Augusta Bagiennorum
Encyclopedia
Augusta Bagiennorum was the chief town of the Ligurian
tribe of the Bagienni
. It was located in what is now the commune of Bene Vagienna
, in the province of Cuneo
(northern Italy
), on the upper course of the Tanaro
, about 35 miles (56.3 km) due south of Turin
. The town retained its position as a tribal centre in the reorganization of Roman Emperor Octavian
, whose title Augustus
is part of its name as a colony, and was erected on a systematic plan.
Considerable remains of public buildings, constructed in concrete faced with small stones with bands of brick at intervals, an amphitheatre
with a major axis of c. 120 m and a minor axis of c. 900 m, a theatre
with a stage 40 m in length, and near it the foundations of what was probably a basilica
, an open space (no doubt the forum
), an aqueduct
, baths
, have been discovered by recent excavations, and also one of the city gates, flanked by two towers.
The ancient name is also used for a modern natural reserve.
Ligures
The Ligures were an ancient people who gave their name to Liguria, a region of north-western Italy.-Classical sources:...
tribe of the Bagienni
Bagienni
The Bagienni were an ancient Ligurian people of north-western Italy mentioned in Pliny the Elder’s Naturalis Historia. They were based in various areas of what is today south-western Piedmont, but particularly in the upper part of the Tanaro valley. They were also present in the Val Trebbia in...
. It was located in what is now the commune of Bene Vagienna
Bene Vagienna
Bene Vagienna is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km south of Turin and about 30 km northeast of Cuneo....
, in the province of Cuneo
Province of Cuneo
ayr is a province in the southwest of the Piedmont region of Italy. To the west it borders on the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ....
(northern Italy
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...
), on the upper course of the Tanaro
Tanaro River
The Tanaro , known as Tanarus in ancient times, is a 276 km-long river in northwestern Italy. It rises in the Ligurian Alps, close to the border with France and is the most significant right-side tributary to the Po in terms of length, size of drainage basin and discharge.-Source:The Tanaro proper...
, about 35 miles (56.3 km) due south of Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
. The town retained its position as a tribal centre in the reorganization of Roman Emperor Octavian
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...
, whose title 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...
is part of its name as a colony, and was erected on a systematic plan.
Considerable remains of public buildings, constructed in concrete faced with small stones with bands of brick at intervals, an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
with a major axis of c. 120 m and a minor axis of c. 900 m, a theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
with a stage 40 m in length, and near it the foundations of what was probably a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
, an open space (no doubt the forum
Forum (Roman)
A forum was a public square in a Roman municipium, or any civitas, reserved primarily for the vending of goods; i.e., a marketplace, along with the buildings used for shops and the stoas used for open stalls...
), an aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
, baths
Bathing
Bathing is the washing or cleansing of the body in a fluid, usually water or an aqueous solution. It may be practised for personal hygiene, religious ritual or therapeutic purposes or as a recreational activity....
, have been discovered by recent excavations, and also one of the city gates, flanked by two towers.
The ancient name is also used for a modern natural reserve.