Olisipo

Olisipo was the ancient name for what we now call Lisbon. It was used when the city was part of the Roman Empire. The Romans gave the city a formal name: Municipium Cives Romanorum Felicitas Julia Olisipo. In Latin, it was called Olisippo or Ulyssippo, and in Greek, it was known as Ὀλισσιπών (Olissipṓn) or Ὀλισσιπόνα (Olissipóna). Today, Olisipo is best known as the early name of one of Europe's most famous cities.

Background

During the Punic Wars, the Romans wanted to take away a valuable area called Hispania from Carthage. A Roman leader named Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus worked to bring the city of Olisipo into the Roman Republic in 138 BC. He built walls around the city to protect it.

Later, between 31 BC and 27 BC, Olisipo became a special kind of town called a municipium. Its people were allowed to govern themselves and had many of the rights of Roman citizens. The city was part of the Roman province of Lusitania, with Emerita Augusta as its capital.

At that time, most people spoke Latin, but there were also many Greek traders and slaves living there. The city was known as Ulyssippo by the geographer Pomponius Mela. It is thought that about 30,000 people lived there.

There were several earthquakes, including ones in 60 BC, between 47 and 44 BC, in 33 AD, and a big one in 382 AD, but we do not know how much damage they caused.

The city

During the time of Augustus, the Romans built many important structures in Olisipo, the ancient name for modern-day Lisbon. They constructed a large theatre, which was later restored. Underground passages beneath present-day Rua da Prata date back to this period, and were rebuilt even later. These passages were likely used to support and level the ground for big buildings.

Olisipo was also known for its fish sauce, called garum, which was very popular and traded across the Roman Empire. The city exported wine, salt, and fast horses as well. Olisipo grew wealthy through trade with places like Britannia and along the Rhine river.

The city had an oligarchical council led by powerful families and was administered by officials called duumviri and aediles. Religious life in Olisipo included worship of many gods and later, the spread of Christianity. The city became an important Christian center, with its first bishop appearing in the mid-4th century.

Roman architectural remains in the region

The city of Olisipo was an important place with many old Roman buildings. It was a main stop on Roman roads going to places like Bracara Augusta and Emerita Augusta. Olisipo had control over a large area between the Alcabrichel and Ota rivers.

Many Roman buildings and sites have been found around modern-day Lisbon. These include roads, dams, bridges, villas, and more. Some important places are near Sintra, Cascais, Amadora, Torres Vedras, and Loures. These old structures show how people lived when Olisipo was part of the Roman Empire.

Fall of the Roman Empire

Lisbon faced tough times when different groups came to take control. From 409 to 429, the Alans and the Vandals, both from Germany, ruled the area. In 419, the Visigoths, led by Wallia, took the city.

The Suebi also came from Germany and set up a kingdom in a place called Galicia, which is now part of Portugal. They controlled Lisbon for many years. In 457, a leader named Maldras tricked the people of Lisbon and took the city. Later, in 468, another Suebi leader named Remismund took Lisbon with help from a local Roman leader. After this, Roman control of the city ended.