Italy; region Apulia; city of Altamura: sculpture of an elephant at main facade of Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta; built 1232 onwards; Frederick II. was called also "puer Apuliae" (Son of Apulia) and "stupor mundi" ("astonishment of the world") and re-established city of Altamura from 1230 onwards; as a multi-cultural town. Before; Altamura was nearly a ghost town; and had been abandoned; in 10th century; AD; due to Saracens who had looted the city. Altamura dates back even to bronze age times and was always densely inhabited. From 6th to 3rd century BC; a huge megalithic wall circled the town on which Frederick II built partly also the medieval town walls. The antique town of Magna Grecia and Roman times was also mentioned in the Tabula Peuteringiana. This antique town might have been Sublupatia; Lupatia; Altilia; Petilia; or others. Most important building of the new city era under Emperor Frederick II was the Romanesque style cathedral Santa Maria Assunta on the grounds of a former Roman temple; most probably dedicated to Castor and Pollux or to double-faced Janus. The first building period was 1232 - 1254; further restorations took place in 1330 and 1521 - 1547. It is unclear; wether the Gothic main portal of the Cathedral later has been moved to the side of the new main facade; or not. In 1248; Frederick II forced Pope Innocent IV to declare the cathedral a "palatine church"; which remained as such; until 1929.