Ancient era Benevento

view of roman theatre of benevento.



panoramic view of benevento mount pentime, part of taburnus mountain range

as roman colony beneventum seems have become flourishing place; , in second punic war repeatedly occupied roman generals post of importance, on account of proximity campania, , strength fortress. in immediate neighborhood fought 2 of decisive actions of war: battle of beneventum, (214 bc), in carthaginian general hanno defeated tiberius gracchus; other in 212 bc, when camp of hanno, in had accumulated vast quantity of corn , other stores, stormed , taken roman consul quintus fulvius flaccus. , though territory more once laid waste carthaginians, still 1 of eighteen latin colonies in 209 bce @ once able , willing furnish required quota of men , money continuing war. no mention of occurs during social war, although seems have escaped calamities @ time befell many cities of samnium; towards close of roman republic benevento described 1 of opulent , flourishing cities of italy.

under second triumvirate territory portioned out triumvirs veterans, , subsequently fresh colony established there augustus, enlarged domain addition of territory of caudium (modern montesarchio). third colony settled there nero, @ time assumed title of concordia; hence find bearing, in inscriptions of reign of septimius severus, titles colonia julia augusta concordia felix beneventum. importance , flourishing condition under roman empire sufficiently attested existing remains , inscriptions; @ period unquestionably chief city of hirpini, , probably, next capua, populous , considerable city of southern italy. prosperity doubtless indebted in part position on via appia, @ junction of 2 principal arms or branches of great road, 1 called afterwards via trajana, leading thence aequum tuticum apulia; other aeclanum venusia (modern venosa) , tarentum (modern taranto). wealth evidenced quantity of coins minted beneventum. horace famously notes beneventum on journey rome brundusium (modern brindisi). indebted same circumstance honor of repeated visits emperors of rome, among of nero, trajan, , septimus severus, particularly recorded.

the arch of trajan, provided portcullis, appeared in 18th century, etching piranesi. of bas-reliefs in british museum.

it same reason triumphal arch, arch of trajan, erected there senate , people of rome , constructed architect apollodorus of damascus in 114. arch of trajan 1 of best-preserved roman structures in campania. repeats formula of arch of titus in roman forum, reliefs of trajan s life , exploits of reign. of sculptures in british museum. successive emperors seem have bestowed on city accessions of territory, , erected, or @ least given name to, various public buildings. administrative purposes first included, rest of hirpini, in second region of augustus, afterwards annexed campania , placed under control of consular of province. inhabitants included in stellatine tribe. beneventum retained importance down close of empire, , though during gothic wars taken totila, , walls razed ground, restored, public buildings, shortly after; , p. diaconus speaks of wealthy city, , capital of surrounding provinces.

beneventum indeed seems have been place of literary cultivation; birthplace of orbilius grammarian, long continued teach in native city before removed rome, , honored statue fellow-townsmen; while existing inscriptions record similar honors paid grammarian, rutilius aelianus, orators , poets, apparently of local celebrity.

the territory of beneventum under roman empire of considerable extent. towards west included of caudium, exception of town itself; north extended far river tamarus (modern tammaro), including village of pago veiano, which, learn inscription, anciently called pagus veianus; on northeast comprised town of aequum tuticum (modern sant eleuterio, near castelfranco in miscano), , on east , south bordered on territories of aeclanum , abellinum. inscription has preserved names of several of pagi or villages dependent upon beneventum, sites cannot identified.

the city s ancient coins bear legend malies or maliesa , have been supposed belong samnite, or pre-samnite, maleventum. coins legend benventod (an old latin – or samnite – form beneventor-um), must have been struck after became latin colony.