Illiturgis

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography

ILLITURGIS, ILITURGIS, or ILITURGI (probably the Ἰλουργίςof Ptol. 2.4.9, as well as the Ἰλουργείαof Polybius, ap. Steph. B. s. v.,and the Ἰλυργίαof Appian, App. Hisp. 32: Eth. Illurgitani), a considerable city of Hispania Baetica, situated on a steep rock on the N. side of the Baetis, on the road from Corduba to Castulo, 20 M. P. from the latter, land five days' march from Carthago Nova. In the Second Punic War it went over to the Romans, like its neighbors, Castulo and Mentesa, and endured two sieges by the Carthaginians, both of which were raised; but, upon the overthrow of the two Scipios, the people of Illiturgis and Castulo revolted to the Carthaginians, the former adding to their treason the crime of betraying and putting to death the Romans who had fled to them for refuge. At least such is the Roman version of their offence, for which a truly Roman vengeance was taken by Publius Scipio, B.C. 206. After a defence, such as might be expected when despair of mercy was added to national fortitude, the city was stormed and burnt over the slaughtered corpses of all its inhabitants,. children and women as well as men. (Liv. 23.49, 24.41, 26.17, 41, 28.19, 20.) Ten years later it had recovered sufficiently to be again besieged by the Romans, and taken with the slaughter of all its adult male population. (Liv. 34.10.) Under the Roman empire it was a considerable city, with the surname of FORUM JULIUMI ts site is believed to have been in the neighbourhood of Andujar, where the church of S. Potenciana now stands. ( Itin. Ant. p. 403; Plin. iii 1. s. 3; Priscian. 6. p. 682, ed. Putsch; Morales, Antig. 56b.; Mentelle Esp. Mod. p. 183; Laborde, Itin.vol. 2. p. 113; Florez, Esp. S. vol. 12. p. 369; Coins, ap. Florez, Med.vol 3. p. 81 ; Mionnet, vol. 1. p. 16 ; Sestini, p. 56; Eckhel, vol. 1. p. 23 ; Ukert, vol. ii. pt. 1. p. 380.)
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