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Encyclopedia of Southern Italy – T

Taras: An ancient sea god who had a cult center at the Great city of Taras/Tarentum in Magna Graecia.

tarentella: An alternate term for the tarantella.

tarentule: An alternate term for the tarantella.

tarě: a coin used principally in Sicily prior to the conquest of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. It was the equivalent of 20 grani, 40 tornesi, and, until 1784, 0.8737 lire. From 1784 to 1814, it was equivalent in value to 0.08497 lire.

Tarsia (CS): A commune in the province of Cosenza. Population: 2,284 (2006e).

Taurano (AV): A commune in the province of Avellino. Population: 1,604 (2006e).

Taurasi (AV): A commune in the province of Avellino. Population: 2,689 (2006e).

Taurisano (LE): A commune in the province of Lecce. Population: 12,525 (2006e).

Tauromenium: A ancient wine produced in eastern Sicily. It was said to be of high quality and there is evidence that it drunk at Pompeii.

Tavenna (CB): A commune in the province of Campobasso. Population: 906 (2006e).

Taverna (CZ): A commune in the province of Catanzaro. Population: 2,650 (2006e).

Taviano (LE): A commune in the province of Lecce. Population: 12,678 (2006e).

Teana (PZ): A commune in the province of Potenza.

Teano (CE): A commune in the province of Caserta. Population:  12,765 (2006e).

Teanum Sidicinum (mod. Teano [CE]): ancient capital of the Sidicini, it was captured by the Samnites in the 4th Century BC, and later taken by the Romans. Under the Roman Empire it became a flourishing city, second in Campania only to Capua.

Teate: Ancient name for Chieti.

Teate, Duchy of: See Chieti.

Teggiano (SA): A commune in the province of Salerno.

Telemachus: Ruler of Akragas (r554-550 BC).

Telese Terme (BN): A commune in the province of Benevento. Population: 6,329 (2006e).

Telesphorus, St: Pope. (rAD 125-136 or 138).

Tellus: an ancient Italic/Roman earth goddess, also called Terra or Terra Mater (Mother Earth).

Temesa: An ancient colony in Bruttium founded by Aetolian Greeks in the 6th century BC. Although mentioned by Strabo who noted the importance of its copper, its location is now uncertain. During the 4th century BC, it was seized by the Bruttians but survived until its abandonment during the 2nd Punic War. In 194 BC, the Romans found the colony of Tempsa on the site of Temesa.

Tempsa (Temesa; possibly also Nuceria): An ancient city of Bruttium, identified with modern Nocera Terinese (CZ). It appears that the earliest version of the name was Temesa, an Oscan word derived from the Indo-European *tem(e)- (‘dark’).

Teodoro: Bishop of Capua (r?). His term fell sometime between Ambrogio (740-744) and Stefano (786-?).

Teofania di Adamo: A possible alternate name of the infamous poisoner Tofana of Palermo.

Teora (AV): A commune in the province of Avellino. Population: 1,565 (2006e).

Teramo, Province of: A province in the region of Abruzzo.

Teramo (TE): A commune in the province of Teramo.

Teramo-Atri, Diocese of: A diocese in the Ecclesiastical Region of Abruzzo-Molise.

Suffragans:

Metropolitan: Pescara-Penne.

Conference Region:  Abruzzo-Molise.

Area: 1,480 km˛/ mi˛

Total Population: 217,962.

Catholic Population:

Total Priests: 187(Diocesan: 126; Religious: 61)

Permanent Deacons: 11.

Parishes: 186.

History:

Terina: A city of ancient Bruttium identified with modern Lamezia Terme (CZ). The name derives from an Eastern Italic word meaning “piece of land”, related to the Indo-European root *(s)ter- (‘stiff, solid’).

Terlizzi (BA): A commune in the province of Bari: Population: 27,422 (2006e).

Terme Vigliatore (ME): A commune in the province of Messina.

Terminator: an official or “master of ceremonies” in some Sicilian cathedrals.

Termini Imerese (PA): A commune in the province of Palermo.

Termoli (CB): A commune in the province of Campobasso. Population: 31,209 (2006e).

Termoli-Larino, Diocese of: A diocese in the Ecclesiastical Region of Abruzzo-Molise.

Suffragans:

Metropolitan: Campobasso-Boiano.

Conference Region:  Abruzzo-Molise

Area: 1,424 km˛/ mi˛

Total Population: 103,121

Total Priests: 68 (Diocesan: 62; Religious: 6)