Merida

A Roman colony in Spain, founded by the Romans in 25 BC as Augusta Emerita. As the capital of Lusitania (roughly equivalent to modern Portugal), it became one of the most important towns in Iberia and was large enough to contain a garrison of 90,000 men. It prospered anew in the 7th century under the Visigoths. Roman buildings survive: theater, amphitheater (both built by Agrippa), circus, temples, aqueducts, and a Roman bridge of 64 arches. There is a temple of Diana, an arch of Trajan, aqueducts and conduits, a group of structures devoted to Mithras and other mystery cults, and a number of rich houses with colonnaded courts and mosaics (including the so-called 'Creation of the Universe'). Gold tesserae are found, and some of the sculptures, especially Roman marble portraits, are of fine quality.

[Roman Augusta Emerita]. A flourishing and extensive Roman colonia in western Spain, capital of the province of Lusitania (roughly equivalent to modern Portugal). The town, on the right bank of the River Guadiana, was founded by the emperor Augustus in 25 bc for the settlement of veterans from the Cantabrian wars. The modem town betrays the familiar colonial Roman grid layout, with the decumanus (see cardo) still identifiable. To the east of the town a complex consisting of theatre and amphitheatre was begun by Agrippa, Augustus’ son-in-law. Attractive ruins survive of a Roman bridge (possibly pre-dating the town), a temple of Diana, an arch of Trajan, aqueducts and conduits, a group of structures devoted to Mithras and other mystery cults, and a number of rich houses with colonnaded courts and mosaics (including the so-called ‘Creation of the Universe’). Gold tesserae are found, and some of the sculptures, especially Roman marble portraits, are of fine quality. Visigothic rule (5th and 6th centuries) has also left some rare evidence.