NUMANA
NUMANA (
Νούμανα: Eth.
Numanas:
Umana), a town of Picenum, situated on the sea-coast of that province, 8 miles S. of Ancona, at the southern extremity of the mountain promontory called Mons Cumerus. (
Plin. Nat. 3.13. s. 18;
Ptol. 3.1.21; Mel. 2.4.6;
Itin. Ant. p. 312.) Its foundation is ascribed by Pliny to the Siculi; but it is doubtful whether this is not a mistake; and it seems probable that Numana as well as Ancona was colonised by
Sicilian Greeks, as late as the time of Dionysius of Syracuse. No mention of it is found in history; but Silius Italicus enumerates it among the towns of Picenum in the Second Punic War; and we learn from inscriptions that it was a municipal town, and apparently one of some consideration, as its name is associated with the important cities of Aesis and Auximum. (
Sil. Ital. 8.431; Gruter,
Inscr. p. 446. 1, 2; Orell.
Inscr. 3899, 3900.) The Itineraries place it 8 miles from Ancona and 10 from Potentia. (
Itin. Ant. p. 312;
Tab. Peut.) It was in early ages an episcopal see, but this was afterwards united with that of Ancona.
The ancient city was destroyed by the Lombards in the eighth century; and the modern
Umana is a poor place.
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E.H.B]
