MEDIEVAL TOWN OF SQUILLACE

dicembre 15, 2020

Dear readers, I'll tell you the story of the important medieval town of Squillace the heir of the ancient Skilletyon/Scolacium.

position

ORIGINS - the city founded by greek colonists (Achei) with name of Skylletion in VI century b.C., some scholars argue that it founded by powerful Polis of Crotone as a control autpost on the Gulf of Squillace and its internal territory.

In a short time it became a thriving center.

In II century b.C. it was conquered by Romans, who given it the name of Minerva Scolacium, the new city was built on the greek one, immersed in a fertile plain with them the city became economically rich and in Imperial age (I century b.C.) it had an important monumentalization (foro, theater, paved streets....).

In the Roman age, Scolacium was an important city of Bruzio (Calabria) so-called city-territory.

the ancient Skylletion/Scolacium was collocated on coast

stretch of the magnificient Gulf of Squillace

FORO

NOTE - Scolacium is the only roman city with the Foro paved in clay bricks

roman paved street

(foto by romanoimpero.com)

Scolacium had an important theater (4500 seats) - I century a.C.:

In IV-V century a.C. on the heights of stairs of summa cavea the inhabitants founded the late ancient city for to avoid the attaks of Barbarian (Vandali).

reconstruction

(foto by romanoimpero.com)

museum of Scolacium

Hight middle age: Scolacium in the IV century a.C. it became an important bishop's see, between IX and X century a.C. was destroyed by Saracens and its inhabitants moved to the hills behind the coastand founding today's Squillace.