DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0087
chap, xxxiv.] VESTIGES OF ALSIUM. 71
villa7; but we have no subsequent record of it, and it was
probably destroyed by the Goths or Saracens, who devas-
tated this coast in the middle ages.8
Not a vestige of the Pelasgic or Etruscan town is now
visible; but there are extensive substructions of Roman
times along the beach. The fort, also, which was built in
the fifteenth century, has some ancient materials in its
walls. About a mile to the east are some very extensive
ruins on the shore, apparently of one of the Roman villas.9
Alsium, though its site had been pretty clearly indicated
by the notices of the ancients,1 had been well-nigh for-
gotten, when a few years since the enterprise of a lady
revived interest in the spot.
About a mile and a half inland from Palo, close to the
deserted post-house of Monteroni, and about twenty-two
miles from Rome, are four or five large tumuli, standing in
the open plain. They bear every appearance of being
natural hillocks—huge masses of tufo rising above the
surrounding level. Hence their ordinary appellation of
" Colli Tufarini." Yet their isolation and similarity to
the sepulchral mounds of Cervetri, induced the Duchess of
Sermoneta, in whose land they lay, to probe their recesses.
This was in 1838. One of the most regular in form,
which was about forty feet high, was found to be girt by
a low, basement wall of tufo masonry, which formed a
7 RutiL I. 224— on this coast between Pyrgi and Fre-
Nune villas grandes, oppida parva prius. gense. And so also the Maritime
From the mention made by the Peutin- Itinerary marks it as 9 miles from the
gerian Table we also learn that it existed latter, and 16 from the former town,
in the time of Theodosius. The Peutingerian Table is nearer the
8 Nibby, Dintorni di Roma, II. p. truth in calling it 10 miles from Pyrgi
526. {ut supra, page 4) ; but 12 is the true
9 Nibby (op. cit. p. 528) takes these distance. These discrepancies are of
ruins to be those of Pompey's villa, little importance; the general position
because the style of construction marks being thus indicated, the precise site
the latter days of the Republic. can be determined by extant remains.
1 Strabo (V. pp. 225, 226) places it
villa7; but we have no subsequent record of it, and it was
probably destroyed by the Goths or Saracens, who devas-
tated this coast in the middle ages.8
Not a vestige of the Pelasgic or Etruscan town is now
visible; but there are extensive substructions of Roman
times along the beach. The fort, also, which was built in
the fifteenth century, has some ancient materials in its
walls. About a mile to the east are some very extensive
ruins on the shore, apparently of one of the Roman villas.9
Alsium, though its site had been pretty clearly indicated
by the notices of the ancients,1 had been well-nigh for-
gotten, when a few years since the enterprise of a lady
revived interest in the spot.
About a mile and a half inland from Palo, close to the
deserted post-house of Monteroni, and about twenty-two
miles from Rome, are four or five large tumuli, standing in
the open plain. They bear every appearance of being
natural hillocks—huge masses of tufo rising above the
surrounding level. Hence their ordinary appellation of
" Colli Tufarini." Yet their isolation and similarity to
the sepulchral mounds of Cervetri, induced the Duchess of
Sermoneta, in whose land they lay, to probe their recesses.
This was in 1838. One of the most regular in form,
which was about forty feet high, was found to be girt by
a low, basement wall of tufo masonry, which formed a
7 RutiL I. 224— on this coast between Pyrgi and Fre-
Nune villas grandes, oppida parva prius. gense. And so also the Maritime
From the mention made by the Peutin- Itinerary marks it as 9 miles from the
gerian Table we also learn that it existed latter, and 16 from the former town,
in the time of Theodosius. The Peutingerian Table is nearer the
8 Nibby, Dintorni di Roma, II. p. truth in calling it 10 miles from Pyrgi
526. {ut supra, page 4) ; but 12 is the true
9 Nibby (op. cit. p. 528) takes these distance. These discrepancies are of
ruins to be those of Pompey's villa, little importance; the general position
because the style of construction marks being thus indicated, the precise site
the latter days of the Republic. can be determined by extant remains.
1 Strabo (V. pp. 225, 226) places it