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Caere (alsoCaisra andCisra) is the Latin name given by theRomans to one of the larger cities of southernEtruria, the modernCerveteri, approximately 50–60 kilometres north-northwest ofRome. To the Etruscans it was known asCisra, to theGreeks asAgylla and to thePhoenicians as𐤊𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤉𐤀 (KYŠRYʼ).[1]
Caere was one of the most important and populous Etruscan city-states, in area 15 times larger than today's town, and onlyTarquinia was equal in power at its height around 600 BC. Caere was also one of the cities of theEtruscan League.Its sea port and monumental sanctuary atPyrgi was important for overseas trade.Today, the area of Cerveteri is best known for its Etruscannecropolis and archaeological treasures.[2]
The ancient city was situated on a hill about 7 km from the sea, a location which made it a wealthy trading town derived originally from the iron ore mines in theTolfa hills.[3] It had three sea ports includingPyrgi andPunicum. It was bounded by the two riversMola andManganello, and lay 80 metres above sea level on an outcrop of rockytuff.[citation needed] The hill ran from northeast to southwest, isolated except on the northeast.[4] The modern town, at the western extremity, probably occupies the site of theacropolis. The line of the city walls, of rectangular blocks of tufa, can be traced, and there seem to have been eight gates in the circuit, which was about four miles in length. There are no remains of buildings of importance, except the theatre, in which many inscriptions and statues of emperors were found.[4]
The earliest evidence ofsettlement of the site comes from finds ofurns at two areas (Cava della Pozzolana and Sorbo) from the 9th and 8th centuries BC. Archaeology has revealed the presence of stable economic activity in the area, with housing and related Etruscan necropolis settlements.
Trade between theGreeks andEtruscans became increasingly common in the middle of the 8th century BC, with standardised urns and pottery common in graves of the time. The town became the main Etruscan trading centre during the 7th century BC, and trade increased with other Greekcolonies in SouthernItaly andSicily, and with the Corinthians. Locally manufactured products began to imitate imported Greek pottery, especially after the immigration of Greek artists into Etruria.
The oldest examples ofBucchero ceramics come from Caere and it can be assumed that these typical Etruscan ceramics were developed here or produced at least for the first time in large scale.[5]
The early prosperity of the city is demonstrated by graves from theOrientalizing Period, from around 700 BC, which often contain eastern imports and rich gold finds; theRegolini-Galassi tomb is especially notable for its fine gold offerings.[6] From 530 to 500 BC a generation of Greek artists was active in the city, producing colour-painted hydrias.Burials of the time became increasingly grand, withjewellery and other products of particularly fine manufacture, illustrating the continuing good fortunes of the city. At the height of its prosperity in the 6th century BC, the people of Caere (with theCarthaginians) emerged marginally victorious from clashes with thePhocaean Greeks.
Caere had a good reputation among the Greeks for its values and sense of justice, since it abstained from piracy.[7] It was one of only two Etruscan cities to erect its own treasury atDelphi, the "Agillei Treasury" dedicated toPythian Apollo. This was generally not allowed to non-Greeks, and the legends regarding earlier Greek colonization in the wider area of Caere and Rome seem to have played an important role in allowing what was, from a political point of view, a bold act. Delphi was also a centre of politics and intrigue for the whole Eastern Mediterranean and Near East area.
Caere appears for the first time in documented history in 540 BC concerning theBattle of Alalia in which captured prisoners were stoned to death in the city, an act that was later attributed as the cause of an ensuing plague. In recompense, athletic contests were held every year in the city to honour the dead.In 509 BC, upon the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, the kingLucius Tarquinius Superbus and his two eldest sonsTitus andAruns went into exile in Caere.[8]
In spite of the difficulties affectingEtruria during the period, trade once again flourished through the 5th century BC, arguably due to the particularly good relations with the Rome, a traditional ally of the city. Communication with Rome was via branch roads from theVia Aurelia and ViaClodia.[9]
Caere was not spared by the crisis that affected the great centres of southern Etruria during the second half of that century, after the defeat at sea at theBattle of Cumae in 474 BC. A recovery can be perceived, however, at the beginning of the 4th century BC, when strong relationships with Rome continued. The town sheltered the Roman refugees including the priests andVestal Virgins after theGallic attack and fire of 390 BC,[4] and the Roman aristocracy was educated in Caere.[10]
The RomanTabulae Caeritum dates from this time; it listed those citizens of Caere who were classed as Roman citizens and liable for military service, without being able to vote. It is supposed to have been the first community to receive this privilege, known asius Caeritum.
In 384/383 BCDionysius plunderedPyrgi. Support came from Caere, but this was also beaten.[11]
In 353 BC Caere, allied to theTarquinii, lost a war with Rome and with it some of its territory, including the coastal area and ports so important for trade.From about 300 BC Caere came under Roman rule. Although the exact sequence of their submission can no longer be reconstructed today, there had been numerous feuds. Rome is said to have had a 100-year truce with Caere as a result, and virtually all Etruria was in Roman hands from about 295 BC. It provided Rome with various provisions during theFirst Punic War, but otherwise contributed little materially.[4]
The city briefly regained some prosperity under eitherAugustus orTiberius,[4] but lost its wealth and power completely by the first century AD.
Saint Adeodatus participated as bishop of thisepiscopal see, in a synod at Rome called byPope Symmachus in 499, shortly before the seat of the bishopric was moved, because of malaria, from Caere Vetus (today'sCerveteri) to the new settlement of Caere Nova (today'sCeri). The territory of the Diocese of Caere became part of theDiocese of Porto around the 11th century.[12]
No longer a residential bishopric, Caere is today listed by theCatholic Church as atitular see.[13]
During the period 700-300 BC the inhabitants constructed an impressive necropolis known today asBanditaccia, which is still not fully excavated but has already yielded the "Sarcophagus of the Spouses".
Since 2012,Queen's University at Kingston has been leading archaeology at the urban centre known as Vigna Marini.[14]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Ashby, Thomas (1911). "Caere". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 936–937.42°00′06″N12°06′30″E / 42.00167°N 12.10833°E /42.00167; 12.10833
