CAESE´NA
CAESE´NA (
Καίσηνα, Strab.;
Καίσαινα, Ptol.: Eth.
Caesenas, atis:
Cesena), a considerable town of Gallia Cispadana, situated on the Via Aemilia, 20 miles from Ariminum, and on the right bank of the small river Sapis (
Savio). (
Strab. v. p.216;
Plin. Nat. 3.1. 5. s. 20;
Ptol. 3.1.46; Itin. Ant. pp. 100, 126.)
An incidental mention of its name in Cicero
[p. 1.471]（
ad Fam. 16.27) is the only notice of it that occurs in history until a very late period; but after the fall of the Western Empire it is frequently mentioned as a strong fortress, and plays no unimportant part in the wars of the Goths with the generals of Justinian. (Procop.
B. G. i. l, 2.11, 19, 29, 3.6.)
It appears, however, to have been a flourishing municipal town under the Roman empire, and was noted for the excellence of its wines, which were among the most highly esteemed that were produced in Northern Italy; a reputation which they still retain at the present day. (
Plin. Nat. 14.6.)
It is distinguished in the Itin. Ant. (p. 286) by the epithet “Curva,” but the origin of this is unknown.
The modern city of
Cesena is a considerable place, with a population of 15,000 inhabitants.
[
E.H.B]
