the Pelasgi, the Arcades, the Seculi, the Aurunci, the Rutuli, and, beyond Circeii, the Volsci, the Osci, and the Ausones whence the name of Latium came to be extended as far as the river Liris[1].
We will begin with Ostia[2], a colony founded by a king of Rome, the town of Laurentum[3], the grove of Jupiter Indiges[4], the river Numicius[5], and Ardea[6], founded by Danaë, the mother of Perseus. Next come the former site of Aphrodisium[7], the colony of Antium[8], the river and island called Astura[9], the river Nymphæus[10], the Clostra Romana[11], and Circeii[12], formerly an island, and, if we are to believe Homer, surrounded by the open sea, though now by an extensive plain. The circumstances which we are enabled to publish on this subject for the information of the world are very remarkable. Theophrastus, the first foreigner who treated of the affairs of Rome with any degree of accuracy (for Theopompus, before whose time no Greek writer had made mention of us, only
- ↑ Now the Garigliano, the same river which he previously calls the Glanis. It was the boundary between Latium and Campania.
- ↑ Founded by Ancus Martius, as we learn from Livy. It was abandoned under the Emperor Claudius, who built the Portus Romanus or Portus Augusti in its vicinity; and it only continued famous for its salt-works, which had been established there by Ancus Martius. Its ruins, still called Ostia, are nearly three miles from the coast, in consequence of the receding of the sea.
- ↑ Now San Lorenzo. It was between Ostia and Antium.
- ↑ By some, Æneas was supposed to have been worshiped by that name.
- ↑ Now the river Numico.
- ↑ The ruins of this once great city may still be seen near the present village of the same name. Its situation was peculiarly unhealthy. Another tradition, besides the one mentioned by Pliny, was, that it was founded by a son of Ulysses and Circe. It was twenty-four miles distant from Rome.
- ↑ A temple of Venus, of which the ruins are still to be seen.
- ↑ Its few ruins are still known as Anzio Rovinato. It was famous for its temple of Fortune, addressed by Horace, Odes, i. 35. Near the site is the modern village of Porto d'Anzo.
- ↑ This island was occupied by villas of the Roman nobility, and was the resort of Cicero, Augustus and Tiberius. There is still a fortified town called the Torre di Astura.
- ↑ The modern Ninfa.
- ↑ "The Roman Bulwarks." They were thrown up to protect the frontier of the ancient kingdom of Rome from the inroads of the Volscians.
- ↑ To our previous note we may add that this spot was supposed to have been once inhabited by the enchantress Circe, the daughter of the Sun, and from her to have taken its name.
