Asturica Augusta
Asturica Augusta was an ancient city in what is now northwestern Spain . In ancient times it was located in the Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis in an area rich in gold mines. It is the modern Astorga . The city was the capital of the Asturians , a Celtic tribe. It is mentioned by various ancient authors, such as Pliny , who calls it the "great city".
Little is known about the founding of the city. According to archaeological finds, it was under Augustus around 15 to 10 BC. Founded. Various tombstones of soldiers of the Legio X Gemina who fought here in the Cantabrian War were found, so it seems certain that this legion was stationed here. Around AD 15-20, the Legion withdrew and the camp was converted into a city. The city now became the capital of the Asturians. Two high officials first ran the local government; as the capital of a conventus they represented Flamines at the temple of Augustus at Tarraco on the council of the province.
At the beginning of the third century, Asturica Augusta became the capital of the newly established province of Hispania nova citerior Antoniniana . However, this province was given up again after a few years and the area remained in the old provincial order. A bishop resided here from the fourth century .
The city's buildings are comparatively well known. The streets follow a checkerboard pattern. There are two known thermal baths . The forum stood in the south of the city . It was a large square place. In the center there was perhaps once a temple, which has hardly been excavated so far, but had massive foundations. In the west of the forum there was a temple for the imperial cult . Various large city villas have been recorded during excavations. The urban area was surrounded by a wall, the time of construction is uncertain.
literature
- Angel Morillo Cerdán: The Roman army and urban development in NW Spain: Asturica Augusta and Legio VII Gemina. In: L. Abad Casal, S. Keay, S. Ramallo Asensio (eds.): Early Roman Towns in Hispania Tarraconensis , Portsmouth, Rhode Island 2006, ISBN 1-887829-62-8 , pp. 197-211.
- Emil Huebner : Asturica Augusta. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume II, 2, Stuttgart 1896, Sp. 1864.
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Remarks
Coordinates: 42 ° 27 '32 " N , 6 ° 3' 48" W.