Saepinum

Saepinum
Roman basilica
Shown within Italy
Location Sepino, Province of Campobasso, Molise, Italy
Coordinates 41°26′0″N 14°37′0″E / 41.43333°N 14.61667°E / 41.43333; 14.61667Coordinates: 41°26′0″N 14°37′0″E / 41.43333°N 14.61667°E / 41.43333; 14.61667
Type Settlement
History
Periods Roman Republic - Byzantine Empire
Cultures Ancient Rome
Site notes
Condition Ruined
Ownership Public
Management Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici del Molise
Public access Yes
Website Sito Archeologico di Sepino (in Italian)

Saepinum (modern Altilia, near Sepino) was a Samnite town located c. 15 km south of the modern Campobasso (in south central Italy).[1] Saepinum was on the ancient road from Beneventum to Corfinium.[2]

It was captured by the Romans in 293 BC. The position of the original town is on the mountain far above the Roman town, and remains of its walls in Cyclopean masonry still exist. The city walls (in opus reticulatum) of the Roman town were erected by Tiberius before he became emperor, the date (between 2 BC and 4 AD) being given by an inscription. Within the city walls are remains of a theatre and other buildings, including temples of Jupiter and Apollo. There still exists, by the gate leading to Bovianum, an important inscription of about 168 AD, relating to the tratture (see Apulia) in Roman days, forbidding the natives to harm the shepherds who passed along them.[3]

The presence of tombs from the 4th century, within the city walls, suggests that the city had been largely abandoned by that time. Following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, Saepinum was taken in 882 by Saracens.[4]

References

  1. ↑  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Saepinum". Encyclopædia Britannica. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 994.
  2. ↑ Purcell, N. "Places: 433073 (Saepinum)". Pleiades. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  3. ↑ Corp. inscr. Lat. ix. 2438
  4. ↑ Jeff Matthews, Saepinum Archived 2009-08-26 at the Wayback Machine.
  • Jeff Matthews, Saepinum
  • Travel journal with images of Saepinum ruins
  • Michael Frank, "A Rarity Among Roman Towns," New York Times, December 23, 1990, web: NYT-60
  • Purcell, N., R. Talbert, T. Elliott, S. Gillies. "Places: 433073 (Saepinum)". Pleiades. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
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