DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0023
chap, xxxi.] THE SITE OP PUNICUM. 7
against Antiochus the Great. In the time of Rutilius it
was in utter ruin—absumptum fluctuque et tempore.*
Two miles and a half beyond, the road crosses the
shoulder of a low headland, on which stand a few buildings.
This promontory half embraces a tiny bay, with some
ruins of a Roman mole or breakwater. A few fishing-
boats are drawn up on the beach; the half-draped tawny
fishermen are sitting beneath their shade, mending their
nets; and two or three similar craft, with their latteen
sails glistening like snow in the sunbeams, are gliding
with swan-like motion over the blue waters. The hamlet
is called Santa Marinella, and is supposed to mark the site
of Punicum, a station on the Via Aurelia.5 A few furlongs
beyond, in a field by the road-side, are many traces of
Roman habitation, probably marking the site of a villa.
Here on the shore are a couple of ancient bridges standing in
picturesque ruin near the road, and marking the course
of the Via Aurelia along the coast. Excavations have
been made of late years in this neighbourhood by the
Duchess of Sermoneta, and many remains of Roman
magnificence have been brought to light.6
Were the traveller now to retrace his steps from Sta
Marinella for about a mile towards Civita Vecchia, and
cross the heath to the extremity of the range of hills
4 Rutil. I. 227. with the Panapio of the Maritime Itme-
6 Punicum is mentioned only by the rary.
Peutingerian Table. Nibby (Dintorni 6 In the winter of 1837, on the shores
diRoma, II. p. 313) thinks it must have of the little bay, were found remains of
taken its name from some pomegranate baths and other buildings, with mosaic
(malum, punicum) which flourished here, pavements, together with a singular
or from some heraldic device of this column, and a beautiful statue of Me-
character; but it is more likely to leager, now in the Museum of Berlin.
have arisen from the association of Mon. Ined. Inst. III. tav. LVIII. For
the place with the Carthaginians, as further notices, see Bull. Inst. 1838, p. 1;
Lanzi (Saggio, II. p. 61) suggests. 1839, p. 85; 1840, p. 115; Ann. Inst.
Cluver (II. p. 497) thinks it identical 1843, p. 237, et seq.
against Antiochus the Great. In the time of Rutilius it
was in utter ruin—absumptum fluctuque et tempore.*
Two miles and a half beyond, the road crosses the
shoulder of a low headland, on which stand a few buildings.
This promontory half embraces a tiny bay, with some
ruins of a Roman mole or breakwater. A few fishing-
boats are drawn up on the beach; the half-draped tawny
fishermen are sitting beneath their shade, mending their
nets; and two or three similar craft, with their latteen
sails glistening like snow in the sunbeams, are gliding
with swan-like motion over the blue waters. The hamlet
is called Santa Marinella, and is supposed to mark the site
of Punicum, a station on the Via Aurelia.5 A few furlongs
beyond, in a field by the road-side, are many traces of
Roman habitation, probably marking the site of a villa.
Here on the shore are a couple of ancient bridges standing in
picturesque ruin near the road, and marking the course
of the Via Aurelia along the coast. Excavations have
been made of late years in this neighbourhood by the
Duchess of Sermoneta, and many remains of Roman
magnificence have been brought to light.6
Were the traveller now to retrace his steps from Sta
Marinella for about a mile towards Civita Vecchia, and
cross the heath to the extremity of the range of hills
4 Rutil. I. 227. with the Panapio of the Maritime Itme-
6 Punicum is mentioned only by the rary.
Peutingerian Table. Nibby (Dintorni 6 In the winter of 1837, on the shores
diRoma, II. p. 313) thinks it must have of the little bay, were found remains of
taken its name from some pomegranate baths and other buildings, with mosaic
(malum, punicum) which flourished here, pavements, together with a singular
or from some heraldic device of this column, and a beautiful statue of Me-
character; but it is more likely to leager, now in the Museum of Berlin.
have arisen from the association of Mon. Ined. Inst. III. tav. LVIII. For
the place with the Carthaginians, as further notices, see Bull. Inst. 1838, p. 1;
Lanzi (Saggio, II. p. 61) suggests. 1839, p. 85; 1840, p. 115; Ann. Inst.
Cluver (II. p. 497) thinks it identical 1843, p. 237, et seq.