Photographer’s Note
The hilltop castle of Evoramonte is prominently marked in the countryside Alentejan landscape with kilometers of gently rolling plains leading up to this geographic crescendo - making it a true AXIS MUNDI for ancient peoples and an ideal crossroads for ancient occupation sites.
From the current archaeological data, it appears that there is evidence of occupation during the Iº millennium B.C.E. where, according to the observations by a professor or archaeology at the Universidade de Lisboa, Manuel Calado, there exists a wall line beneath the medieval walls of Evoramonte and that this fortified wall complex is more substantial than any other located, up until now, in the Alentejan region of Portugal.
By the 20th century, José Leite de Vasconcellos, founder of the Museu de Etnologia e Arqueologia, in Lisboa, todays Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, had made reference to "some ancient materials" ("antigualhas”) at Evoramonte and recognized the enormous potential for an archaeological site here. This notion was reinforced by the fact that a known way for a Roman via, from Évora to the heart of Lusitânia, Augusta Emérita, met at this point.
For this reason, and given the classical sources, there have been many researchers who have associated Evoramonte with Dipo, the pre-Roman city which held great importance during the Lusitanian wares. Dipo fwas the first city where there is mentioned uprisings by the Lusitanians that were later made famous by the Viriatus during the Lusitanian Wars. Later, this city played a part during the Roman Civil Wars, , esta cidade viria a jogar um papel de relevo durante as Guerras Civis romanas, for its presence of Sertorian military contingents, during the beginning of the 1st century, B.C.E.
During its later moments, Dipo, known as Dipone, continued to be mentioned by classical authors, in particular, the Antonine Itinerary and the Ravennate (anonymous author), and the mention of the first mansio after the city of Évora (Ébora).
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Photo Information
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Copyright: luis borges (alentejano)
(255) - Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2008-12-02
- Categories: Architecture
- Camera: Nikon D60, Sigma 18-200 OS HSM
- Exposure: f/7.1, 1/200 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2008-12-04 12:10








