ENTRANDO IN CITTÀ. TOPONOMASTICA DELLE PORTE URBICHE NELLE CITTÀ ROMANE

Abstract

The contribution intends to examine the ancient names of the city gates of Roman cities, with particular regard to Italy. In spite
of the fact that the entrances were the first perceptible element of a city, the analysis of the literary and epigraphic sources reveals
that the number of known attestations is very limited. Nevertheless, it is possible to make some considerations on the general criteria
with which the gates were named and the dynamics with which these names have come to us. In this regard, the known cases
are mostly due to occasional mentions (mainly connected with road works) and derive mostly from geographical references, with
names born and widespread – in all probability – in a purely local and unofficial context.

Keywords: Roman Cities, Toponimy, City Gates, Ancient Topography.