

The episcopal see was transferred to Ales in the 12th century.

Main sights

*The church of "Santa Reparata".

References

*SmithDGRG
*1911

Footnotes