Perusia

For the genus of moth, see Perusia (moth).

Perusia

Perusia
Perugia, the Arch of Augustus
Shown within Umbria
Location	Comune di Perugia, Italy
Region	Umbria
Coordinates
Type	Settlement
History
Periods	Orientalizing period - Roman empire
Cultures	Etruscan Umbrian Roman
Site notes
Excavation dates	yes
Public access	yes

The ancient Perusia, now Perugia, first appears in history as one of the 12 confederate cities of Etruria. It is first mentioned in the account of the war of 310 or 309 BC between the Etruscans and the Romans. It took, however, an important part in the rebellion of 295 and was reduced, with Vulsinii and Arretium (Arezzo), to seek for peace in the following year.

It seems the city was in the Antonii's clientela since this period, as it was said by historians during imperial times.

In 216 and 205 it assisted Rome in the Hannibalic war, but afterward it is not mentioned until 41-40 BC, when Lucius Antonius took refuge there and was reduced by Octavian after a long siege. Some of the refugees ran away toward Gauls to escape Octavian. A local history said they were the founders of Perouges en Dauphiné Province (France).

A number of lead bullets used by slingers have been found in and around the city. The city was burnt, we are told, with the exception of the temples of Vulcan and Juno — the massive Etruscan terrace-walls, naturally, can hardly have suffered at all — and the town, with the territory for a mile round, was allowed to be occupied by whoever chose. It must have been rebuilt almost at once, for several bases exist, inscribed Augusta sacr(um) Perusia restituta; but, as we have seen, it did not become a colony until AD 251-253.

Sources

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: