- Pyrgi
Pyrgi was an ancient Etruscan port
Latium , centralItaly , to the south west ofCaere . Its location is now occupied by the burgh ofSanta Severa .The name is Greek origin. Remains of its defensive walls exist in polygonal blocks of limestone and sandstone, neatly jointed. They enclosed a rectangular area some 200 m in width and at least 220 m in length. The south-west extremity has probably been destroyed by the sea. It contained a rich temple of Leucothea, the foundation of which was ascribed to the
Pelasgi . It was plundered by Dionysius in 384 BC. Later it became dependent on Caere, though it is not probable that it was originally merely the harbour of Caere;Alsium was c. 8 km to the south. The Romans established a colony here, which is first mentioned in 191 BC. Later still it supplied fish to the capital, and became a favorite summer resort, as did also Punicum (Santa Marinella ), 8 km to the north-west, where are many remains of villas. Both were stations on the coast road (Via Aurelia ).In 1957 excavations found the remains of a large temple with three cells. The
Pyrgi Tablets , containing texts in Phoenician and Etruscan languages, were found here in 1964.References
External links
* [http://www.museosantasevera.org/engver/castello.html Article and panoramic views on the Museo Santa Severa site]
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