MARIANA
MARIANA (Μαριανή, Ptol.), a city on the E. coast of Corsica, which, as its name imports, was a Roman colony, founded by the celebrated C. Marius. (Plin. Nat. 3.6. s. 12; Ptol. 3.2.5; Mel. 2.7.19; Senec. Cons. ad Helv. 8.) Nothing more is known of its history, but it is recognised as holding colonial rank by Pliny and Mela, and appears to have been one of the two principal cities in the island. It is a plausible conjecture of Cluverius that it was founded [p. 2.276]on the site previously occupied by the Greek city of Nicaea mentioned by Diodorus (Diod. 5.13; Cluver. Sicil. p. 508). Its name is mentioned in the Antonine Itinerary (p. 85), which erroneously reckons it 40 miles from Aleria; the ruins of Mariana, which are still extant under their ancient name at the mouth of the river Golo, being only about 30 miles N. of those of Aleria. They are 15 miles S. of the modern city of Bastia. The ancient remains are inconsiderable, but a ruined cathedral still marks the site, and gives title to the bishop who now resides at Bastia. (Rampoldi, Diz. Geogr. vol. ii. p. 589.)[E.H.B]