were to be seen there, which were more ancient than Rome, and though exposed to the air, the colouring remained as fresh as when they were first executed; he further quotes the lines which recorded the name of the painter. Dignis digna loca picturis condecoravit Reginæ Junonis supremæ conjugis templum, Quem nunc et post semper ob artem hanc Ardea laudat. Another curious circumstance in the history of Ardea is recorded by Varro, who states that the era in which barbers were first introduced into Italy from Sicily was noted in the archives of that city. According to Varro, this epoch answered to the year 454 of Rome. (R. Rust. II. 2.) Strabo informs us, that the country about Ardea was marshy, and the climate consequently very unfavourable, (V. 22.) which is confirmed by Seneca (Ep. 105.) and Martial. Ardea solstitio, Castranaque rura petantur, IV. EP. 60. Notwithstanding the general unhealthiness of the situation, we hear of some Roman villas in this district, which, however, could only have been occupied in winter. One of them belonged to Pomponius Atticus, the great friend of Cicero. (Corn. Nep. vit. Att.8) Some warm springs, strongly impreg 8 Vulp. Vet. Lat. 1. vi. c. 6. Castrum Aphrodi sium. nated with sulphur, noticed by Vitruvius in the vicinity of Ardea, (VIII. 3.) still exist, under the name of la Solforata, near the Torre di S. Lorenzo, in the direction of Antium. Antiquaries are generally agreed in placing the Castrum Inui of Virgil (Æn. VI. 772.) near Ardea, but the exact situation of this ancient city is very uncertain. A modern writer on the topographical antiquities of Latium, however, remarks, that the name of Incastro, attached to the little stream near which the ruins of Ardea are situated, seems to preserve a memorial of the Castrum Inui. The authors who have made mention of this place, besides Virgil, are Silius Italicus, Sacra manus Rutuli, servant qui Daunia regna, and Martial, in a line already quoted, VIII. 359. Ardea solstitio, Castranaque rura petantur. IV. EP. 60. Ovid also speaks of it, when describing the navigation of the Epidaurian serpent. The position of the Aphrodisium, or temple of Venus, noticed by Strabo, (V. 232.) as being common to the Latins, is unknown. We may infer, however, from Pliny (III. 5.) and Mela, (II. 4.) hNibby, Viaggio Antiquario, t. ii. p. 268. that it was situated between Ardea and Antium. Strabo remarks, that the whole of the country which we have been traversing presented a desolate appearance, having never recovered from the ravages of the Samnites in one of their irruptions. (V. 232.) We may now leave the coast, since what remains to be considered in that direction will be more conveniently examined in describing the country of the ancient Volsci. Proceeding therefore into the interior of Latium from Ardea, in a north-westerly direction, we find the ruins of Lanuvium, which still Lanuvium. bears the appellation of Civita Lavinia, or Città della Vigna. The similarity of the two names has sometimes caused this city to be mistaken for Lavinium; but by the different positions of the two towns they are easily distinguished. Strabo informs us, that Lanuvium was situated to the right of the Appian way, and on a hill commanding an extensive prospect towards Antium and the sea. (V. 239.) If we are to believe Appian, (Civ. Bell. II. 20.) this city owed its origin to Diomed; but whatever claims that Grecian hero might lay to the foundation of other cities of Italy, we can hardly admit this story of Appian's without further confirmation. There is no very early mention of Lanuvium in the Roman history; but the title of " urbs fidelissima," given to it by Livy, (VI. 21.) indicates that it very soon sought the protection of the rising city. It is noticed, however, previous to this period, by the same author, as the place to which M. Volscius Fictor, whose false testimony had caused the banishment of Caso Quinctius, retired into exile. (Liv. III. 29.) Lanuvium did not always remain attached to Rome, but took part in the Latin wars with the neighbouring cities against that power. The confederates were however routed near the river Astura, not far from Antium; (Liv. VIII. 13.) and this defeat was soon followed by the subjugation of the whole of Latium. Lanuvium seems to have been treated with more moderation than the other Latin towns; for instead of being punished, the inhabitants were made Roman citizens, and their privileges and sacred rights were preserved, on condition that the temple and worship of Juno Sospita, which were held in great veneration in their city, should be common to the Romans also. (Liv. VIII. 14.) Lanuvium then became a municipium; and it remained ever after faithful to the Romans, particularly in the second Punic war, as we learn from Livy (XXVI. 8.) and Sil. Italicus. Quos Castrum, Phrygibusque gravis quondam Ardea Quos celso devexa jugo Junonia sedes VIII. 361. Lanuvio generate, inquit, quem Sospita Juno XIII. 364. When it received a Roman colony is not apparent, though we may conjecture, that, as it was exposed to the attack of Marius, (Epit. Liv. LXXX. App. Bell. Civ. I. 69.) it had been colonized a short time before by Sylla. This colony was afterwards reinforced by J. Cæsar, when dictator, (Front. de Col.) and appears to have continued in prosperity beyond the reign of Antoninus Pius, who seems to have been a peculiar patron of this cityi. Lanuvium and its district had the honour of giving birth to several distinguished characters in the annals of Rome. T. Annius Milo, the antagonist of P. Clodius, was a native of Lanuvium, and was on his way there to create a priest, probably of Juno, in virtue of his office of dictator of the city, when he met Clodius on the Appian way, and the rencounter took place which ended in the death of the latter. (Cic. pro Mil. c. 10.) The famous comedian Roscius was likewise born near Lanuvium, as we learn from Cic. de Div. I. 36. and de Nat. Deor. I. 28. To these we may add Q. Catulus the elder, L. Muræna, whose cause was so ably advocated by Cicero, (Orat. pro Mur. in fin.) and P. Sulpicius Quirinius, better known to us as the Cyrenius of St. Luke's Gospel, who was proconsul of Syria. (Luc. c. 2. and Joseph. XVIII. 1. and 2. Tacit. Ann. III. 48.) We learn also from Jul. Capitolinus and Æl. Lampridius, that the three Antonines were born here. The temple of Juno Sospita has been noticed already as being held in the highest veneration. Near it was a sacred grove, said to be tenanted by a dragon, possessing the peculiar faculty of distinguishing ladies who were chaste from those of an opposite description. This we learn from Propertius (IV. Eleg. 8.) Lanuvium annosi vetus est tutela draconis, Hic ubi tam raræ non perit hora moræ, i See the inscriptions collect ed by Vulpius, Vet. Lat. 1. viii. c. 2. k Several Roman families |