Murgantia

MURGA´NTIA


1. A city of Samnium, mentioned only by Livy, who calls it a strong city(validam urbem, 10.17), notwithstanding which it was taken by assault, by the Roman consul P. Decius, in a single day, B.C. 296. Its position is fixed by Romanelli at Baselice, a considerable town near the sources of the Fortore(Frento), in the territory of the Hirpini, about 20 miles W. of Luceria. An inscription found here would seem to attest that Murgantia existed as a municipal town as late as the reign of Severus; but considerable doubts have been raised of its authenticity. (Romanelli, vol. 2. p. 481; Mommsen, Topograrfia degli Irpini, pp. 4, 5; in Bull. dell' Inst. Arch. 1848.) The coins, with an Oscan legend, which have been generally attributed to Murgantia, in reality belong to Teate. (Friedländer, Oskische Münzen, p. 49.)


2. A city of Sicily, the name of which is variously written Murgantia, Murgentia, and Morgantia. [MORGANTIA] [E.H.B]