Emporiae: Roman City in the Iberian Peninsula
The Roman City of Emporiae
Coinciding with the military campaign, the Roman general Scipio landed at the port of Empúries, aiming to cut off the land route of the Carthaginian troops from the city of Sagunto. Cato established a military camp in Empúries. The Romans defeated the Carthaginians and strengthened their positions in the Mediterranean. The camp evolved into a Roman city, and during the reign of Augustus, the Greek and Roman settlements were physically and legally unified under the name Municipium Emporiae.
City Structure and Walls
Its structure was a delimited rectangle with a perimeter defined by a wall that formed part of the city’s defenses. The road network featured two main streets crossing the city: the cardo (north-south) and the decumanus (east-west). The well-preserved wall, with a city gate, has two distinct sections: the lower part, made of stone blocks, and the upper part, made of concrete consisting of lime, sand, and small stones. Holes observed on the wall were used to hold cross poles supporting planks during construction.
The Forum
The most spectacular area is the forum, a square space where the main public buildings of the city were located. The Capitol, the main temple, was built on a podium. It is believed to have been dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. During Augustus’s reign, two smaller temples dedicated to imperial worship were built. Part of the forum was surrounded by a U-shaped building, consisting of an exterior portico and a Cryptoporticus, a subterranean storage area. On the east side of the forum were administrative buildings, as well as commercial shops, or Roman tabernae. These were simple premises with a counter.
Baths and Houses
The thermae were establishments dedicated to personal hygiene and served as social gathering places. The heating of the various rooms was achieved thanks to hot air from an oven that circulated below the pavement.
The domus were private residences with outdoor spaces that provided light to the rooms and collected rainwater in large underground tanks. Romans with a higher standard of living controlled the main economic activities. Less affluent groups lived in apartment blocks, the Insulae, where several families resided in conditions vastly different from the luxurious Roman domus. The Insulae had a central courtyard providing light and ventilation to the houses.
Domus 1
In the residential area, Domus 1 stands out. It was organized around a central courtyard (atrium). The floor was decorated with mosaics, and the walls were painted with lime and vibrant scenes.
Amphitheater and Necropolis
The amphitheater was built outside the walled enclosure, with an estimated capacity of 300 spectators on a wooden grandstand. It had an oval space, the arena, where gladiator fights were held. Next to the amphitheater was the palaestra, or gymnasium, where people could exercise and take care of their bodies. Inside the walls, there was a theater. Regarding the cemetery, there was a large necropolis.