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Appiacontemporanea gnatia
Gnatia, Egnatia or Ignatia (Greek: Egnatia) was an Ancient city of the Messapii, and their frontier town towards the Salentini. As Egnazia Appula is was a medieval bishipric, which remains a Latin Cathoic titular see.
Contents
It is located near the modern Fasano, Apulia, southern Italy.
History
The first settlement known in the place dates from the Bronze Age (15th century BC). In the 11th century BC it was invaded by the Iapyges, while the Messapic era of the town (as well as for the whole Salento) began in the 8th century BC, to end in the 3rd century BC, with the Roman conquest.
Under the Romans, it was of importance for its trade, lying as it did on the sea, at the point where the Via Traiana joined the coast road, 50 kilometers (31 mi) southeast of Barium (Bari). It was famed for its solar and fire cult, which was described by Pliny and ridiculed by Horace.
The city, an early bishopric (see below), was abandoned in the Middle Ages due to the spread of malaria in the area, or to Vandal and Saracen attacks.
Ruins
The ancient city walls were almost entirely destroyed over a century ago to provide building material. The walls have been described as being 8 yards (7.3 m) thick and 16 courses high. The place is famous for the discoveries made in its tombs. A considerable collection of antiquities from Gnatia is preserved at Fasano, though the best are in the museum at Bari.
Ecclesiastical History
An episcopal see named Egnazia Appula was established circa 400, but suppressed in 545, its territory being reassigned to establish the Diocese of Monopoli, possibly before the city itself was abandoned.
Titular see
The diocese was nominally restored only in June 2004, as a Latin titular bishopric, under the name Egnazia Appula (Italian), corresponding to Latin Egnatia (in Apulia) / Egnatin(us) in Apulia (Latin adjective).
So far it has had one incumbent, not of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank but of archiepiscopal rank :