Pax Julia facts for kids
| Alternative name | Colonia Civitas Pacensis, Pax Augusta |
|---|---|
| Location | Beja |
| Region | Alentejo |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Cultures | Roman |
Pax Iulia (also known as Colonia Civitas Pacensis) was an important city in the Roman Empire. It was located in a Roman province called Lusitania. Today, this area is the Beja region in Portugal. Later, the city was also known as Pax Augusta.
Contents
History of Pax Iulia
Long ago, around 400 BC, Celtic tribes lived in this area. There are also clues that people from Carthage might have settled here. We know this from the writings of old scholars like Polybius and Claudius Ptolemy.
How Pax Iulia Got Its Name
In 48 BC, the city was given the name Pax Iulia. This name means "peace of the Julia family". Julius Caesar gave it this name after Rome made peace with the Lusitani people.
The city became a very important center for legal matters, known as the conventus iuridicus Pacensis. This was because it was on a main road that connected to Myrtilis Iulia, a port city on the Guadiana river.
Pax Augusta: A New Name for the City
Between 31 and 27 BC, during the time of Emperor Augustus, the city gained a special status. It became a municipium, which meant it had its own local government. This happened after a big battle called the Battle of Actium.
Around this time, the city started to be called Pax Augusta. This new name meant "peace of Augustus". The ancient writer Strabo mentioned this name.
Discoveries in the 20th Century
During the 1900s, archaeologists dug up many ancient Roman remains in Beja. They found parts of a large Roman temple, which was about 30 meters long and 19.4 meters wide. This temple was built around the 1st century AD in the city's main public square, called the forum.
They also found old writings, Roman arches, parts of city walls, and an aqueduct. An aqueduct was a system to carry water. From the way the city was planned, experts think there might have been a theater and an amphitheater too.
Images for kids
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A Roman arch found in Beja
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Roman oil lamps from the Rainha D. Leonor Museum
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Terra sigillata (special Roman pottery) from the Rainha D. Leonor Museum
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A Roman dam near Cuba Municipality, Beja
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The Roman Ruins of São Cucufate near Vidigueira
See also
In Spanish: Civitas Pacensis para niños
