Gnatia, Egnatia or Ignatia (
Greek: Egnatia) was an ancient city of the
Messapii, and their frontier town towards the
Salentini. As Egnazia Appula, it was a medieval bishopric, which remains a Latin Catholic
titular see.
It is located near the modern
Fasano, in
Salento, the southern part of Puglia (
Apulia) region in 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 (another Iapyyg tribe) 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).[1] It was famed for its solar and fire cult, which was described by
Pliny[n 2] and ridiculed by
Horace.[n 5]
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, or even given the last blow by
Holy Roman EmperorLouis II of Italy (who also conquered
Bari on Byzantium in 871).
It is last explicitly mentioned by a Ravenna author about 700, and Benedictine historian
Paul the Deacon mentions successor see Monopoli as eagerly contested between Byzantines and
Longobards as late as 763.
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.[1]
Ecclesiastical history
Tradition claims it was evangelized by the Prince of Apostles Saint Peter himself.
An episcopal see named Egnazia Appula was established probably before 400, a
suffragan of the
Archdiocese of Bari, but suppressed in 545, its territory being reassigned to establish the
Diocese of Monopoli, possibly before the city itself was abandoned.[6]
A
bishop of (E)Gnatia, Rufentius, participated in the three-part Council of Rome, convened in the 501, 502 and 504 by
PopeSymmachus I,[7] and in the council called by Italy's Ostrogoth king
Theoderic the Great to judge that Pope but which fully reinstated him.
Apparently the see was restored or the title retained, as three later bishops of Egnazia Appula were recorded, but other documents suggest these may be spurious; even if not, the see was (possibly again) suppressed later :
Selperius, allegedly consecrated in 720 the church of San Giovanni de portu aspero in
Monopoli, where tradition says (without documented proof) its episcopal see was transferred as
Diocese of Monopoli, which may however have been founded as late as the ninth century.
The city and bishopric were in decay since the sixth century
Longobards (Lombard) invasion, but the time of its demise remains unclear.
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:[8]
Titular Archbishop Nicola Girasoli (Italian) (2006.01.24 – ...), as papal diplomat :
Apostolic Nuncio (ambassador) to Malawi (2006.01.24 – 2011.10.29), Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia (2006.01.24 – 2011.10.29), Apostolic Nuncio to
Antigua and Barbuda (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Bahamas (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Dominica (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Jamaica (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Grenada (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Guyana (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Saint Kitts and Nevis (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Saint Lucia (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Saint Vincent and Grenadines (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Suriname (2011.10.29 – ...),
Apostolic Delegate to Antilles (2011.10.29 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Barbados (2011.12.21 – ...), Apostolic Nuncio to Trinidad and Tobago (2011.12.21 – ...)
^"And then
Fasano, built beneath the ban of fountain nymphs,[n 3] gave food for laughter and for jest, by its mad wish to make us think that frankincense without the aid of flame will melt upon the threshold of some fane. Let any superstitious Jew think so, but I could not, for I know now from Epicurus that the gods pass their time free from care, and that it is no threatening rage of theirs that sends down from the heavens' lofty dome whatever natural phenomenon we see."[5]
^—Dehinc Gnatia lymphis Iratis extructa dedit risusque jocosque, Dum flammâ sine thura liquescere limine Sacro Persuadere cupit: credat Judaeus apella Non ego—[4][n 4]
^Richard Stillwell, William L. MacDonald, Marian Holland McAllister, Stillwell, Richard, MacDonald, William L., McAlister, Marian Holland, Ed.
The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites GNATHIA (Egnatia) Apulia, Italy.