View source for Calatia

{{Short description|Ancient town of Campania, Italy}}
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Calatia
  |native_name = 
  |alternate_name = 
  |image = Calatia posizione.jpg
  |alt = 
  |caption = Settlement Pattern in Calatia posizione
  |map_type = 
  |map_alt = 
  |coordinates = 
  |location = [[Maddaloni]], [[Province of Caserta]], [[Italy]]
  |region = [[Campania]]
  |type = Settlement
  |part_of = 
  |length = 
  |width = 
  |area = 
  |height = 
  |builder = 
  |material = 
  |built = 
  |abandoned = 
  |epochs = 
  |cultures = 
  |dependency_of = 
  |occupants = 
  |event = 
  |excavations = 
  |archaeologists = 
  |condition = 
  |ownership = 
  |management = Soprintendenza per i beni archeologici di Salerno, Avellino e Caserta
  |public_access = Yes
  |website = [http://cir.campania.beniculturali.it/archeocalatia/ Sito Archeologico di Calatia] {{in lang|it}}
  |notes = 
}}

'''Cālātia''' was an ancient town of [[Campania]], southern [[Italy]], c.&nbsp;10&nbsp;km southeast  of [[Capua]], on the [[Via Appia]], near the point where the [[Via Popillia]] branches off from it. It is represented by a locality known as ''Villa Galazia'' and by the church of ''San Giacomo alle Galazze'' (or ''San Giacomo delle Galazze'' or ''San Giacomo Le Galazze''), within the modern town of [[Maddaloni]], very near the boundary with the neighboring town of [[San Nicola la Strada]], and right on the Via Appia. The Via Appia here, as at Capua, abandons its former SE direction for a length of 2,000 [[Oscan]] feet (500&nbsp;m), for which it runs due east and then resumes its course SE.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} Ruins include remains of the walls (with sector from the [[Samnium|Samnite]] age, in [[tuff]], and others from the [[Sulla]] period){{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} and the pre-Roman [[necropolis]] was partially excavated in 1882. The ten shafts lined with slabs of tuff which may have been the approaches to tombs or may have served as wells.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

The history of Calatia is similar to that of its more powerful neighbor Capua, but as it lay near the point where the Via Appia turns east and enters the mountains, it had some strategic importance. In 313 BC it was taken by the [[Samnites]] and recaptured by the ''[[Roman dictator|dictator]]'' [[Fabius Maximus Rullianus]]; the Samnites captured it again in 311 BC, but it must have been retaken at an unknown date. In the 3rd century BC we find it issuing coins with an Oscan legend, but in 211 BC it shared the fate of Capua. In 174 BC it is mentioned that its walls were being repaired by the ''[[Roman censor|censor]]s''. In 59 BC a colony was established here by [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

'''Attribution:'''
{{EB1911|wstitle=Calatia|volume=4|page=968}}

{{Archaeological sites in Campania}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|41.0439|N|14.3625|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

{{EB1911 article with no significant updates}}

[[Category:Roman sites of Campania]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Italy]]
[[Category:Samnite cities]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Campania]]


{{Campania-geo-stub}}
{{AncientRome-stub}}