The town of Ammaia in ancient sources

Abstract

Introduction : As with most Roman towns located within the territory of sources available from which to derive knowledge about the history of the municipium of Ammaia. This unfortunate situation makes it necessary to resort, systematically, to archaeological and epigraphic testimony which, however, does not always prove to be sufficiently clear, even when the data provided are cross-referenced or compared with the evidence produced by archaeological excavations. The ruins of Ammaia were neglected until almost the end of the last century (Oliveira, Fernandes and Caeiro 1996: 15-22; Mantas 2000: 391-394), a fact which explains the loss of much valuable information, which was destroyed or dispersed without appropriate registration. A good example of this loss of important documentation is the epigraph of duumvir M. Iunius Gallus, which we came to know about through an English officer serving during the Peninsular War, but which was not followed up upon or referred to again and has remained missing ever since (Stylow 2009: 35-55).