DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0188
SUTRI.
[chap. IV.
even a choice of hotels—the Aquila Nera is the best—
and the traveller will do well to make it his head-quarters
for excursions to Sutri, which lies about three miles to
the south. It must be confessed, however, that Sutri is
to be reached thence only by a wretched country-road,
which, if it resemble the ancient approaches to the town,
would almost incline us to believe that the proverb ire
Sutrium (to be prompt) was applied ironically.
Like most of the ancient towns in Southern Etruria,
Sutrium stood on a plateau of rock, at the point of junc-
tion of two of the deep ravines which furrow the plain
in all directions.6 Such I have shown to be the situa-
tion of the citadel, or most ancient portion of Veii;
and just in the same manner was Sutrium insulated, or
united to the main-land of the plain only by a narrow
neck. The extent of the town, therefore, was circum-
scribed ; the steep cliffs which formed its natural forti-
fications forbad its extension into the ravines. Veii,
however, crossed the narrow isthmus, and swelled out
over the adjoining table-land, just as Rome soon ceased
to be confined to the narrow plateau of the Palatine. But
the same principle of growth seems not to have existed in
Sutrium, and the town appears not to have extended
beyond the limits prescribed by nature.7 It was thus
precluded from attaining the dignity of a first-rate city—
from being enrolled among the Twelve of the Etruscan
Confederation—yet on account of its situation and strong
natural position it was a place of much importance, espe-
cially after the fall of Veii, when it was celebrated as one
of " the keys and gates of Etniria;" Nepete, a town very
6 The ground in the neighbourhood
of Sutri is much broken, and some
parts answer to the description given by
Livy (IX. 35)—aspreta strata saxis.
7 Nibby thinks the ancient city was
not confined to the single hill it now
occupies. (Dintorni di Roma, voce
Sutrium.)
[chap. IV.
even a choice of hotels—the Aquila Nera is the best—
and the traveller will do well to make it his head-quarters
for excursions to Sutri, which lies about three miles to
the south. It must be confessed, however, that Sutri is
to be reached thence only by a wretched country-road,
which, if it resemble the ancient approaches to the town,
would almost incline us to believe that the proverb ire
Sutrium (to be prompt) was applied ironically.
Like most of the ancient towns in Southern Etruria,
Sutrium stood on a plateau of rock, at the point of junc-
tion of two of the deep ravines which furrow the plain
in all directions.6 Such I have shown to be the situa-
tion of the citadel, or most ancient portion of Veii;
and just in the same manner was Sutrium insulated, or
united to the main-land of the plain only by a narrow
neck. The extent of the town, therefore, was circum-
scribed ; the steep cliffs which formed its natural forti-
fications forbad its extension into the ravines. Veii,
however, crossed the narrow isthmus, and swelled out
over the adjoining table-land, just as Rome soon ceased
to be confined to the narrow plateau of the Palatine. But
the same principle of growth seems not to have existed in
Sutrium, and the town appears not to have extended
beyond the limits prescribed by nature.7 It was thus
precluded from attaining the dignity of a first-rate city—
from being enrolled among the Twelve of the Etruscan
Confederation—yet on account of its situation and strong
natural position it was a place of much importance, espe-
cially after the fall of Veii, when it was celebrated as one
of " the keys and gates of Etniria;" Nepete, a town very
6 The ground in the neighbourhood
of Sutri is much broken, and some
parts answer to the description given by
Livy (IX. 35)—aspreta strata saxis.
7 Nibby thinks the ancient city was
not confined to the single hill it now
occupies. (Dintorni di Roma, voce
Sutrium.)