EPIDAURUM
(Cavtat) Croatia, Yugoslavia.
On a headland 12 km SE of Dubrovnik, a settlement of
Illyrians, whose trade here with Greeks is confirmed by
coins of Apollonia and Dyrrachion. In 47 B.C. settlers
from Italy fought on Caesar's side (
BAlex. 44). Pompey's
fleet attacked the town and it was rescued by P. Vatinius,
who arrived from Brundisium. Not long after, a colony
was founded—most probably by Caesar to reward his
allies. Traces of the centuriation can be seen in Konavle
valley to the E. The ancient settlement developed toward
the S and SW on the peninsula.
The site has not been explored. The walls of a villa
can be seen on the W point of the peninsula where the surface is covered with ancient tiles, also found in the surrounding gardens. There are traces of baths (?) beyond
the Franciscan Monastery. The necropolis extended
toward Tiha bay to the NW where, at a place called
Obod, a ruined aqueduct tower is visible. Graves have
been found here and at the other places near the town.
The bishop from Epidaurum attended the church council
at Salona 533 A.D. About 615 the town was destroyed by
the Avars and Slavs. The refugees founded Rausium
(Dubrovnik). Inscriptions and pottery are in the Bogišić
collection in Cavtat and in the Town Museum at Dubrovnik.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
G. Novak, “Quaestiones Epidauritanae,”
Rad Jugoslavenske Akademije 339 (1965) 97-140; A.
Faber, “Prilog topografiji ilirsko-rimskog Epidaura,”
Opvscvla archaeologica 6 (1966) 25-37.
M. ZANINOVIĆ