Mirobriga
Mirobriga is an ancient town located in southwestern Lusitania, in the Alentejo region of Portugal, approximately thirteen miles from the Atlantic coast. Known for its archaeological significance, Mirobriga has been revealed as one of the largest ancient sites in Portugal. Historical references indicate that the early inhabitants were Celts, with evidence of a hill fort dated to the fourth century BC. Excavations have uncovered two pre-Roman temples and Roman religious structures, including temples dedicated to Venus and an incorrectly attributed temple to Jupiter.
In addition to its temples, Mirobriga features a forum, a market building carved from rock, private residences, inns, and sophisticated waterworks. The town is also notable for its well-paved streets lined with shops leading to two bathhouses situated in a natural hollow by a stream. A Roman bridge traverses this stream, adding to the site's historical charm. Mirobriga is distinguished for housing the only known ancient circus in Portugal, historically recognized for horse-breeding. The artistic heritage of the town is highlighted by well-preserved wall paintings characterized by intricate geometric designs, offering a glimpse into its rich cultural past.
Subject Terms
Mirobriga
or Merobriga (Santiago do Cacém)
A town in southwestern Lusitania (Alentejo, Portugal), thirteen miles from the Atlantic. Little is known of the history of Mirobriga, but recent excavations have revealed one of the largest sites in the country. Pliny the Elder refers to its people as Celts, and their hill fort has been located and dated by finds of pottery of the fourth century BC. Two superimposed pre-Roman temples have been identified, in addition to Roman shrines of the mid-first century AD known today as the Temples of Venus (an apsidal structure) and Aesculapius, although the latter, situated on the acropolis, was, in fact, probably dedicated to Jupiter. It stood beside the forum, which was also adjoined by a multi-storeyed market building cut out of the rock.
There are remains of private houses, of inns and of an elaborate waterworks, and well-paved streets bordered by shops lead down to two bathing establishments in a natural hollow at the foot of the acropolis. Beside the baths is a stream traversed by a Roman bridge. Mirobriga possesses the only ancient circus to have been discovered in the country so far, which was famous for horse-breeding in ancient times. The town's buildings are also notable for fine wall paintings with intricate geometrical designs. (This Mirobriga is to be distinguished from two other places of the same name in the Iberian peninsula, Mirobriga Vettonum [Ciudad Rodrigo] in northeastern Lusitania [western Spain] and Mirobriga Turdulorum [Capilla] in northern Baetica [south-central Spain]).