Pollentia
The ancient town of Pollentia on the left bank of the Tanaro is known today as Pollenzo, a frazione of Bra in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont.
In antiquity Pollentia was in the territory of the Ligurian Statielli, Augusta Bagiennorum (modern Roncaglia in the Commune of Bene Vagienna) being 16km to the south. Its position on the road from Augusta Taurinorum (modern Turin) to the coast at Vada Sabatia (modern Vado Ligure, near Savona), at the point of divergence of a road to Hasta (modern Asti) gave it military importance. Decimus Brutus managed to occupy it an hour before Mark Antony in 43 BC; and it was here that Stilicho on the March 29, 403 fought the Battle of Pollentia with Alaric which though undecided led the Goths to evacuate Italy.
The place was famous for its brown wool, and for its pottery.
According to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica considerable remains of ancient buildings, including an amphitheater, a theater and a temple were still in existence, although the so-called temple of Diana was more probably a tomb.
Further reading
- Pollentia: la Pollenzo romana (Italian), from the website of the Commune of Bra, gives a short history of Pollentia, covering both the Roman town and its subsequent history.
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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