Greek Texts & Translations

Ardea. After this is Laurentum; ^note and above these lies Ardea, a colony of the Rutuli, 70 stadia from the sea; near to it is another temple of Venus, where all the Latini hold a public festival. These regions have been ravaged by the Samnitae, and only the traces of the cities left; but even these are reverenced on account of the arrival of Aeneas here, and of the religious rites which they say were bequeathed from those times. 6

At 290 stadia from Antium is Mount Circaeum, insulated by the sea and marshes. They say that it contains numerous roots, but this perhaps is only to harmonize with the myth relating to Circe. It has a small city, together with a temple to Circe and an altar to Minerva; they likewise say that a cup is shown which belonged to Ulysses. Between [Antium and Circaeum] is the river Stura, ^note which has a station for ships: the rest of the coast is exposed to the southwest wind, ^note with the exception of this small harbour of Circaeum. ^note Above this, in the interior, is the Pomentine plain: the region next to this was formerly inhabited by the Ausonians, who likewise possessed Campania: next after these the Osci, who also held part of Campania; now, however, as we have remarked, the whole, as far as Sinuessa, belongs to the Latini. A peculiar fate has attended the Osci and Ausonians; for although the Osci have ceased to exist as a distinct tribe, their dialect is extant among the Romans, dramatic and burlesque pieces composed in it being still represented at certain games which were instituted in ancient times. And as for the Ausonians, although they never have dwelt by the sea of Sicily, ^note it is named the Ausonian Sea. At 100 stadia from Circaeum is Tarracina, formerly named Trachina, ^note on account of its ruggedness; before it is a great marsh, formed by two rivers, the larger of which is called the Aufidus. ^note This is the first place where the Via Appia approaches the sea. This