DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0254
chap, xliii.] ANTIQUITY AND IMPORTANCE. 237
the Corsicans.4 At any rate, it was an inferior and
dependent town in Etruscan times, and its consequence
arose from its commerce, from its being a great naval
station, and also from the strength of its position, which
enabled it to defy the attacks of pirates, to which cities on
this coast were then subject.5 Moreover, it was the grand
depot and factory of the iron of Elba, which, as at the
present day, was not smelted in the island, but brought for
that purpose to the neighbouring continent.6
The antiquity of Populonia is undoubted. Virgil repre-
sents it sending forces to the assistance of ./Eneas, and
bears testimony to its importance in early times.7 Yet we
find no historical mention of this city till the end of
the Second Punic War. When Scipio made a demand on
the resources of the province of Etruria to supply his
fleet, each of the principal cities furnished that in which it
abounded—Ca?re sent corn and other provisions; Tarquinii,
sailcloth; Volaterrse, ship-tackle and corn; Arretium,
corn, weapons, and sundry implements ; Perusia, Clusium,
and Rusellse, corn and fir for ship-building; and Populonia,
iron.8
4 Serv. ad Virg. jEn. X. 172. Mil- was not, from its small size, entitled to
lingen (Numis. Anc. Ital. p. 163), from rank as a city. See MUller's remarks,
the character of certain coins of Popu- Etrusk. I. p. 348.
Ionia, attributes the foundation of the 6 Strabo, loc. cit. ; Varro, ap. Serv.
town to the Phoeseans, during their ad JEn. X. 174; Pseudo-Aristot. de
settlement in Corsica, and thinks it Mirab. Auscult. c. 95.
possible that they may have long held 7 Virg. Mm X. 172. Whereas the
possession of it. whole island of Elba sent only 300
5 Strabo (V. p. 223), and Pliny (III. warriors, Populonia sent 600—
8) tell us it was the only one of the
ancient Etruscan cities which was Sexcentos ilh dederat Populonia mater
situated, properly speaking, on the sea. EXP<^3 ^^ '' "* "** **
Whence it is evident that Telamon,
Graviscse, Pyrgi, and the other places a Liv. XXVIII. 45. It is subse-
on this coast were not cities ; probably quently mentioned in the year 552,
mere landing-places—ports to the great when Claudius Nero the consul took
cities in their vicinity. Even Cosa, refuge in this harbour from a storm,
though similarly situated to Populonia, Liv. XXX. 39.
the Corsicans.4 At any rate, it was an inferior and
dependent town in Etruscan times, and its consequence
arose from its commerce, from its being a great naval
station, and also from the strength of its position, which
enabled it to defy the attacks of pirates, to which cities on
this coast were then subject.5 Moreover, it was the grand
depot and factory of the iron of Elba, which, as at the
present day, was not smelted in the island, but brought for
that purpose to the neighbouring continent.6
The antiquity of Populonia is undoubted. Virgil repre-
sents it sending forces to the assistance of ./Eneas, and
bears testimony to its importance in early times.7 Yet we
find no historical mention of this city till the end of
the Second Punic War. When Scipio made a demand on
the resources of the province of Etruria to supply his
fleet, each of the principal cities furnished that in which it
abounded—Ca?re sent corn and other provisions; Tarquinii,
sailcloth; Volaterrse, ship-tackle and corn; Arretium,
corn, weapons, and sundry implements ; Perusia, Clusium,
and Rusellse, corn and fir for ship-building; and Populonia,
iron.8
4 Serv. ad Virg. jEn. X. 172. Mil- was not, from its small size, entitled to
lingen (Numis. Anc. Ital. p. 163), from rank as a city. See MUller's remarks,
the character of certain coins of Popu- Etrusk. I. p. 348.
Ionia, attributes the foundation of the 6 Strabo, loc. cit. ; Varro, ap. Serv.
town to the Phoeseans, during their ad JEn. X. 174; Pseudo-Aristot. de
settlement in Corsica, and thinks it Mirab. Auscult. c. 95.
possible that they may have long held 7 Virg. Mm X. 172. Whereas the
possession of it. whole island of Elba sent only 300
5 Strabo (V. p. 223), and Pliny (III. warriors, Populonia sent 600—
8) tell us it was the only one of the
ancient Etruscan cities which was Sexcentos ilh dederat Populonia mater
situated, properly speaking, on the sea. EXP<^3 ^^ '' "* "** **
Whence it is evident that Telamon,
Graviscse, Pyrgi, and the other places a Liv. XXVIII. 45. It is subse-
on this coast were not cities ; probably quently mentioned in the year 552,
mere landing-places—ports to the great when Claudius Nero the consul took
cities in their vicinity. Even Cosa, refuge in this harbour from a storm,
though similarly situated to Populonia, Liv. XXX. 39.