San Marco d'Alunzio
Encyclopedia
San Marco d'Alunzio is a city and comune
(municipality) in the Province of Messina
in the Italian
region Sicily
, near the north coast of the island, located about 120 km east of Palermo
and about 80 km west of Messina. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,155 and an area of 26.1 km².
San Marco d'Alunzio borders the following municipalities: Alcara li Fusi
, Capri Leone
, Frazzanò
, Longi
, Militello Rosmarino
, Torrenova
.
Aluntium or Haluntium was situated between Tyndaris and Calacte. Its foundation was ascribed by some authors to Acarnania
ns led by Patron, some of whom settled here after guiding Aeneas
across the Ionian Sea
from Greece
. If this legend is true the Acarnanian colonists probably were quickly assimilated by the Sicelian
, who inhabited this area in historical times. No mention of it is found in Diodorus, nor is it noticed in history prior to the Roman
conquest of Sicily. But in the time of Cicero
it appears to have been a place of some importance. He mentions it as having suffered severely from the exactions of Verres
, who, not content with ruinous extortions of corn, compelled the inhabitants to give up all their ornamental plate. We learn from inscriptions that it retained the rank of a municipium, and was a flourishing town at least as late as the reign of Augustus
.
The city sits atop a lofty hill of steep and difficult ascent, about 5 km from the Tyrrhenian Sea
. This position exactly accords with that described by Cicero, who tells us that Verres would not take the trouble to visit the town himself quod erat difficili ascensu atque arduo, but remained on the beach below while he sent Archagathus to execute his behests. Various inscriptions also are preserved at the site, or have been discovered there, one of which begins with the words . Cluverius, following Fazello, placed Aluntium at a spot near San Filadelfo (modern San Fratello
), where the ruins of an ancient city were then visible, and regarded San Marco d'Alunzio as the site of Agathyrna (now identified with modern Capo d'Orlando
). It must be admitted that this arrangement avoids some difficulties; but the above proofs in favour of the contrary hypothesis seem almost conclusive.
Aluntium minted coins in antiquity, some of which survive.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Messina
Province of Messina
Messina is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. Its capital is the city of Messina.-Geography and demography :...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, near the north coast of the island, located about 120 km east of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
and about 80 km west of Messina. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,155 and an area of 26.1 km².
San Marco d'Alunzio borders the following municipalities: Alcara li Fusi
Alcara li Fusi
Alcara li Fusi is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 120 km east of Palermo and about 80 km west of Messina...
, Capri Leone
Capri Leone
Capri Leone is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 120 km east of Palermo and about 70 km west of Messina...
, Frazzanò
Frazzanò
Frazzanò is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 120 km east of Palermo and about 70 km west of Messina...
, Longi
Longi
Longi is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 120 km east of Palermo and about 70 km west of Messina...
, Militello Rosmarino
Militello Rosmarino
Militello Rosmarino is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 120 km east of Palermo and about 80 km west of Messina...
, Torrenova
Torrenova
Torrenova is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 130 km east of Palermo and about 80 km west of Messina...
.
History
Acarnania
Acarnania is a region of west-central Greece that lies along the Ionian Sea, west of Aetolia, with the Achelous River for a boundary, and north of the gulf of Calydon, which is the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth. Today it forms the western part of the prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania. The capital...
ns led by Patron, some of whom settled here after guiding Aeneas
Aeneas
Aeneas , in Greco-Roman mythology, was a Trojan hero, the son of the prince Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite. His father was the second cousin of King Priam of Troy, making Aeneas Priam's second cousin, once removed. The journey of Aeneas from Troy , which led to the founding a hamlet south of...
across the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
from Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. If this legend is true the Acarnanian colonists probably were quickly assimilated by the Sicelian
Sicels
The Sicels were an Italic people who inhabited ancient Sicily. The Sicels gave Sicily the name it has held since antiquity, but they rapidly fused into the culture of Magna Graecia.-History:...
, who inhabited this area in historical times. No mention of it is found in Diodorus, nor is it noticed in history prior to the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
conquest of Sicily. But in the time of Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
it appears to have been a place of some importance. He mentions it as having suffered severely from the exactions of Verres
Verres
Gaius Verres was a Roman magistrate, notorious for his misgovernment of Sicily. It is not known what gens he belonged to, though some give him the nomen Licinius.-As governor:...
, who, not content with ruinous extortions of corn, compelled the inhabitants to give up all their ornamental plate. We learn from inscriptions that it retained the rank of a municipium, and was a flourishing town at least as late as the reign of Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
.
The city sits atop a lofty hill of steep and difficult ascent, about 5 km from the Tyrrhenian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
. This position exactly accords with that described by Cicero, who tells us that Verres would not take the trouble to visit the town himself quod erat difficili ascensu atque arduo, but remained on the beach below while he sent Archagathus to execute his behests. Various inscriptions also are preserved at the site, or have been discovered there, one of which begins with the words . Cluverius, following Fazello, placed Aluntium at a spot near San Filadelfo (modern San Fratello
San Fratello
San Fratello , formerly San Filadelfio, is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 110 km east of Palermo and about 90 km west of Messina...
), where the ruins of an ancient city were then visible, and regarded San Marco d'Alunzio as the site of Agathyrna (now identified with modern Capo d'Orlando
Capo d'Orlando
Capo d'Orlando is a comune in the province of Messina, Sicily, Italy and is considered the capital of comprensorio dei Nebrodi. Well-known as a vivacious, active, touristic and commercial center, Capo d'Orlando is also the birthplace of the poet Lucio Piccolo, cousin of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa...
). It must be admitted that this arrangement avoids some difficulties; but the above proofs in favour of the contrary hypothesis seem almost conclusive.
Aluntium minted coins in antiquity, some of which survive.