Sardinia
Sardinia is one of the largest islands in the western Mediterranean, second only in size to Sicily. It measures some 240 kilometres from north to south, and about 120 kilometres at its widest point. It lies some 235 kilometres from Ostia-Portus, and 185 from Tunisia, which is just visible on a clear winter's day from Sardinia's most southern point. The highest point is at 1834 metres. The climate is mild, rainfall is low.
The dominating feature of the island are the megalithic nuraghi: truncated cone structures (tholoi) of huge blocks of granite taken from extinct volcanoes, built without any bonding. Most are quite small, a few obviously fortresses, with walls and other defensive measures. One nuraghe is always within sight of another. Related weapons, jewelry, utensils, and votive objects have been found, belonging to the period 1800-400 BC. There is no trace of writing.
Sardinia in Samuel Butler's atlas from 1907. Sardinia on a modern topographical map.
A nuraghe. Photo: Wikimedia, Ciamabue.The island was invaded by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians. The Romans conquered the entire island in 238 BC. There are uncertainties about the administrative organisation. Turris Libisonis and Uselis were coloniae, Caralis, Nora and Sulci municipia. The Roman historian Florus (ca. 74-130 AD) calls Caralis the "city of cities" (urbs urbium; Epitome XXII,35): it was the capital of the province Sardinia et Corsica. The island was an important grain supplier for Rome, as documented amply in ancient literature. Robert J. Rowland has even argued that Sardina sent to Rome nearly half the amount of what Africa produced.
In the late 4th century the island was described as follows by Claudius Claudianus:
Iam classis in altum provehitur; dextra Ligures, Etruria laeva linquitur et caecis vitatur Corsica saxis. Humanae specie plantae se magna figurat insula (Sardiniam veteres dixere coloni), dives ager frugum, Poenos Italosve petenti opportuna situ: quae pars vicinior Afris, plana solo, ratibus clemens; quae respicit Arcton, inmitis, scopulosa, procax subitisque sonora flatibus; insanos infamat navita montes. Hic hominum pecudumque lues, sic pestifer aër saevit et exclusis regnant Aquilonibus Austri.
Quos ubi luctatis procul effugere carinis, per diversa ruunt sinuosae litora terrae. Pars adit antiqua ductos Carthagine Sulcos; partem litoreo complectitur Olbia muro. Urbs Libyam contra Tyrio fundata potenti tenditur in longum Caralis tenuemque per undas obvia dimittit fracturum flamina collem; efficitur portus medium mare, tutaque ventis omnibus ingenti mansuescunt stagna recessu. Hanc omni petiere manu prorisque reductis suspensa Zephyros expectant classe faventes.The fleet is launched. They pass Liguria on their right hand, Etruria on their left, avoiding the sunken reefs of Corsica. There lies an island formed like a human foot (Sardinia its former inhabitants called it), an island rich in the produce of its fields, and conveniently situated for them who sail either to Africa or Italy. The part that faces Africa is flat and affords good anchorage for ships; the northern shore is inhospitable, rock-bound, stormy, and loud with sudden gales. The sailor curses these wild cliffs. Here the pestilence falls on men and beasts, so plague-ridden and deadly is the air, so omnipotent the South wind and the North winds banished.
When their much buffeted vessels had given a wide berth to these dangers, they came to land at different places on the broken coast-line. Some are beached at Sulci, a city founded by Carthage of old. The sea-wall of Olbia shelters others. The city of Caralis over against the coast of Libya, a colony of great Phoenician Carthage, juts out into the sea and extends into the waves, a little promontory that breaks the force of the opposing winds. Thus in the midst a harbour is found and in a huge bay the quiet waters lie safe from every wind. For this harbour they make with every effort, and reversing their vessels they await the favouring breezes of the west wind with fleet at anchor.Claudius Claudianus, De Bello Gildonico. Translation: M. Platnauer.
Corsica and Sardinia on the Tabula Peutingeriana.
Remains of the town Nora. Photo: Wikimedia, Carole Raddato.
