Castel dell'Ovo
The Castel dell'Ovo (Latin: Castellum Lucullanum , German egg fortress ) is the oldest preserved fortification in the city of Naples . It is located in the San Ferdinando district on the small island of Megaride , which is connected to the mainland by a walkway. Its name ( Egg Fortress ) comes from a legend according to which the Roman poet Virgil is said to have laid an egg in the foundation of the building. In the Middle Ages, Virgil had a reputation for being a powerful magician. According to this legend, both the fortress and the city share the fate of the ice. As long as the egg remained intact, the city was also protected from destruction. In the Middle Ages, a regent of Naples had to go out to the fortress at least once during his reign and convince the people of the integrity of the egg.
According to another legend, the siren Parthenope , who threw herself into the sea after failing to charm Odysseus with her song, washes ashore at this point.
The current fortress was built in various phases from the 1st century BC. It was built into the 16th century and has been renovated many times since then. The location of the fortification offers an excellent view of the city's harbor front and its surroundings.
From antiquity to late antiquity
In the 6th century BC, Greek colonists from Cumae to the north founded the original core area of the city on the island of Megaride. In the first century BC, the Roman patrician Lucius Licinius Lucullus built the magnificent Villa Castellum Lucullanum on this site . In the middle of the fifth century AD, Valentinian III fortified it . the attachment. The last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus , was banished here in 476. After 492, Eugippius founded a monastery on this site.
From the Normans to the Napoleonic Wars of Conquest
In order to prevent the Saracens from using the facility, the ruins from Roman times and later fortifications were demolished by the residents in the 9th century. The first castle was built in its place by the Normans in the 12th century . Roger II (Sicily) , who conquered Naples in 1140 , chose Castel dell'Ovo as his seat of power. When King Charles I Anjou built a new castle, Castel Nuovo , and moved his court there, the importance of Castel dell'Ovo began to decline. The Castel dell'Ovo became the seat of the Royal Chamber and the State Treasury. It also served as a prison.
The current appearance dates back to the time of the Aragonese rule (15th century). During the Italian Wars it was hit and damaged by French and Spanish artillery; during the time of the Neapolitan Republic in 1799 , his cannons were used by the rebels to intimidate and keep the Bourbon-friendly part of the city's population in check.
present
During the 19th century, a small fishing village - ( Borgo Marinari ) - developed along the east wall of the fortress. The village still exists and is known for its marina and restaurants. The castle is connected to the rest of the city via a more than 100 m long causeway, which is a popular location for newlyweds for wedding photos. The castle itself has a rectangular floor plan (approximately 200 × 45 meters) and has an acute-angled bastion overlooking the dam . There are several buildings within the walls, which are often used for exhibitions and special events. Behind the castle is a long cape towards the sea, which may have been used as a docking point. Outside the castle walls there is a large round tower to the southwest.
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Individual evidence
- ↑ The unambiguous determination of this fact was made by Karl Julius Beloch ( Campanien. Berlin 1879) and confirmed by Thomas Hodgkin ( Italy and her Invaders . Vol. 4. Oxford 1885, p. 192 n.3).
Coordinates: 40 ° 49 ′ 40.9 ″ N , 14 ° 14 ′ 52.1 ″ E