JAT 1 (1991)

ENGLISH SUMMARIES

R CHEVALLIER, The hydrography 01 Gaul: tactics, strategy and geopolitics in Caesar.

The c. 150 references in the de bello Gallico conceming thehydrography of Gaul are essentially geographical, even though they are clearly of military interest: water Iines, data, obstacles, penetration routes, regimen variations, crossing and bridge positions. Others concem the relationship between settlement (typology of oppida, isoIated buildings, barbarian camps) and hydrography.

1'J:1ere is reference to the Romans' taetical use of hydrography. Caesar shows parricular interest in provisions, the existence of a native fleet, and in the role of rivers in commercial penetration and Romanization. Several passages deal with the political role of water boundaries. Many operations, part of Rome's strategy and diplomacy, could be reconsidered in the light of the importance of water lines.

G. UGGERl.

Questions 01method: The study 01 place-names in topographical research: the contribution to the reconstruction 01 road networks.

The author shows that the study of placenames is one of the fundamental sources for the study of Roman road networks. A systematic picture has never been put together. The author examines place-names which are useful for the documentation of a Roman road and classifies them, on the basis of the type of clue provided, under the following 21 headings: l, ancient name of the road; 2, Medieval name; 3, generic reference to a road; 4, road surface and paving; 5, structures connected with a road; 6, obligatory ways; 7, straight or winding route; 8, miIestones; 9, distances in miIes (the most frequent being V, VI and VII); lO, post stations and other facilities; lI, water supplies; 12, crossroads and relevant cults; 13, other pagan cults; 14, funerary monuments; 15, productive installations; 16, other ruins; 17, centuriation axes; 18, boundaries; 19, navigable canals; 20, Medieval road survivals; 21, Christian cults present along particular routes.

M. A. AMUCANO, Criteria lor the planning of a Roman theatre: hypothesis lor a new interpretative method.

The arricle presents an initial report on the results of a technical study of published plans of Roman theatres, which have two characteristics in common: maximum reliability of graphic documentation and the presence of a semicircular niche in the /rons scaenae. The author's intention is to identify the planning criteria used, on the exclusive basis of architeetural remains. Here the study is liniited to the cases of: Leptis Magna, Augusta Emerita, Faesulae and Interamnia Praetuttiorum.

The motivation behind this study is the almost complete inapplicability of Vitruvius' theory, and the need to revise D.B. Small's model.

What has been discovered is not a 'fIxed' model, although it is subject to certain limited variations, but a rather practical 'criterion' of proportioning and dispositio, based on the repetition of multiples and/or submultiples of a basic Modular Unit, which, at the moment, appears to be identified with the diameter of the circumference in which the semi-circular niche is situated. Discovering its value was the necessary point of departure for the identifIcation of the 'criterion'. In the cases studied, this Modular Unit appears to be a round figure in Roman feet, of variable dimensions, as the deducible submultiples, into which it is divided, vary. In the cases of Leptis Magna and Augusta Emerita, it has been possible to establish a grid of modular sub· multiples for the architectural creation of the Irons scaenae and prosctenium, by means of a praetical procedure allowing the architect to work quickly without the help of scales.

P.L. DALL'AGLIO, Saints' Lives and andent Topography.

It is well known how important for the history and politics of the Early Middle Ages are hagiographic sources. This is not so, however, in the case of ancient topography, despite the fact tbat references to places are tbe most trustwortby features. This has aIready been pointed out by De1haye. A hagiographic source, tben, if it is Used correctly, can be the source of useful historicaI and topographic information.

One example is tbe Life of St. Colombanus. Here the description of tbe area round Bobbio and the Saint's miracles during the building of tbe monastery can be interpreted as emblematic of 'outlying' areas between the Roman and MedievaI periods. Another example is the Passio Saneti Donnini. Various elements, such as tbe non-mention of tbe Fidentini, tbe presence of a wood around tbe Martyr's tomb and the deforestation preceding the discovery of Donninus' body, confirm tbe decIine of Fidentia and the consequent loss of its status as a city, which, on tbe basis of other sources, can be dated from tbe III century A.D.

The spread of the cult of Saints, often conneeted to their miracles, can aIso provide infanriation about the ancient environment. One example is tbe conneetion of St. Zeno with the famous flood recorded by Paul the Deacon and Gregory the Great. This caused the spread of tbe Saint's cult to areas subject to severe flood risk.

G. AZZENA, Survivals and translormations of Roman town networks in the Middle Ages.

The anaIysis of the urban development and continuous occupation of the historicaI nucleus of a town must begin with its foundation and be aided by a detailed archaeologicaI map. This is the ooly way tbat a plausible hypothesis can be built up on the nature, times and causes of change in the originai appearance. A description is given of severaI expositions carried out by different criticai means, ranging from tbe tables of the Istituto Geografico Militare, detailed plans, històricaI and computerized cartography, aiming at tbe reconstruetion of tbe originaI 'forma', and an attempt to explain any changes which may have taken pIace.

J. MERTENS, Alba Fucens. At the 'dawn' of a Roman colony.

This short article examines some of the problems connected with the installation and early stages of this Roman colony, founded in 303 B.C.

It is possible tbat tbere was a previous precoloniaI native settlement, tbough, if this is the case, it must have been situated on tbe Northern rocky spur, where, unfortunately, excavations have not been possible. The first colonists probably settled on tbe lower land and surrounded tbeir settlement with temporary defences. In this area there is no archaeologicaI find previous to tbe second half of the IV century. It is here that tbe urban grid pIan was laid out, the focaI points being tbe comitium, lorum, diribiton'um, and group of buildings dedicated to Hercules. Two ItaIic ternples were situated on the surrounding upper ground.

In tbe II century the monumentaI axis of the town was modernized, keeping tbe initiaI grid pIan intact, except for the Soutb gate, which was moved slightly to allow it to fit in better in tbe right-angled pIan; street network, basilica and macellum, tbe group of buildings making up tbe Portico of Hercules, Southem area; on the slopes tbere were terraces with private houses.

In tbe I century, tbe town make-up was completed by tbe addition of a theatre and amo phitheatre. Tbe generaI grid pian,. however, remains thllt dating from the period of the colony's foundation. Figures 10-13 illustrate the various phases of this development.

V. CASTELLANI, The underground structure of tbe ancient aqueduct 01 Aesemia (Isernia).

Evidence conceming the underground aqueduet serving tbe ancient town of Aesernia (the modem Isernia) is presented. According to historicaI records, tbe tunnel ought not to be later than 263 B.C., when a Latin population settled in tbe town. The tunnel is 1,431 m. long, and is connected to the surface by 16 vertica1 shafts, aIong its entire length. This rnstallation closely follows the indications of Pliny more tban two centuries later. He suggested that tbe shafts be dug every 72 m. (2 actus) , to allow for earth removaI, topographicaI adjustments and ventilation.

All evidence points to tbe fact that the tunnel was built by connecting the bottom of two consecutive shafts with tunnels dug in opposite directions. When passing through soft rock, both walls and ceiling were reinforced with stone structures.

In accordance with topographicaI evidence, it appears that building under ground was due to strategical reasons, i.e. to supply the walled town witb water in case of siege. Thus, it is difficult to understand that the ancient town walls should not include the mouth of the tunnel. It is thus possible to modify present estimates of the location of the ancient walls.

The possible influence of the ancient aqueduct on the development of the modem city is briefly discussed.

V. SALADINO, Aesculapius, the battle of Scannagallo, Vasari and the Church 01 S. Stelano della Vittoria.

Giovanni Cervoni, in a letter to Francesco de' Medici (2 September 1572) recalls a visit to the Church of S. Stefano della Vittoria, near the viIlage of Foiano della Chiana (provo of Arezzo), during which he was shown a Latin inscription dedicated to Aescu1apius. Tbe text of the inscription suggests to Cervoni a prophetic announcement of tbe victory of Cosimo I at Scannaga110 (2 August 1554). Tbe victory was ce1ebrated by Vasari in his cycle of paintings in the Salone dei Cinquecento and tbe Sala di Cosimo I in tbe Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Vasari was also probably responsible for the design of tbe Church of S. Stefano della Vittoria, which was built under the supervision of Giovambattista Gianfigliazzi, the 'Provveditore' of Arezzo who in a letter dated 22 September 1572 informs Francesco de' Medici of the completion of the building and the costo While the church was being boot, some ancient remains were unarthed, perhaps belonging to a shrine of Aesculapius. This is of particular interest seeing tbat there are very few references to the cult of this god in Etruria.

S. PATITUCCI, Italy, Greece and the Levant; the topographicallegacy 01 Cyriacus 01Ancona.

On tbe occasion of tbe sixth centenary of the birth of Cyriacus the author redefines his importance,

not only for the history of epigraphy and archaeology, which has been well known for some time, but also for tbe 'ancient topography of Greece and Asia Minor, of which he can be justly considered tbe founding father. Cyriacus is a pioneer of tbe scientmc study of topography, which establishes connections between classical writers and inscriptions and the evidence provided by tbe land. A detaiIed chronology of Cyriacus of Ancona's joumeys is provided, and certain lines followed in his topographicàl studies are discussed, including specialized bibliography.

R.T. Scorr, Rome. The area sacra 01 Vesta. 1990.

Recent excavations in tbe tempIe precinct (1990) have revealed two phases in the history of tbe round tempIe, botb republican, prior to tbe empire, and the emplacement of an altar, perhaps dating from the end of the sixth century B.C.

A. MESSINA, Tyrakinai 'a small but flourishing Sicilian town'.

The author suggests the identmcation of Tyralcinai, a Sicilian town dating from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, with an unnamed settlement around the church of Sambramati (S. Pancrazio) in the upper Cava d'Ispica, near Modica (prov. of Ragusa).

A. MOSCA, The Roman topography of the Trent region and the contribution of Paolo Orsi's study of place-names.

When a beginning was being made in the study of place-names, a contribution to research was made by Paolo Orsi's study 'Saggio di toponomastica tridentina'. His approach was different.

He did not adopt a linguistic viewpoint but a historical topographical one, which he used especially in identify the distribution of Roman rural settlements for which archaeological research was insufficient.