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Conímbriga is one of the largest Roman settlements excavated in Portugal, and was classified as a National Monument in 1910. Located in the civil parish of Condeixa-a-Velha e Condeixa-a-Nova, in the municipality of Condeixa-a-Nova, it is situated from the municipal seat and from Coimbra (the Roman town of ''Aeminium''). Conímbriga is a walled urban settlement, encircled by a curtain of stone structures approximately long. Entrance to the settlement is made from vaulted structures consisting of two doors (one on hinges), and at one time was defended by two towers. The walls are paralleled by two passages, channelled to excavations, in order to remove water infiltration from the walls. The urban settlement consists of various structures such as a forum, basilica and commercial shops, thermal spas, aqueducts, insulae, homes of various heights (including interior patios) and domus (such as the ''Casa dos Repuxos'' and ''Casa de Cantaber''), in addition to paleo-Christian basilica. A visitors' centre (which includes restaurant/café and gift-shop) was constructed to display objects found by archaeologists during their excavations, including coins, surgical tools, utensils and ceramics. ==History== Like many archaeological sites, Conímbriga was evolved sequentially and built up by successive layers, with the primary period of occupation beginning in the 9th century; during this period the area was occupied by a Castro culture. Before the Roman occupation, the Conii peoples (who would later settle in southern Portugal) occupied the settlement.〔 The Conímbriga designation came from ''conim'', used by pre-European indigenous to designate ''the place of rocky eminence'', and ''briga'', the Celtic suffix meaning "citadel".〔 This site had become a junction between the road that linked Olisipo to Bracara Augusta, by way of Aeminium (Coimbra).〔 Around 139 BC, Romans began arriving in the area, as a consequence of the expeditionary campaigns of Decimus Junius Brutus.〔 At the time, Conímbriga was already a built-up settlement. The Romans introduced the formal organization of space to the settlement. Owing to the peaceful nature of rural Lusitania, Romanisation of the indigenous population was quick and Conímbriga, inevitably, became a prosperous town.〔〔 Between 69 and 79 AD, during the reign of Vespasian, Conímbriga was elevated to the status of ''municipium''.〔〔 At that time, new urban programs were initiated. Judging by the capacity of the amphitheatre, by this time, the city had an estimated population of approximately 10600.〔〔Jorge Alarcão (1999), p.95〕 Many of the new colonists came from the Italian peninsula (like the Lucanus, Murrius, Vitellius and Aponia families) and intermarried with local inhabitants (such as the Turrania, Valeria, Alios and Maelo families). Construction of the ''Casa dos Repuxos'' began in the 2nd century, likely over a pre-existing structure.〔 At the end of the 3rd century, the Augustian walls were substituted by the existing structures.〔〔 In addition there was a remodelling of the baths and construction of a majority of the larger homes of the town, leading to the construction of the paleo-Christian basilica in the 4th century.〔 Between 465 and 468, invasions by Sueves caused the destruction of the city, and its inhabitants dispersed, some into slavery.〔 The bishopric of Conímbriga was established between 561 and 572, under the direction of Lucêncio, its first bishop. By 589, Conímbriga ceased to be the episcopal seat, and was transferred to Aeminium, which later became Coimbra.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Conímbriga」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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