Tauresium
Encyclopedia
Tauresium or known as Gradište (Градиште) is an archaeological site in Macedonia, located approximately 20 km south-east of the capital Skopje. Tauresium is the birthplace of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I
(527) and King Theodahad
of the Ostrogoths (480).
. The name of the modern village comes from the name of the ancient town. The alternative name of Tauresium in Macedonian is Gradište, but often instead of Gradište, Tauresium or Taor are used.
, near the village Taor
, some 20 km south-east of Skopje
. The site was discovered by the Englishman Arthur Evans more than 100 years ago. According to the Justinian's biographer Procopius
, the Emperor was born in Tauresius in 527
, more precisely in the castle of Baderiana, which is the modern village Bader . About the town, Procopius in his book "De aedificiis" states:
Tauresium and the castle Baderiana were destroyed in a big earthquake in 518
and the epicentre of the earthquake was in the nearby city of Skupi. As a gesture of gratitude to his birthplace, Justinian I rebuilt the city. According to the excavations that has been done so far, it is estimated that the oldest parts of Tauresium date from the IV century and this oldest part is a castle with four towrs known as Tetrapirgia. Regarding Baderiana, Procopius states that it is settled castle with oddments from IV-VI century. Baderiana or the modern Bader is located 6 km east of Tauresium and Taor.
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
(527) and King Theodahad
Theodahad
Theodahad was the King of the Ostrogoths from 534 to 536 and a nephew of Theodoric the Great through his sister Amalafrida. He might have arrived in Italy with Theodoric and was an elderly man at the time of his succession...
of the Ostrogoths (480).
Name
The ancient town of Tauresium is located on the territory of the modern Macedonian village TaorTaor
Taor is a village in the Republic of Macedonia. Administratively, Taor is in Zelenikovo Municipality and it is located some 20 km south-east of Skopje. Taor is on the left bank of the Vardar River. According to the 2002 census, in Taor lived 152 people, all Macedonians. Near the village is the...
. The name of the modern village comes from the name of the ancient town. The alternative name of Tauresium in Macedonian is Gradište, but often instead of Gradište, Tauresium or Taor are used.
Location and general characteristics
Tauresium is located in Zelenikovo MunicipalityZelenikovo municipality
Zelenikovo is a municipality in central Republic of Macedonia. Zelenikovo is also the name of the village where the municipal seat is found...
, near the village Taor
Taor
Taor is a village in the Republic of Macedonia. Administratively, Taor is in Zelenikovo Municipality and it is located some 20 km south-east of Skopje. Taor is on the left bank of the Vardar River. According to the 2002 census, in Taor lived 152 people, all Macedonians. Near the village is the...
, some 20 km south-east of Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
. The site was discovered by the Englishman Arthur Evans more than 100 years ago. According to the Justinian's biographer Procopius
Procopius
Procopius of Caesarea was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History...
, the Emperor was born in Tauresius in 527
527
Year 527 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Mavortius without colleague...
, more precisely in the castle of Baderiana, which is the modern village Bader . About the town, Procopius in his book "De aedificiis" states:
Tauresium and the castle Baderiana were destroyed in a big earthquake in 518
518
Year 518 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Paulus without colleague...
and the epicentre of the earthquake was in the nearby city of Skupi. As a gesture of gratitude to his birthplace, Justinian I rebuilt the city. According to the excavations that has been done so far, it is estimated that the oldest parts of Tauresium date from the IV century and this oldest part is a castle with four towrs known as Tetrapirgia. Regarding Baderiana, Procopius states that it is settled castle with oddments from IV-VI century. Baderiana or the modern Bader is located 6 km east of Tauresium and Taor.
External links
- tauresium.info - web page dedicated to Tauresium.