Ietas (or Iaitas or Iaeta or Ietae or Jetae),[1] was an ancient town of the interior of Sicily, in the northwest of the island, not very far from Panormus (modern Palermo), in the modern comune of San Giuseppe Jato, whose name reflects the ancient town's.
The settlement's development between the fourth and third centuries BCE is a subject of debate, although evidence suggests prosperity post-Punic Wars. Infrastructure improvements continued into the second century BCE, with Ietas featuring a street system, theater, and agora by the first century BCE.[2]
Major construction in Ietas ceased by the late first century BCE, with some projects left incomplete. Structures, including the bouleuterion and temples, fell into disuse or were destroyed between the mid-first century BCE and mid-first century CE, potentially due to earthquakes. Despite gradual abandonment, occupation persisted until at least the fifth century CE, with signs of reuse amid decay.[2]
Historyedit
Ietas was mentioned by Philistus[3] as a fortress, and it is called by Thucydides[4] a fortress of the Siculians (Τεῖχος τῶν Σικελῶν), which was taken by Gylippus on his march from Himera through the interior of the island towards Syracuse. It first appears as an independent city in the time of Pyrrhus, and was attacked by that monarch on account of its strong position and the advantages it offered for operations against Panormus; but the inhabitants readily capitulated.[5] In the First Punic War it was occupied by a Carthaginian garrison, but after the fall of Panormus drove out these troops and opened its gates to the Romans.[6] Under the Roman government it appears as a municipal town, but not one of much importance. The Ietini are only noticed in passing by Cicero among the towns whose lands had been utterly ruined by the exactions of Verres; and the Ietenses are enumerated by Pliny among the populi stipendiarii of the interior of Sicily.[7] Many manuscripts of Cicero read "Letini", and it is probable that the Λῆτον of Ptolemy[8] is only a corruption of the same name. The town minted coins in antiquity, examples of which survive.[9]
The abandonment of Ietas was gradual, with some structures falling into disuse as early as the first century BCE, while others were abandoned in the Augustan or Julio-Claudian period. Destruction episodes, possibly caused by earthquakes or fires, occurred throughout the site's history. Occupation continued in certain areas until at least the fifth century CE, with signs of reuse and adaptation amid the decay of monumental infrastructure.[2]
The position of Ietas is very obscurely intimated in ancient sources, but it appears from Diodorus that it was not very remote from Panormus, and that its site was one of great natural strength. Silius Italicus also alludes to its elevated situation.[10]Fazello assures us that there was a mediaeval fortress called Iato on the summit of a lofty mountain, about 25 km from Palermo, and 20 km north of Entella, which was destroyed by Frederick II at the same time as the latter city; and this he identified as the site of Ietas. The mountain is still called Monte Iato (or Monte Jato or Monte di Iato), though formerly known as Monte di San Cosmano, from a church on its summit.[11]
The toponym "Jato" or "Iato" is a reflection of the ancient name. (Istituto Geografico de Agostini, Nomi d'Italia, (ISBN88-511-0983-4), p. 573.)
ietas, iaitas, iaeta, ietae, jetae, ancient, town, interior, sicily, northwest, island, very, from, panormus, modern, palermo, modern, comune, giuseppe, jato, whose, name, reflects, ancient, town, greek, theatreshown, within, italyalternative, nameiaitas, iaet. Ietas or Iaitas or Iaeta or Ietae or Jetae 1 was an ancient town of the interior of Sicily in the northwest of the island not very far from Panormus modern Palermo in the modern comune of San Giuseppe Jato whose name reflects the ancient town s IetasThe Greek theatreShown within ItalyAlternative nameIaitas Iaeta Ietae JetaeLocationSan Giuseppe Jato ItalyCoordinates37 58 0 N 13 12 0 E 37 96667 N 13 20000 E 37 96667 13 20000TypeSettlementHistoryPeriodsArchaic GreekCulturesAncient Greece Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iaitas The settlement s development between the fourth and third centuries BCE is a subject of debate although evidence suggests prosperity post Punic Wars Infrastructure improvements continued into the second century BCE with Ietas featuring a street system theater and agora by the first century BCE 2 Major construction in Ietas ceased by the late first century BCE with some projects left incomplete Structures including the bouleuterion and temples fell into disuse or were destroyed between the mid first century BCE and mid first century CE potentially due to earthquakes Despite gradual abandonment occupation persisted until at least the fifth century CE with signs of reuse amid decay 2 History editIetas was mentioned by Philistus 3 as a fortress and it is called by Thucydides 4 a fortress of the Siculians Teῖxos tῶn Sikelῶn which was taken by Gylippus on his march from Himera through the interior of the island towards Syracuse It first appears as an independent city in the time of Pyrrhus and was attacked by that monarch on account of its strong position and the advantages it offered for operations against Panormus but the inhabitants readily capitulated 5 In the First Punic War it was occupied by a Carthaginian garrison but after the fall of Panormus drove out these troops and opened its gates to the Romans 6 Under the Roman government it appears as a municipal town but not one of much importance The Ietini are only noticed in passing by Cicero among the towns whose lands had been utterly ruined by the exactions of Verres and the Ietenses are enumerated by Pliny among the populi stipendiarii of the interior of Sicily 7 Many manuscripts of Cicero read Letini and it is probable that the Lῆton of Ptolemy 8 is only a corruption of the same name The town minted coins in antiquity examples of which survive 9 The abandonment of Ietas was gradual with some structures falling into disuse as early as the first century BCE while others were abandoned in the Augustan or Julio Claudian period Destruction episodes possibly caused by earthquakes or fires occurred throughout the site s history Occupation continued in certain areas until at least the fifth century CE with signs of reuse and adaptation amid the decay of monumental infrastructure 2 The position of Ietas is very obscurely intimated in ancient sources but it appears from Diodorus that it was not very remote from Panormus and that its site was one of great natural strength Silius Italicus also alludes to its elevated situation 10 Fazello assures us that there was a mediaeval fortress called Iato on the summit of a lofty mountain about 25 km from Palermo and 20 km north of Entella which was destroyed by Frederick II at the same time as the latter city and this he identified as the site of Ietas The mountain is still called Monte Iato or Monte Jato or Monte di Iato though formerly known as Monte di San Cosmano from a church on its summit 11 The toponym Jato or Iato is a reflection of the ancient name Istituto Geografico de Agostini Nomi d Italia ISBN 88 511 0983 4 p 573 References edit nbsp History portal Greek Ἰetai Steph B Ἰetas Thucydides Ethnonym Ἰetaῖos Steph B but Diodorus has Ἰaitῖnos and this is confirmed by coins the legend of which is uniformly Ἰaitinwn Eckhel vol i p 216 in Latin Cicero has Ietini but Pliny Ietenses a b c Urbanism and Empire in Roman Sicily University of Texas Press 2019 pp 47 51 doi 10 7560 317228 ISBN 978 1 4773 1723 5 apud Steph B s v vii 2 Diod xxii 10 p 498 Id xxiii 18 p 505 Cicero In Verrem iii 4 3 Pliny iii 8 s 14 iii 4 15 Eckhel vol i p 216 celsus Ietas xiv 271 Tommaso Fazello x p 471 Amic Lex Top Sic vol ii p 291 Richard Talbert Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World ISBN 0 691 03169 X Map 47 notes nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Smith William ed 1854 1857 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography London John Murray a href Template Cite encyclopedia html title Template Cite encyclopedia cite encyclopedia a Missing or empty title help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ietas amp oldid 1207054259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
