Epidaurum
- a colonial city of Dalmatia, Plin. 3, 22, 26, § 143; cf. Auct. B. Alex. 44 fin.
On a headland 12 km SE of Dubrovnik, a settlement of Illyrians, whose trade here with Greeks is confirmed by coins of Apollonia and Dyrrachion. In 47 B.C. settlers from Italy fought on Caesar's side (BAlex. 44). Pompey's fleet attacked the town and it was rescued by P. Vatinius, who arrived from Brundisium. Not long after, a colony was founded—most probably by Caesar to reward his allies. Traces of the centuriation can be seen in Konavle valley to the E. The ancient settlement developed toward the S and SW on the peninsula.
The site has not been explored. The walls of a villa can be seen on the W point of the peninsula where the surface is covered with ancient tiles, also found in the surrounding gardens. There are traces of baths (?) beyond the Franciscan Monastery. The necropolis extended toward Tiha bay to the NW where, at a place called Obod, a ruined aqueduct tower is visible. Graves have been found here and at the other places near the town. The bishop from Epidaurum attended the church council at Salona 533 A.D. About 615 the town was destroyed by the Avars and Slavs. The refugees founded Rausium (Dubrovnik). Inscriptions and pottery are in the Bogišić collection in Cavtat and in the Town Museum at Dubrovnik.
BIBLIOGRAPHYG. Novak, “Quaestiones Epidauritanae,” Rad Jugoslavenske Akademije 339 (1965) 97-140; A. Faber, “Prilog topografiji ilirsko-rimskog Epidaura,” Opvscvla archaeologica 6 (1966) 25-37.
M. ZANINOVIĆ