Lanuvium

Vestiges of the Age of Iron show that Lanuvium is born from a synœcism of villages starting from IXe front S.J. - C. the sanctuary of Junon Sospita, one of most important of Latium, exists as of the antiquated time. The goddess is identified in Héra d' Argos and is represented with the covered head of a goatskin and shoes with raised point, army of a bilobate shield and a lance. The worship would have been introduced by Diomède. It is about a goddess matronale and warlike, rather near to Héra Argienne de Paestum (Héraion of the mouths of the Saddle). The aspect chtonien appears in the worship of the snake (which one raised in a cave and to which one once introduced per annum the young people of Lanuvium to prove their virginity). According to Appien (BC, II, 20), Lanuvium is founded by Diomède. Inscriptions attest various traditions. A fragment of decree, discovered in Centuripe, relates to the renewal of a treaty between Centuripe and Lanuvium. One cannot explain it that within the framework them traditions made come Sicules from Latium. One also discovered a fragment of Fabius Pictor in the gymnasium of Taormine, according to which Lanuvius, hero éponyme of Lanuvium, would have been the ally of Enée and Ascagne. Lanuvium is integrated in the Roman State from 338.

Del Guerriero fell is the single tomb riding of aristocrat discovered in antiquated Latium. It is made of a large sarcophagus of peperino containing a panoply of warrior (armor, gilded helmet, sword, point of lance). The material dates from the beginning Ve S. and gives an idea of the equipment of the Latin riders which took part in the battle of the lake Régille (Museo delle Terme in Rome). Among the inhabitants of Lanuvium are famous the author of comedies Luscius Lanuvinus (contemporary of Terence) and Q. Roscius, celebrates actor of the time of Sylla and César. The most important family is that of Licinii Murenae (of which the consul L. Licinius Murena in 62, defended by Cicéron). The urban core lost any consistency at the end of the Republic and the territory becomes populated villae. Antonins frequently remain there. It is the birthplace of Antonin and Commode. The current village occupies part of the ancient site, which extended from the hill S. Lorenzo in North (with the acropolis and the temple of Junon) to the delle church Grazie in the South. The current one via S. Lorenzo takes again the layout of the ancient main street. One can see vestiges of the temple of Junon Sospita between the seminar and the Sforza villa.

On the first earthwork, one sees vestiges of the temple (temple Tuscan with alae), with foundations in blocks of tuff. One can distinguish at least 3 phases: an antiquated phase (end Life S., with architectonic terra cotta, British Museum); republican phase (IVe-IIIe S.); great repair, in the medium Ier front S.J. - C., in opus reticulatus. One finds also gantry and complex network of galleries dug in rock (perhaps the place where one raised the snakes), as well as vestiges of an arc which marked the entry of the sanctuary. A group of hellenistic statues was also discovered (probably offered by L. Licinius Murena). The rebuilding of the sanctuary is probably due to L. Licinius Murena. According to Pline the Old one (HN, XXXV, 17), the sanctuary is in ruins under the Empire (it mentions antiquated paintings representing Atalante and Helene). One can also see vestiges of the theater (IIe front S.J. - C.). Further a sanctuary of Hercules of IVe-IIIe S. is, with inscriptions, vestiges of the podium in opus quadratum of tuff.

Bibliography

F. Coarelli, Dintorni di Roma, Guide Archeologiche Laterza, Rome-Bari, 1981.

L. Quilici, S. Quilici Gigli, I Volsci. Testimonianze E leggende, Rome, 1997.

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