Sulcior Sulki (in GreekΣολκοί,Steph. B.,Ptol.;Σοῦλχοι,Strabo;Σύλκοι,Paus.), was one of the most considerable cities of ancientSardinia,situated in the southwest corner of the island, on a small island, now calledIsola di Sant'Antioco,which is, however, joined to the mainland by a narrowisthmusor neck of sand. South of this isthmus, between the island and the mainland, is an extensive bay, now called theGolfo di Palmas,which was known in ancient times as theSulcitanus Portus(Ptol.).
Sulci
Σολκοί | |
|---|---|
City | |
  Sulci | |
| Coordinates:39°04′N08°27′E/ 39.067°N 8.450°E | |
| Country | Italy |
Origins
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The foundation of Sulci (Punic:SLKY)[1]is expressly attributed to theCarthaginians(Paus. x. 17. § 9;Claudian,B. Gild.518), and it seems to have become under that people one of the most considerable cities of Sardinia, and one of the chief seats of their power in the island. However, as noted by archaeologists the city was founded by Tyrians during the late 9th century BCE, and most of the inhabitants were probably native Sardinians, it remained independent until Carthage conquered it in the late 6th century BCE[2]Its name was first mentioned in history during theFirst Punic War,when the Carthaginian general,Hannibal Gisco,having been defeated in a sea-fight (theBattle of Sulci,258 BCE) byGaius Sulpicius Paterculus,took refuge at Sulci, but was slain in a tumult by his own soldiers (Zonarasviii. 12).
Caesar's civil war
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No other mention of the name occurs in history until thecivil warbetweenPompeyandCaesar.The citizens of Sulci received in their port the fleet ofNasidius,the admiral of Pompey, and furnished Pompey with supplies; for which service they were severely punished by Caesar, on his return fromAfrica,46 BCE. Caesar imposed on the city a contribution of 100,000sesterces,besides heavily increasing its annual tribute of corn (Hirt.B. Aft.98). Notwithstanding this infliction, Sulci seems to have continued under theRoman Empireto be one of the most flourishing towns in the island. Strabo andMelaboth mention it as if it were the second city in Sardinia; and its municipal rank is attested by inscriptions, as well as byPliny.(Strab. v. p. 225; Mel. ii. 7. § 19; Plin. iii. 7. s. 13; Ptol. iii. 3. § 3; Inset.apDe la Marmora, vol. ii. pp. 479, 482.) TheItinerariesgive a line of road proceeding fromTibula(at the extreme north of Sardinia) direct to Sulci, a sufficient proof of the importance of the latter place. (Itin. Ant. pp. 83, 84.) It was also one of the four chiefepiscopal seesinto which Sardinia was divided, and seems to have continued to be inhabited through a great part of the Middle Ages, but ceased to exist before the 13th century.
Present day
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The remains of the ancient city are distinctly seen a little to the north of the modern town ofSant'Antioco,on the island or peninsula of the same name: and the works of art which have been found there bear testimony to its flourishing condition under the Romans. (De la Marmora, vol. ii. p. 357; Smyth'sSardinia,p. 317.) The name of Sulcis is given at the present day to the whole district of the mainland, immediately opposite to Sant'Antioco, which is one of the most fertile and best cultivated tracts in the whole of Sardinia. TheSulcitaniof Ptolemy (iii. 3. § 6) are evidently the inhabitants of this district.
The Itineraries mention a town or village of the name of Sulci on the E. coast of Sardinia, which must not be confounded with the more celebrated city of the name. (Itin. Ant. p. 80.) It was probably situated atGirasole(De la Marmora, p. 443) orTortolì.[3]
See also
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edit- ^Bernardini, Paolo (2015), "Sulky/Sulcis",Der Neue Pauly,vol. Supplement II, Band 10, Stuttgart: J.B. Metzlersche.(in German)
- ^"Sulky Fenicia e Punica Sulky Fenicia e Punica, punici e fenici a sant'antioco"[Sulky Phoenician and Punica, Punic and Phoenician in sant'antioco].comune.santantioco.ca.it(in Italian). Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2018.
- ^Richard Talbert,Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World,(ISBN0-691-03169-X), Map 48.
Bibliography
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Smith, William,ed. (1854–1857).Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography.London: John Murray.{{cite encyclopedia}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)