Original scientific paper

Castella qui sunt super civitatem Salonitanam

Miroslav Katić ; Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments

Abstract

Late Roman forts in the hinterland of Salona are
analyzed in this paper. They are mentioned in several
written historical sources: in the work De bellis
by Procopius of Caesarea, then in an incomplete
codicil from the 6th century mentioning Castella qui
sunt super civitatem Salonitanam. Klis is mentioned
in chapters 29 and 30 of De administrando Imperio
by Constantine Porphyrogenitus in the context of his
description of the Avaro-Slav conquest of Salona. It
was one of the forts erected along the Roman roads
that led from Salona to Andetrium (Muć), Osinium
and Tilurium. Forts were situated on the same road
routes: Klis, Markezina greda, Šutanj, Grubuša (Deciminum),
Gradina above Kukuzova Canyon, Sinj
(Osinium), and Trilj (Tilurium). Some of them stood
above churches and rural communities. In the latter
half of the 6th century, Markezina greda, Šutanj and
Gradina above the Kukuzova canyon were reinforced with outer defensive walls (proteichismas), typical
early Byzantine fortification methods. These fortified
structures ensured control over the approaches to Salona
and were part of its defensive system.

Keywords

Salona; Late Roman forts; Roman roads; proteichismas

Hrčak ID:

217259

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/217259

Publication date:

28.12.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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