Tauresium
| Tauresium Тауресиум (Macedonian) |
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 Remains of building walls in Tauresium |
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| Alternate name | Gradište |
| Location | Taor, Skopje Statistical Region, Republic of Macedonia |
| Region | Dardania |
| Coordinates | 41°53′53″N 21°36′41″E / 41.89806°N 21.61139°ECoordinates: 41°53′53″N 21°36′41″E / 41.89806°N 21.61139°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Arthur Evans |
| Website | www.tauresium.info/english/ |
Tauresium (Macedonian: Тауресиум) or known as Gradište (Градиште) is an archaeological site in Macedonia, located approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of the capital Skopje. Tauresium is the birthplace of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (483) and King Theodahad of the Ostrogoths (480).[1][2]
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Name [edit]
The ancient town of Tauresium is located on the territory of the modern Republic of Macedonia village of Taor.[2] The name of the modern village comes from the name of the ancient town. The alternative name of Tauresium in Macedonian is Gradište, but often instead of Gradište, Tauresium or Taor are used.
Location and general characteristics [edit]
Tauresium is located in Zelenikovo Municipality, near the village Taor, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Skopje. The site was discovered by British archaeologist Arthur Evans in the late 19th century. According to the Justinian's biographer Procopius, the Emperor was born in Tauresius in 483, more precisely in the castle of Baderiana, which is the modern village Bader . About the town, Procopius in his book "De aedificiis" states[2]:
…Somewhere in the area of European Dardanians, who live behind Epidamnian border, close to castle Baderiana, was found village Tavrisi.[3] Here was born king Justinian, founder of world kingdom. Surrounding this village with square walls and building tower on each corner, he created four corner castles and named it Tetrapirgus. Here he build nice city and named it Justiniana Prima, on this way he wants to show his gratitude to parenthood…
Tauresium and the castle Baderiana were destroyed in an earthquake in 518 and the epicentre of the earthquake was in the nearby city of Skupi. As a gesture of gratitude to his birthplace, Justinian I rebuilt the city. According to the excavations that has been done so far, it is estimated that the oldest parts of Tauresium date from the 4th century and this oldest part is a castle with four towers known as Tetrapirgia. Regarding Baderiana, Procopius states that it is settled castle with oddments from IV-VI century.[2] Baderiana or the modern Bader is located 6 km east of Tauresium and Taor.
References [edit]
- ^ Wolfgang Kuhoff (1996). "Theodahadus, Flavius, König der Ostgoten 534-536". In Bautz, Traugott. Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German) 11. Herzberg: Bautz. cols. 824–832. ISBN 3-88309-064-6.
- ^ a b c d "Archaeological site Tauresium" (in Macedonian and English). Museum of the city of Skopje. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
- ^ i.e. Tauresium
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Taor |
- tauresium.info - web page dedicated to Tauresium.
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