Clunia facts for kids
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 Location in Spain
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| Alternative name | Colonia Clunia Sulpicia |
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| Location | Peñalba de Castro, Province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain |
| Coordinates | 41°46′50″N 03°22′14″W / 41.78056°N 3.37056°W |
| Type | Settlement |
| Site notes | |
| Website | Spain.info |
Clunia (full name Colonia Clunia Sulpicia) was an important ancient Roman city. Its ruins are found high up on Alto de Castro, over 1000 meters above sea level. This site is located between the villages of Peñalba de Castro and Coruña del Conde in the province of Burgos, Spain.
Clunia was one of the most significant Roman cities in the northern part of Hispania (the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula). From the 1st century BC, it became the capital of a legal district called Conventus Cluniensis. This district was part of the large Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis. Clunia was also an important stop on the road connecting Caesaraugusta (Zaragoza) to Asturica Augusta (Astorga). The city slowly lost its importance during the 3rd century AD. By the time of the Visigoths, it was mostly abandoned. The name Clunia comes from the Arevaci, an ancient tribe.
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History of Clunia
How Clunia Began
The city of Clunia was built on a hill not far from an older settlement. This older place was called Cluniaco or Kolounioukou. It belonged to the Arevaci, a tribe of Celtiberians who lived in Spain before the Romans.
Unlike many Roman cities, Clunia was built completely from scratch. It did not take over an existing town. The Romans designed and constructed Clunia with many impressive buildings. These included two public baths, a large basilica (a public building for meetings), a forum (the main public square), and many shops. It also had a grand theater and a large temple dedicated to the Roman god Jupiter.
Clunia's Golden Age
We know from the Roman writer Livy that the Roman general Pompey tried to attack Clunia in 75 BC. He was fighting against Sertorius, another Roman general. Pompey had to leave Clunia because of bad weather. Sertorius resisted, but Pompey eventually destroyed parts of Clunia in 72 BC.
Later, the city was formally rebuilt and founded again during the time of Emperor Tiberius. This was part of Rome's plan to bring peace to the region after the Cantabrian Wars. Clunia first gained the status of a municipium, which meant it had some self-governance. It even minted its own small coins.
The city became even more important, possibly during the rule of Emperor Galba or Hadrian. It was given the special status of colonia and the name Sulpicia. This was after Sulpicius Galba, who was governor of Hispania, declared himself emperor. In 68 AD, he took shelter in Clunia during a rebellion against Emperor Nero. It was in Clunia that Galba learned Nero had died and that the Roman Senate had named him emperor. He then traveled from Clunia to Rome.
Clunia's greatest period of growth and wealth was during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Like other Roman cities in northern Hispania, such as Asturica Augusta and Iuliobriga, it thrived. At its peak, Clunia is believed to have had around 30,000 residents.
Why Clunia Declined
During the 3rd century AD, Clunia slowly started to lose its population. This was part of a larger crisis happening across the Roman Empire. It also marked the beginning of the decline of the Western Roman Empire.
There is clear evidence that Barbarian invasions affected Clunia. Towards the end of the 3rd century, barbarian tribes burned parts of the city. These attacks, along with economic problems, likely led to Clunia's downfall. However, it doesn't seem like the city was completely destroyed all at once. This period marked the end of strong Roman influence in Clunia.
Archaeological digs show that some parts of the city were destroyed and not rebuilt after the 3rd century. Some limited rebuilding happened later, but by the 7th century, during the Visigothic era, large areas of Clunia were empty.
When the Muslims conquered Visigothic Hispania, Clunia and its surroundings were taken by the Berber general Tariq ibn-Ziyad in 713 AD. Later, in 912 AD, Christians resettled the area. They built their new town where modern-day Coruña del Conde stands. Many Roman ruins from Clunia can still be seen there.
Even later, the village of Peñalba de Castro was built. This village gained control of the Clunia site. At that time, water was more valuable than the few remaining Roman ruins.
Exploring Clunia's Remains
Clunia is an incredibly important archaeological site in the Iberian Peninsula. Its layout and the things found there tell us a lot about ancient times. Its ruins are the most impressive Roman remains found in the north of Spain.
Archaeological digs at Clunia began in 1915. Work continued in 1931 and 1958. These excavations revealed the amazing past of one of Hispania's main cities. Based on the digs, Clunia covered about 1.2 square kilometers. This makes it one of the largest Roman cities in all of Hispania.
The excavations uncovered a theater carved into the rock. They also found several domus (Roman houses) with beautiful mosaics, ancient streets, and parts of the forum buildings. A large sewer system was also discovered. Important sculptures were found too, like a statue of Isis and a torso of Dionysus. These are now kept in museums in Spain. Many coins, old writings, Roman pottery, glass, and bronze objects were also unearthed.
How Clunia Was Built
Like any city, most of Clunia's space was used for homes. The archaeological digs have helped us understand how the city's housing developed. They also show us some of its unique features.
At the archaeological site, you can see the remains of several important buildings:
The Roman Theater
The most impressive ruin is the theater. It is one of the largest Roman theaters of its time in Hispania. It was carved directly into the rock and could hold up to 10,000 people! This theater was used for plays and performances from the Classical period. Its restoration has won awards for how carefully it was brought back to life.
The Forum: City Center
The center of Roman cities was usually where the two main streets crossed. This area was often called the forum. It was a public square surrounded by covered walkways. People gathered there for political discussions, shopping, legal matters, and religious activities.
In Clunia, the forum is close to the theater. Around the forum, you can see the ruins of three domus (houses), a basilica, and a macellum (market). The beautiful mosaics in the houses are amazing. You can also see the underground rooms and heating systems of some of these homes. Sadly, a small church was built on top of the market in the 17th century, which damaged some of the ancient ruins.
Roman Baths (Thermae)
Near the Roman forum are the ruins of the Roman thermae, or public baths. These baths were very large and had mosaics, though simpler ones than those in the houses. You can clearly see the heating system, called a hypocaust, which warmed the different bath rooms.
Other Hidden Structures
Underneath the city, there are also very interesting systems for supplying water. There is also a small ancient sanctuary. These areas are very fragile, so visitors are not allowed to go there.
See also
In Spanish: Clunia para niños
