many of its own colonies; had a stable aristocratic constitution. Allied with Rome against
Hannibal, 215 BCE; aggression by local Gauls resulted in submission to Rome, 125– 121
BCE, becoming the leading free city of the new province. Taken by Caesar 49 BCE, who
promoted Narbo in its place. PECS 557 – 558, F. Salviat; OCD3 935, A.L.F. Rivet,
J.F. Drinkwater; BAGRW 15-E3; BNP 8 (2006) 441–445, Y. Lafond.
E, K, K, M P, P.
Mauretania: coastal north Africa, west of Cirta, dry and rocky (approximately the coasts
of modern Morocco and Algeria). In the 8th–7th centuries BCE Phoenicians established
coastal emporia; native kingdoms are recorded by the late 3rd c. BCE. King Bocchus I assisted
Rome 106 BCE, and thus acquired western Numidia (including Cirta and Madaurus). His
sons Bocchus (II) and Bogud ruled jointly, and supported C, 49– 44 BCE; Bogud died
fighting for Antony, whereas Bocchus II bequeathed the kingdom to Octavian (33 BCE).
A in turn appointed I II client king (25 BCE). After Caligula’s murder (in
40 CE) of the son of Iouba II, Claudius (ca 42 CE) constituted two provinces (Mauretania
Tingitana and Mauretania Caesariensis), overseen by procurators from Tingis and Caesarea.
Rome founded several coloniae, and native cavalry served as auxilia. Much land remained
under native rulers, and the late 3rd to 4th c. saw serious rebellions. Under the Vandals
430 – 534 CE. OCD3 939, W.N. Weech and R.J.A. Wilson; BNP 8 (2006) 493–496, W. Huß.
Sites: Auzia, Caesarea, Cirta, Madaurus.
People: I II.
Mediolanum (mod. Milano; 45 ̊ 28 ’ N, 09 ̊ 10 ’ E): at the junction of prehistoric roads from
the plains and Alps, founded ca 396 BCE by the Insubres, under Rome by 194 BCE as a
municipium and eventually a colonia. A center of the applied arts, and the site of a Roman
mint, the city became the western Roman capital under Diocletian/Maximian (293 CE),
until it was moved to Ravenna, ca 403 CE. PECS 561, M. Mirabella Roberti; OCD3
949 – 950, E.T. Salmon and T.W. Potter; BAGRW 39-E3; BNP 8 (2006) 583–584, C. Heucke;
EJ2 14.231, A. Milano and S. Rocca.
A, F, M T.
Medma (mod. Rosarno; 38 ̊ 30 ’ N, 15 ̊ 59 ’ E): also known as Mesma and Medme ̄, colony
established from Lokroi Epizephurioi in 7th c. BCE, allied with Lokroi against Kroto ̄n
ca 500 BCE; opposed Lokroi 422 BCE; benefited by Surakousai 396 BCE. PECS 563 – 564,
R. Holloway; OCD3 950, H.K. Lomas; BAGRW 46-C5; BNP 8 (2006) 589, M. Lombardo.
P.
Megalopolis (mod. Megalopolis/Sinanou; 37 ̊ 24 ’ N, 22 ̊ 08 ’ E): established ca 370 BCE, by
five Arkadian poleis, north-west of Sparta, on the Alpheios river (a travel-route between
Lako ̄nika and Arkadia). Opposed and conquered by Sparta; rebuilt 223 BCE. Influential
from the 4th–2nd cc. BCE, supporting Macedon, declining under Rome but existing into
late antiquity. OCD3 950 – 951, J. Roy; BAGRW 58-C3; BNP 8 (2006) 596–598, Y. Lafond
and E. Meyer.
P.
Megara (mod. Megara; 38 ̊ 00 ’ N, 23 ̊ 20 ’ E): coastal city between Athens and Corinth, a
vigorous center of colonization (Buzantion, Khalke ̄do ̄n, He ̄rakleia Pontike ̄), alter-
nately allied or in contention with Athens in the 7th–6th centuries BCE; allied with Sparta in
the 5th c. BCE. PECS 565, W.R. Biers; OCD3 951, J.B. Salmon; BAGRW 58-E2; BNP 8 (2006)
599 – 603, K. Freitag. (Contrast their colony Megara Hublaia on the east coast of Sicily,
BAGRW 47-G4, as well as the unlocated site in Syria mentioned by S 16.2.10.)
A, E, H.
GAZETTEER