Well known from a historical point of view, Sena Gallica is the first colony founded by Rome on the Adri- atic Sea in the early third century. B.C. (290-283 BC). Included in the Ager Gallicus, it is the cornerstone of Rome’s ex- pansionist policy in the Adriatic area. A sub-divine sanctuary that can be dated between the end of IV and the beginning of the 3rd century B.C. constitutes the first Roman presence on the site of the new colony and with a marked ideological value underlines an initial form of occupation of the area. This first phase of the Roman frequentation ends in 284-283 BC. with the deduction of the colony: the founding act is fully documented with the realization of the walls that cut the earliest phase of life of the sacred area. The urban walls system adapts and fully exploits the natural potential of the site and the strategic-defensive significance of the water. The alluvial plateau at the end of the valley of the river Misa, entirely protected by water and with a single access point from the hinterland, is enclosed by walls and as a whole is occupied for the deduction of the colony (approx. 18 ha). The walls are configured as an organic system of preparations for defensive purposes that adapt to the geomorphology of the area. The watercourses are used as ditches, while the earths are placed against the wall circuit, thus composing a defensive system (agger) well known and widespread during the same period in Italy. The colony exploits the presence of coastal marshes to defend the side at sea, at least in its early stages of life.

Le mura della colonia marittima di Sena Gallica: un’ipotesi ricostruttiva

M. Silani
2020

Abstract

Well known from a historical point of view, Sena Gallica is the first colony founded by Rome on the Adri- atic Sea in the early third century. B.C. (290-283 BC). Included in the Ager Gallicus, it is the cornerstone of Rome’s ex- pansionist policy in the Adriatic area. A sub-divine sanctuary that can be dated between the end of IV and the beginning of the 3rd century B.C. constitutes the first Roman presence on the site of the new colony and with a marked ideological value underlines an initial form of occupation of the area. This first phase of the Roman frequentation ends in 284-283 BC. with the deduction of the colony: the founding act is fully documented with the realization of the walls that cut the earliest phase of life of the sacred area. The urban walls system adapts and fully exploits the natural potential of the site and the strategic-defensive significance of the water. The alluvial plateau at the end of the valley of the river Misa, entirely protected by water and with a single access point from the hinterland, is enclosed by walls and as a whole is occupied for the deduction of the colony (approx. 18 ha). The walls are configured as an organic system of preparations for defensive purposes that adapt to the geomorphology of the area. The watercourses are used as ditches, while the earths are placed against the wall circuit, thus composing a defensive system (agger) well known and widespread during the same period in Italy. The colony exploits the presence of coastal marshes to defend the side at sea, at least in its early stages of life.
2020
978-88-5491-042-3
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11591/429131
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