Alba Fucens
42.0813.411111111111Koordinaten: 42 ° 4 ' 48 " N, 13 ° 24' 40" E
Alba Fucens was an ancient city, which was 105 km northeast of Rome above the Fucino. It was located in 1016 m height above sea level at the foot of Mount Velino, 6.4 km north of Avezzano. It is located in the small village of Albe, a district of Massa d' Albe in the province of L' Aquila.
The Latin name is derived from the location of the place from which one could see the sunrise ( Alba ) on the Fucino before it was drained in 1876.
History
Alba Fucens was originally a city of Aequians. She lay on the border of the territory of the Marsi in a strategically important position. Already in the year 458 BC, was a Roman dictator Cincinnatus, the city was besieged by the Romans, however, could not be taken. 303 BC it was conquered by the Romans under Junius Bubulcus and converted into a Roman colony. She lay on a hill on the Via Tiburtina Valeria, which was probably extended here at this time of Tibur. During the Second Punic War Alba was allied with Rome, but refused even to ask how other colonies quotas and was punished for it.
As a result, Alba was been to a place in the state prisoners as Syphax, king of Numidia, Perseus, king of Macedonia and Bituitus King of the Arverni, brought. In the Social War it was attacked by the rebels, but remained on the side of Rome. In the imperial period, the city experienced a period of prosperity, as can be concluded from numerous inscriptions found. The city probably had about 30,000 inhabitants. Still 537 AD used the city as a winter camp for Byzantine soldiers. In the 9th and 10th centuries Alba Fucens was destroyed by the Saracens.
Excavations
1949 Alba Fucens was rediscovered by the Belgian archaeologist De Vischer and excavated the city center. The best preserved is the nearly three -kilometer-long city wall of polygonal masonry with three city gates. The forum has been excavated only in the southeast half, however, turns out to be greater than that of Ostia Antica or Pompeii. Following a basilica was built under Sulla. It close to the thermal baths and finally a large Hercules sanctuary. The statue of Hercules Epitrapezios has been associated with other excavation finds in the Archaeological Museum in Chieti. To the west lies the theater from the 1st century BC and a little uphill the amphitheater from the time of Emperor Tiberius.
The medieval Albe
After the destruction of Alba Fucens was placed above the medieval village of Albe. The ancient temple of Apollo was transformed in the early Christian church of San Pietro, which came into the possession of Montecassino in the 7th century. After the damage in an earthquake in 1915, the church was made from 1957 again. In place of the ancient Acropolis, the Orsini built a castle.
Iconostasis in San Pietro