Laminium
Laminium was an Iberian oppidum (fortified city), the southernmost of the Carpetan tribe and head of the Ager Laminitanus. Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy make references to it on several occasions.
| Laminio | |
|---|---|
| Former subdivision of Roman Empire | |
| Demonym | Oretans |
| Area | |
| • Coordinates | 39°05′54″N 2°29′32″O |
| • Type | municipium iuris latini |
| History | |
• Established | VI century - III century B.C. |
| Today part of | There is speculation that • Alhambra (royal city) • Daimiel (royal city) • Site located between the TMs of Villarrobledo and El Bonillo (Albacete). |
The Roman Laminium acquired the status of Flavian municipality (municipio flavio), with the privileges that it entailed, like other cities such as Complutum, Toletum or Consaburum, which leads us to believe that it would have a certain importance in terms of civil and religious works. It was also part of the main Roman road network, as an important communications hub. In the so-called Itinerary of Antoninus it is located on the roads:
- XXIX, Caesaraugusta-Augusta Emerita.
- XXX, Laminio-Toletum.
- XXXI, Laminio-Libisosa.
Currently the most widespread theory is that Laminium is located in the current urban area of Alhambra. However, since ancient times there have been other hypotheses about its location, so there is a certain legend in La Mancha of a "lost city" around it that has fueled interest in its search and perhaps has magnified its real importance. The latest archaeological excavations in Alhambra reveal the existence of a large oppidum.