Hēmeroskopeion facts for kids

Hēmeroskopeion (Ancient Greek: Ἡμεροσκοπεῖον) was an ancient Greek city.

Its exact location is a bit of a mystery. Some experts think it was where the city of Dénia is today, in Spain. The name "Hēmeroskopeion" means "watchtower" in Greek. This name makes sense because the city was on a high point, perfect for looking out.

According to an ancient writer named Strabo, Hēmeroskopeion was a small city. It was founded by Greeks from Massalia (modern-day Marseille, France). The Romans later took over the city. They renamed it Dianium, which is where the modern name Dénia comes from.

The city was on a cape called Artemisium or Dianium. This name came from a temple built there for the goddess Artemis. In Latin, Artemis was called Diana. Besides its great location, the city was also important for its nearby iron mines.

What's in a Name?

The word hēmeroskópeion means "watchtower" or "daytime observatory" in Greek. People believe its main job was to watch for large groups of tuna fish. These fish would swim by during their yearly travels. It was also a busy place for fishing.

For a long time, some thought the name Dianio came from an ancient Iberian settlement called Diniu. This idea was based on some old coins. But now, experts think those coins were misunderstood. They likely came from a different place.

So, the most accepted idea today is that Dianio comes from Diana. She was the Roman goddess who was like the Greek goddess Artemis.

A Look at History

Hēmeroskopeion was a very important place for trade and fishing. It had a famous temple dedicated to Artemis of Ephesus. This temple was part of the traditions from Massalia.

The ancient writer Strabo wrote about this place. He said it was between two other cities. He noted that Hēmeroskopeion had a highly respected temple of Artemis. A Roman general named Quintus Sertorius used it as a base for his ships. Strabo described it as a strong place, good for pirates. It could be seen from far away by ships coming close. He also mentioned that it had good iron mines nearby. There were also small islands and a salty lake close by.

The city was definitely active around the 1st century BC. Both Strabo and Cicero mentioned it. They noted that Sertorius used it as a military base during civil wars. We don't know the exact date the Roman city was founded. But it likely took over from older Iberian settlements in the area.

In the 1st century AD, Hēmeroskopeion was a "civitas stipendiaria". This meant it had to pay taxes to Rome. It was under the control of the provincial governor.

Later, during the time of the Flavian dynasty (late 1st century AD), the city had local officials called decurions. This shows it was a unified town. There was also a group called Sodales Augustales. These were freedmen who honored the Roman emperor.

Graves found in the area show the city was still active in the 3rd and early 4th centuries. It was probably one of the cities controlled by the Byzantines around the 6th century.