Editing Aeclanum

{{short description|Archaeological site}}
{{redirect|Eclano|modern and nearby town|Mirabella Eclano}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name = Aeclanum
| native_name = Aeculanum
| alternate_name = 
| image = Aeclanum (Thermae-01).jpg
| alt = 
| caption = View of the ''[[thermae]]'' with the ''[[opus reticulatum]]'' brickwork
| map_type = Italy
| map_alt = 
| coordinates = {{coord|41|3|14|N|15|0|40|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Mirabella Eclano]] ([[Province of Avellino]], [[Italy]])
| region = [[Campania]]
| type = Settlement
| part_of = 
| length = 
| width = 
| area = 
| height = 
| builder = 
| material = 
| built = 
| abandoned = 
| epochs = [[Roman Republic]] – [[Byzantine Empire]]
| cultures = [[Samnites]] – [[Ancient Rome]]
| dependency_of = 
| occupants = 
| event = 
| excavations = 
| archaeologists = Italo Sgobbo
| condition = 
| ownership = 
| management = Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici di Salerno, Avellino, Benevento e Caserta
| public_access = Yes
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20141230210550/http://www.cir.campania.beniculturali.it/luoghi-della-cultura/parco-archeologico-dellantica-aeclanum Aeclanum]
| notes = 
| embedded = {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
 |child    = yes
 |Part_of  = [[Appian Way|Via Appia. Regina Viarum]]
 |ID       = 1708-011
 |Year     = 2024
 |Criteria = Cultural: iii, iv, vi
 }}
}}
'''Aeclanum''' (also spelled '''Aeculanum''', {{langx|it|Eclano}}, {{langx|grc|Ἀικούλανον}})<ref>{{in lang|it}} [http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/eclano_%28Enciclopedia_dell%27_Arte_Antica%29/ Aeclanun] on the ''[[Treccani|Italian Encyclopedia Treccani]]''</ref> was an ancient town of [[Samnium]], [[Southern Italy]], about 25&nbsp;km east-southeast of [[Benevento|Beneventum]], on the [[Via Appia]]. It lies in [[Passo di Mirabella]], near the modern [[Mirabella Eclano]].

It is now an [[archaeological park]].

[[File:Aequum Tuticum cardo viarum.jpg|thumb|500px|left|Roman roads in the region]]

== Location ==

Aeclanum was on a promontory naturally defended, to some extent, by a steep slope on the south side down to the river Calore, while the north side lay open towards the crest of the ridge where the [[Via Appia]] ran. This led through [[Ampsanctus|Lacus Ampsanctus]] to [[Aquilonia, Italy|Aquilonia]] and [[Venusia]]. Two other routes to [[Apulia]], the {{ill|Via Aemilia in Hirpinis|it}} and {{ill|Via Aurelia Aeclanensis|it}}, diverged nearby, leading through [[Aequum Tuticum]] to [[Luceria]] and through [[Trivicum]] to [[Herdoniae]] respectively. The road from Aeclanum to [[Abellinum]] (modern [[Atripalda]], near [[Avellino]]) may also follow an ancient line.

Today there are ruins of the city walls, of an [[aqueduct (Roman)|aqueduct]], baths and a [[macellum]]; nearly 400 inscriptions have also been discovered. Excavation has revealed a long history of pre-Roman settlement.<ref name=Princeton>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0006:id=aeclanum "AECLANUM (Eclano) Italy" in ''The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites'']</ref><ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911|inline=1|wstitle=Aeclanum|volume=1|page=244}}</ref><ref>[http://spazioinwind.libero.it/popoli_antichi/altro/Aeclanum.html Aeclanum]</ref>

== History ==
Aeclanum was a town of the [[Hirpini]], although it was never mentioned during the [[Samnite wars]]. [[Lucius Cornelius Sulla|Sulla]] captured it in 89 BC by setting on fire the wooden breastwork by which it was defended, and sacked it. It quickly recovered, new fortifications were erected, and it became a ''[[municipium]]''. [[Hadrian]], who repaired the Via Appia from Beneventum to this point, made it a {{lang|la|[[colonia (Roman)|colonia]]}} (colony).
 
With the [[Lombards|Lombard]] invasion of Italy, in the 6th century AD, it was annexed to the [[Duchy of Benevento]], but was captured and destroyed by [[Byzantine Empire|Eastern Roman forces]] under [[Constans II]] in 663 and never recovered, being reduced to a small hamlet known as Quintodecimo, a name that referred to its distance of 15 Roman miles from Benevento.<ref name=Princeton/><ref name=EB1911/>

== Bishopric ==
Aeclanum became a [[Christianity|Christian]] [[episcopal see]], whose best known [[bishop]] was [[Julian of Eclanum]], who was consecrated by [[Pope Innocent I]] in about 417. He refused to sign the condemnation of [[Pelagianism]] issued by Pope Innocent's successor, [[Pope Zosimus]], and carried on a war of writings against [[Augustine of Hippo]]. It has been thought that the diocese was united to that of [[Frigento|Frequentium]] as early as the 5th century, but there is mention of Quintodecimo as a [[suffragan]] see of Benevento in 969 and 1058. From 1059 it was definitively united with Frequentium.<ref>Giuseppe Cappelletti, [https://books.google.com/books?id=JdUCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA180 ''Le Chiese d'Italia dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni''], Venezia 1864, vol. XIX, p.&nbsp;180</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diocesi.avellino.it/index.asp?sez=Vescovi |title=Storia della diocesi di Avellino |access-date=2014-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212833/http://www.diocesi.avellino.it/index.asp?sez=Vescovi |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> No longer a residential bishopric, Aeclanum is today listed by the [[Catholic Church]] as a [[titular see]].<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 {{ISBN|978-88-209-9070-1}}), p. 884</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths="160" style="font-size:92%; line-height:130%">
File:Aeclanum (Ancient Roman Street).jpg|The central [[Roman roads|road]]
File:Aeclanum (Ruins-01).jpg|Remains of the houses (1)
File:Aeclanum (Ruins-02).jpg|Remains of the houses (2)
File:Aeclanum (Thermae-02).jpg|Side view of the ''thermae''
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{in lang|it}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20141230210550/http://www.cir.campania.beniculturali.it/luoghi-della-cultura/parco-archeologico-dellantica-aeclanum Aeclanum (Cultural Property of Campania website)]
*{{in lang|it}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20150121021334/http://www.comunemirabellaeclano.gov.it/parco-archeologico.html Aeclanum (Mirabella Eclano municipal website)]

{{Roman colonies in Europe}}
{{Archaeological sites in Campania}}
{{Landmarks of Campania}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Roman sites of Campania]]
[[Category:Samnite cities]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Italy]]
[[Category:Province of Avellino]]
[[Category:Human remains (archaeological)]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Campania]]
[[Category:Roman towns and cities in Italy]]
[[Category:Archaeological parks]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Campania]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Campania]]
[[Category:Tourism in Italy]]
[[Category:Osci]]
[[Category:Ruins in Italy]]
[[Category:Destroyed populated places]]
[[Category:Coloniae (Roman)]]