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Aternum

Coordinates: 42°27′36″N 14°12′36″E / 42.4601°N 14.2100°E / 42.4601; 14.2100
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aternum
Ostia Aterni
Graphic reconstruction of Aternum
Aternum is located in Italy
Aternum
Shown within Italy
Alternative nameOstia Aterni
LocationModern-day Italy (Pescara)
RegionSamnium
TypeSettlement and port
History
FoundedBefore 4th century BC
CulturesVestinian, Roman, Byzantine
Site notes
ConditionIn ruins
Public accessYes

Aternum was a Roman town, on the site of Pescara, in Italy. Some historians also refer to Aternum with the name of Ostia Aterni,[1] due to its location at the mouth of the river Aternus. Being connected to Rome through the Via Tiburtina and its extension the Via Valeria, Aternum played a crucial in connecting the capital to the Eastern provinces of the Empire. Its harbour, largely occupied by commercial and fishing ships, was supposedly also used for military purposes.

The main building was the temple of Jovis Aternium but there are traces of other temples dedicated to Roman and even Egyptian divinities. Moreover, there are reports about the construction of a monumental bridge by the emperor Tiberius.[1]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b Giuseppe Quieti, Pescara antica città

42°27′36″N 14°12′36″E / 42.4601°N 14.2100°E / 42.4601; 14.2100