Siponto
| Siponto | |
|---|---|
| Frazione | |
Piazza Sant'Andrea
|
|
 Siponto
|
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| Coordinates: 41°36′25″N 15°53′45″E / 41.60694°N 15.89583°ECoordinates: 41°36′25″N 15°53′45″E / 41.60694°N 15.89583°E | |
| Country |
 Italy
|
| Region |
 Apulia
|
| Province | Foggia (FG) |
| Comune | Manfredonia |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Demonym(s) | Sipontini |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 71043 |
| Dialing code | 0884 |
Siponto (Latin: Sipontum, Greek: Σιπιούς) was an ancient port town of Apulia in southern Italy. The town was abandoned after earthquakes in the 13th century; today the area is administered as a frazione of the comune of Manfredonia, in the province of Foggia. Siponto is located around 3 km south of Manfredonia.
According to legend, Sipontum was founded by Diomedes, product of the union of the Homeric hero of the same name with the daughter of the king of the Daunians. Siponto was probably founded by the Daunians.
Sipontum was a flourishing Greek colony, its Greek name being Sipious (Σιπιούς); having fallen into the hands of the Samnites, it was retaken about 335 BC by King Alexander of Epirus, uncle of Alexander the Great. In 189 BC it became a Roman colony with its original Sipious name still used in Byzantine times, and in 663 AD it was taken and destroyed by the Slavs.
In the ninth century, Sipontum was for a time in the power of the Saracens; in 1042 the Normans made it the seat of one of their twelve counties. The latter won a decisive victory there over the Byzantine general Argyrus in 1052.
According to legend, the Gospel was preached at Sipontum by Saint Peter and by Saint Mark; more trust, however, may be placed in the tradition of the martyrdom of the priest Saint Justin and his companions under Gallienus and Maximian about 255. The first bishop whose date may be fixed, was Felix, who was at Rome in 465. In the time of bishop Lawrence, during the papacy of Gelasius I (492-496), took place on Monte Gargano the apparition of Saint Michael, in memory of which the famous Monastery of the Archangel was founded.
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Wikipedia