ASSOROS
(Assoro) Enna, Sicily.
The site's
ancient name is probably of Sikel origin. A prominent
center in antiquity, it is mentioned by Diodoros (14.58.78) and Cicero (
Verr. 4.44); it reached its greatest
splendor at the time of Dionysios, but by the 1st c.
B.C. it had declined considerably. Cicero speaks of the
Temple of Crysas at Assoros, on the road from Assoros
to Henna. Considerable remains of the walls are still
visible, and one of the fortification gates was extant as
late as the 17th c., together with about eight rows of
the walls of a temple (?) on the mountain, which had
been incorporated into modern constructions. The city
spread across the plateau between the rivers Salso and
Dittaino in a remarkably strong position, naturally defended by the steepness of the hillsides which contain
numerous chamber tombs, especially in the S area. Grave
goods date from the 10th to the 5th c. B.C. Finds from
cist graves come down to the 2d c. B.C. and include imported vases as well as many of Italic manufacture.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
G. C. Gentili, “Resti di tombe sicule
del tipo di ‘Licodia Eubea,’”
NSc (1961) 217-21. Morel, “Recherches archéologiques et topographiques dans la
région d'Assoro,”
MélRome (1963) 263-301.
A. CURCIO
