{"id":12860,"date":"2025-07-23T11:57:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T18:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/?p=12860"},"modified":"2025-07-24T09:16:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T16:16:20","slug":"scupi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/23\/scupi\/","title":{"rendered":"Colonia Flavia Scupinorum, Moesia Superior"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Archaeological<\/a>
Archaeological are of Scupi with the cardo maximus running down the center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most Recent Visit:<\/strong> July 2024<\/p>\n

The site of Colonia Flavia Scupinorum, often shortened to Scupi, is located on the north bank of the Axios (the modern Vardar), a few kilometers outside the modern capital of North Macedonia; Skopje. The immediate area of the settlement has produced archaeological evidence suggesting the location had been inhabited since at least the 12th<\/sup> century BCE. Starting in the late 6th<\/sup> century BCE, archaeological evidence of occupation in the direct vicinity of the later settlement becomes scarce. The surrounding environs were occupied by various ethnic groups including Illyrian, Thracian, and Paeonian, though none of them seemed to have settled the area. By the end of the 3rd<\/sup> century BCE, the Dardani had moved into the territory of the future settlement of Scupi.<\/p>\n

The Dardani supported Rome against the Kingdom of Macedonia in the series of conflicts through the late 3rd<\/sup> and early 2nd<\/sup> century BCE. In 170 BCE, the Macedonians conquered the Dardani, but just a few years later when Macedonia become a protectorate of Rome following the Third Macedonian War, the Dardani were allowed to remain autonomous in reward for their support. By the early 1st<\/sup> century BCE, the Dardani were themselves in conflict with Rome and became the target of campaigns by Sulla in 85 BCE and Gaius Scribonius Curio, proconsul of Macedonia, from 75 BCE to 73 BCE. These seem to have been related to pacifying the area in advance of further conflict with Mithradates.<\/p>\n

\"Funerary<\/a>
Funerary inscription for Gaius Cornelius Magnus from Berytus (modern Beirut) of the Favia tribe. He died at age 75 and served 21 years in Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis where he enjoyed beneficiarius and immunis. Magnus was also decurion and duumvir of Colonia Scupinorum. Dedicated by his wife, Publicia Secunda, according to his wishes. Dated to the late 1st or early 2nd century CE. Found in Skopje. Archaeological Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marcus Antonius again led a campaign against the Dardani in 59 BCE, seeking to pacify the groups north of Macedonia and secure Roman access to the Danubius (modern Danube). Marcus Licinius Crasses finally conquered the Dardani in 29-28 BCE and their territory was incorporated into the Roman hegemony, though the Dardani would continue to resist Roman occupation. It seems that at this time a legionary camp may have been established in the neighborhood of Scupi.<\/p>\n

Colonia Flavia Scupinorum was established during the reign of Domition with veterans from Legio IV Scythica, Legio V Alaudae, Legio V Macedonica, and Legio VII Claudia. Other names associated with the settlement were Colonia Flavia Felix Dardanorum and Colonia Flavia Aelia Scupi. In addition to Scupi, Flavia also appears to have been a shortened version of the name by which the city was called. Around this time, in 86 CE, the province of Moesia was divided into Moesia Superior and Moesia Inferior, with Scupi being included in the former. It seems to have been the administrative center of the district of Dardania within Moesia Superior. The city was apparently prosperous but unremarkable through the remainder of the 1st<\/sup> and through the 2nd<\/sup> century CE. Scupi was likely raided during the Costoboci invasion of Roman provinces in 170 CE. The city again suffered damage about 100 years later when the Goths and Heruli invaded Roman territory circa 268-296 CE.<\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/a>
Gold fibula inscribed with ‘viva smvltis’ on one side and ‘qv eannis’ on the other. Dated to the 4th century CE. Found in Skopje. Museum of the City of Skopje.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Scupi found renewed importance following Diocletian\u2019s administrative reforms in the early 4th<\/sup> century CE and entered into a new period of prosperity. Theodosius I visited Scupi twice in 379 CE and 388 CE. As the Roman border regions became less secure Scupi was repeatedly devastated by Goths, Ostrogoths, and Huns throughout the 5th<\/sup> century CE. The final death knell of the city came in 518 CE, when it was nearly completely destroyed by an earthquake and the remaining population shifted to a hill about 4 kilometers to the southeast, where a fortress was built and around which the city of Skopje would develop.<\/p>\n