Azetium
AZE´TIUM (Ἀζητῖνοι: Azetini), a town of Apulia, the name of which does not occur in any ancient author, under this form, but its correctness is proved by its coins, which have types copied from those of Tarentum and the legend at full ΑΖΗΤΙΝΩΝ. These coins, once erroneously assigned to Azenia in Attica, are found only in the southern part of Apulia, and hence it is probable that the Ehetiumo f the Tab. Peut., a name certainly corrupt, ought to be read Azetium. If this conjecture be admitted Azetium may be placed at Rutigliano, a small town about 12 miles SE. of Bari, where the coins in question have been frequently discovered. The AEGETINI of Pliny (Plin. Nat. 3.11. s. 16) though placed by him among the Calabrorum Mediterranei, i n all probability belong to the same place, and this may be the Roman form of the name. (Millingen. Num. de l'Italie, p. 147.) COIN OF AZETIUM.
[E.H.B]From the listing of its position in the Peutinger Table, ca. 12 km SE of Caelia (modern Ceglie del Campo) on the Via Traiana leading to Egnatia, the site of the city has been recognized in the environs of modern Rutigliano. Its name is found on bronze coins from the 3d c. B.C., minted in imitation of Tarentine coins. In the itineraries the corrupt form of the name is Ezetium, while reference to the center's ethnic makeup, Aegetini, is found only in Pliny (HN 3.105) in the Roman form of the name. In a section of the modern town called Castiello the remains of megalithic walls are visible. The ruins of a Roman aqueduct may be seen near the Chapel of S. Loreazo. Numerous remains from the ancient city are in the Archaeological Museum at Bari.
BIBLIOGRAPHYW. Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, I (1856) 354 (E. H. Bunbury); RE II.2 (1896) 2642 (Hülsen); B. V. Head, Historia Numorum (1911) 45; M. Mayer, Apulien (1914) 72, 357; K. Miller, Itineraria Romana (1916) 375.
F. G. LO PORTO