Veretum

VERETUM

VERETUM(Οὐερητόν, Strab., Ptol.: Eth. Veretinus: Sta Maria di Vereto), a town of Calabria, in the district or territory of the Sallentines, and within a few miles of the Iapygian promontory. Strabo tells us that it was formerly called Baris, and describes it as if it were a seaport town; but both Pliny and Ptolemy rank it among the inland towns of the Sallentines; and there seems no doubt that its site is marked by the old church of Sta Maria di Vereto, the name of which is found on old maps, between the villages of Salveand Roggiano, about 6 miles from the Capo di Leuca, and 10 from Ugento, the correct distance given in the Tabula from Uxentum to Veretum. (Strab. vi, p. 281; Plin. Nat. 3.11. s. 16; Ptol. 3.1.76; Tab. Peut,;Galateo, de Sit. Iapyg. p. 99; Holsten. ad Clover. p. 283; Romanelli, vol. 2. p. 35.) The ager Veretinusis mentioned also in the Liber Coloniarum (p. 262) among the civitates Calabriae,and doubtless comprised the whole district as far as the Iapygian promontory.

[E.H.B]

Verētum

Now Alessano; more anciently called Baris, a town in Calabria, on the road from Leuca to Tarentum, and 600 stadia southeast of the latter city.

VERETUM (Vereto) Apulia, Italy.

A Messapic city of ancient Calabria in the territory of the Salentini near Serra di Vereto and Madonna di Vereto, not far from the village of Patù, where there are ruins of ancient buildings. It was known to the geographers (Strab. 6.281; Plin. 3.105; Ptol. 3.1.76). It is 6 Roman miles from the Iapygean promontory (Capo di Leuca) and 10 Roman miles from Uxentum. (Tab. Peut.)

Tombs and Messapic inscriptions have come to light in the zone. In the Liber Coloniarum (p. 283) mention is made of the ager Veretinus. Traces of the Roman municipium are found in the remains of some buildings with mosaics and in occasional funerary plaques.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

W. Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, II (1857) (E. H. Bunbury); K. Miller, Itineraria Romana (1916) 362; RE 8.1 (1955) 1013; O. Parlangeli, Studi Messapici (1960) 222; G. Susini, Fonti per la storia greca e romana del Salento, 75.

F. G. LO PORTO