{"id":8983,"date":"2022-08-10T21:54:52","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T04:54:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/?p=8983"},"modified":"2022-08-24T11:48:57","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T18:48:57","slug":"augusta-bilbilis-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/index.php\/2022\/08\/10\/augusta-bilbilis-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Augusta Bilbilis, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Theater<\/a>
Theater and forum of Augusta Bilbilis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most Recent Visit<\/strong>: July 2022<\/p>\n

Perched on a hill overlooking the plain of the Salo (the modern Jal\u00f3n River) an important tributary of the Iber (the modern Ebro) near the junction with the Birbilis (Jiloca River), about 100 meters above the plain, sits the remains of Augusta Bilbilis. Prior to the arrival of the Romans, the site was home to a settlement of a Celtiberian population called the Lusones. The settlement here was called Bilbilis, and may have been the chief town of the Lusones, who themselves may have been descended from settlers of the Helvetic Lusones. Bilbilis seems to have been one of the most important Celtiberian settlements in the northern part of the peninsula.<\/p>\n

Though not mentioned by name in the texts, Bilbilis likely came into direct contact with Rome in the early 2nd<\/sup> century BCE, perhaps with the expeditions of Quintus Fulvius Flaccus between 182 and 180 BCE, campaigns for which he would celebrate two triumphs for his victories over the Celtiberian populations. The area still remained outside of direct Roman hegemony, though the influence of Rome began increasing after this time. During the rebellion of Quintus Sertorius, starting in 80 BCE, Bilbilis would support Sertorius and engagements were fought between Sertorius and Quintus Metellus in the vicinity of the city.<\/p>\n

\"Coins<\/a>
Coins minted around the establishment of Augusta Bibilis, dated to about 27 BCE. Museo de Calatayud.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Again, Bilbilis is not mentioned specifically in any of the engagements related to the Roman pacification of the Iberian Peninsula, but likely came under direct Roman control during the Numantine War of 143-133 BCE. Following the final major conflict in the conquest of Iberia, the Cantabrian Wars of 29-19 BCE, administrative reforms and the construction of infrastructure began in earnest on the peninsula, including the building of a major road between the newly founded settlements of Augusta Emerita<\/a> and Caesaraugusta, which passed closely by Bilbilis. Around this time, the city was granted municipium<\/em> by Augustus and became Augusta Bilbilis. The settlement was also granted the right to mint currency, something it retained through the reign of Caligula. Monumental building projects also started at this time, continuing through the mid-1st<\/sup> century CE.<\/p>\n

\"Portico<\/a>
Portico and basilica area on the west side of the forum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sometime around 40 CE, the poet Marcus Valerius Martialis, better known as Martial, was born here. He seems to have left for Rome during the reign of Nero, but returned to Augusta Bilbilis in 98 CE and died there sometime around 104 CE. Martial offers a number of insights into his hometown interspersed among his works. He notes that gold and iron were mined in the area and that the city was particularly renowned for its horses and the weaponry forged there. Conversely, the fishing (presumably in the Salo) was not particularly plentiful. He dedicates one of his epigrams to the people of Augusta Bilbilis, claiming that the glory he reaps by his poetry is shared by the people of his hometown. Pliny the Elder notes that a noble of praetorian rank named P. Licinius Caecina committed suicide by taking opium in a place in Spain called Bavilum, which is sometimes identified as being Augusta Bilbilis.<\/p>\n

\"Western<\/a>
Western side of the forum and theater from the entry area of the archaeological site.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 Augusta Bilbilis reached its zenith in the 1st<\/sup> and 2nd<\/sup> centuries CE before suffering a gradual decline in prosperity starting dramatically in the 3rd<\/sup> century CE when a number of the major features of the city seem to have fallen into disuse, and effectively being abandoned as a significant settlement in the 5th<\/sup> century CE. Ausonius claims the settlement is abandoned even earlier, in the 4th<\/sup> century CE. There was habitation on the site following this point, but it seems to have been fairly sparse. The very prominent location of the site made it a frequent target for the quarrying of materials, particularly during the 8th<\/sup> century CE, when Calatayud was founded.<\/p>\n