NELL’ABRUZZO ANTICO: AMITERNUM, TERRA SABINA E CITTÀ DELL’IMPERO

Abstract

Ancient Abruzzi: Amiternum, a city of the empire in Sabina

In the site of the Roman praefectura of Amiternum, recent researches are defining the physiognomy of the settlements, from the earliest ones, related to the legendary phase of the veria sacra (proto-historic necropolis of Pizzoli with the arched fibula adorned with extraordinary figures), to those following the Roman conquest (end of the 3rd century B.C.), until the town-planning evolution in the plane crossed by Aterno river. Through the archaeological evidence we can find out the response ofAmiternum to the imperial ideological requests. The forum, the theatre, the amphitheatre, the various templar buildings and the domus with its extraordinary dimensions attest the function of ‘power and services center’ of this urban settlement in a territorial contest characterized by the presence of vici and villae. Such a function is suggested by new archaeological researches conducted in the southern territory of L’Aquila and in particular in the area of the ancient Forcona (now Civita di Bagno), where the massive ruins of a monumental complex were uncovered.