The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-12 00:00:00

ANOTHER POMPEII.

A Correspondent writes to The Times :--
" A considerable interest has been excited among
the archaaologists of Southern Italy by reports of a
late remarkable discovery. This was nothing less
than the disentombment of another Pompeii. The
scene is in the neighbourhood of Manfredonia, on the
Adriatic coast, about 140 miles north-north-west of
Brindisi, in the low-lying ground which stretches from
the foot of Monte Gargano to the sea; and the ancient
city which has been revealed is Sipuntum. Already
the discoveries have brought to light a Temple of
Diana and a colonnade about 65ft. long, and have par-
tially explored an underground necropolis, which
seems to be about 40ft. or 45ft. square. A portion of
the inscriptions and numerous interesting objects
which were found have been already deposit 4 in the
National Museum at Naples, and the Italian Govern-
ment has given the requisite instructions in order that
extensive explorations shall at once be carried out in a
proper manner. The disappearance of Sipuntum was
not owing to showers of volcanic ashes, similar to those
that buried its Neapolitan sisters but to a sinking
of the site on which it stood, the effect, probably,
of successive earthquakes. It was a lucky fate, for
to it we owe its preservation in its present state.
The depression has been so great that the ancient
buildings now lie at an average depth of 20ft. below
the level of the surrounding plain. A portion of the
existing town of Manfredonia is built over the remains
of ancient Sipuntum, exactly as Dr. Schliemann
found one town superimposed over the yet existing re-
mains of another at Hissarlik.

" Sipuntum was originally a Greek colony of un-
known date. Tradition, as in the case of many other
ancient cities of Apulia, attributed its foundation to
Diomede. It was old when the Romans re-settled ad
that country after the second Punic War. It was
then, probably, its name took the form by which it is
historically known. The original name was Sipus or
Sipons, given to it, most likely, from the cuttle-fish
(sepia) cast up on the neighbouring shore. From this
the Romans formed Sipuntum, in the same way as
Tarentum, Hydruntum, and others. It was never very
flourishing ; indeed, Apulia never recovered the awful
devastation of the Punic war. Still it managed to pre-
serve its existence, while other ancient cities were dis-
appearing so thoroughly that no tradition lingers even
of their site. But by the middle of the 13th century,
we are told, it was considered very unhealthy on
account of its sunken position and the marshes by
which it was surrounded ; the effect, doubtless,
of the depression of the ground which had been
already established. So, in 1251, Manfred, the
son of the Emperor Frederick 11., then King
of Southern Italy, transferred the population to
a new town, which he built in a higher and
more healthy situation, and which was called after
him Manfredonia. Thenceforward old Sipuntum was
deserted and handed over to the earthquakes, which
seem to have dealt with it tenderly ; not rudely shaking
it into ruin, hut wrapping it in clay and tufa sand so
effectively as to hide it away for six centuries. We
must not expect discoveries of such surpassing interest
and importance as those of Pompeii and Her-
culaneum, but doubtless many valuable memorials of
Roman provincial life will be brought to light."