Urban stories in a 3rd<sup> </sup>Century CE Roman House in Águilas (Spain)

Águilas is a Roman Republican enclave in southeastern Hispania that developed mainly from the time of Augustus. Linked to ancient Urci by some scholars, its legal status is still difficult to define. Although in early-Roman times it was as much as seven to eight hectares in area and had public buildings, it has traditionally been considered a minor settlement in the shadow of nearby Carthago Nova. In the following pages, a comprehensive analysis is proposed of the architecture, decorative programs and material culture of the most complete early Roman domus excavated to date, despite its partial preservation. This private residence was built in the 1st c. CE, and the study focuses on its occupation —in particular, that of its triclinium—, during the 3rd c. CE, the best documented phase. The objective is to reflect on the urban nature of this possible town, still little known to research, and its evolution in the transition to late antiquity.