Acinipo facts for kids
The Roman theatre of Acinipo
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Location | Province of Málaga, Spain |
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Region | Hispania Baetica |
Coordinates | 36°49′55″N 5°14′20″W / 36.832°N 5.239°W |
Type | Settlement |
History | |
Founded | 45 BC |
Cultures | Roman |
Site notes | |
Condition | In ruins |
Acinipo was an ancient city in Spain. It was about 20 kilometers from the modern city of Ronda. Many people believe Roman soldiers founded it over 2,000 years ago. Today, you can still see its ruins. The old Roman theater is still used sometimes! People sometimes call Acinipo "Old Ronda." But Acinipo and the original Ronda (called Arunda) were actually separate cities for a long time.
The History of Acinipo: An Ancient Roman City
Some historians think Acinipo was built after a big battle. This was the battle of Munda in 45 BC. It was a fight between the armies of Julius Caesar and the sons of his rival, Pompey. Caesar thought this battle would be easy. But it was a very tough fight. Thousands of Romans died on both sides. Caesar's army did not win easily. One of Pompey's sons, Sextus, escaped. He later became a famous rebel against Caesar's heir, Augustus.
Some Spanish historians believe Munda is the old Roman name for Ronda. They think the battle might have happened there. But another ancient writer, Pliny, said the battle was in Osuna. This town is about 50 kilometers north of Ronda.
Most experts agree that Acinipo was built for Roman soldiers. These soldiers had retired from Caesar's legions. Arunda (Ronda) was a different Roman outpost. It might have been built earlier. Perhaps it was for soldiers who fought for Pompey.
The ancient writer Ptolemy also wrote about Acinipo. He called it a town of the Celtici people. He said it was in Hispania Baetica, which was a Roman province. He noted it was built on a very high mountain.
See also
In Spanish: Acinipo para niños