Sulci

SULCI(Σολκοί, Steph. B. Ptol.; Σοῦλχοι, Strab.; Σύλκοι, Paus.: Eth. Sulcitanus: S. Antioco), one of the most considerable cities of Sardinia, situated in the SW. corner of the island, on a small island, now called Isola di S. Antioco, which is, however, joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus or neck of sand. S. of this isthmus, between the island and the mainland, is an extensive bay, now called the Golfo di Palmas, which was known in ancieut times as the Sulcitanus Portus (Ptol.). The foundation of Sulci is expressly attributed to the Carthaginians （Paus. 10.17.9; Claudian. B. Gild. 518), and it seems to have become under that people one of the most considerable cities of Sardinia, and one of the chief seats of their power in the island. Its name was first mentioned in history during the First Punic War, when the Carthaginian general, Hannibal, having been defeated in a sea-fight by C. Sulpicius, took refuge at Sulci, but was slain in a tumult by his own soldiers (Zonar. 8.12). No other mention of the name occurs in history till the Civil War between Pompey and Caesar, when the citizens of Sulci received in their port the fleet of Nasidius, the admiral of Pompey, and furnished him with supplies; for which service they were severely punished by Caesar, on his return from Africa, B.C. 46, who imposed on the city a contribution of 100,000 sesterces, besides heavily increasing its annual tribute of corn (Hirt. B. Aft. 98). Notwithstanding this infliction, Sulci seems to have continued under the Roman Empire to be one of the most flourishing towns in the island. Strabo and Mela both mention it as if it were the second city in Sardinia; and its municipal rank is attested by inscriptions, as well as by Pliny. (Strab. 5. p. 225; Mel. 2.7.19; Plin. Nat. 3.7. s. 13; Ptol. 3.3.3; Inset. ap De la Marmora, vol. ii. pp. 479, 482.) The Itineraries give a line of road proceeding from Tibula direct to Sulci, a sufficient proof of the importance of the latter place. ( Itin. Ant. pp. 83, 84.) It was also one of the four chief episcopal sees into which Sardinia was divided, and seems to have continued to be inhabited through a great part of the middle ages, but ceased to exist before the 13th century. The remains of the ancient city are distinctly seen a little to the N. of the modern village of S. Antioco, on the island or peninsula of the same name: and the works of art which have been found there bear testimony to its flourishing condition under the Romans. (De la Marmora, vol. 2. p. 357; Smyth's Sardinia, p. 317.) The name of Sulcisis given at the present day to the whole district of the mainland, immediately opposite to S. Antioco, which is one of the most fertile and best cultivated tracts in the whole of Sardinia. The Sulcitani of Ptolemy (Ptol. 3.3.6) are evidently the inhabitants of this district.
The Itineraries mention a town or village of the name of Sulci on the E. coast of Sardinia, which must not be confounded with the more celebrated city of the name. ( Itin. Ant. p. 80.) It was probably situated at Girasol, near Tortoli. (De la Marmora, p. 443.)
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