Kitap 5
4.2
After the cities of the Ombrici, which are comprised between AriminumRimini. and Ancona, comes Picenum. The Picentini proceeded originally from the land of the Sabini. A woodpecker led the way for their chieftains, and from this bird they have taken their name, it being called in their language Picus, and is regarded as sacred to Mars. They inhabit the plains extending from the mountains to the sea; the length of their country considerably exceeds its breadth; the soil is every where good, but better fitted for the cultivation of fruits than grain. Its breadth, from the mountains to the sea varies in different parts. But its length; from the river AesisThe Fiumesino. to Castrum,Giulia Nova. sailing round the coast, is 800 stadia. Of its cities, Ancona is of Grecian origin, having been founded by the Syracusans who fled from the tyranny of Dionysius. It is situated upon a cape, which bending round towards the north forms a harbour; and it abounds in wine and wheat. Near to it is the city of Auxumon,Osimo. at a little distance from the sea. After it are Septempeda,S. Severino. Pneuentia,Probably for Pollentia, on the Chiento, opposite Urbisaglia. Potentia,Ruins, on the river Potenza, near to Porto di Recanati. and Firmum Picenum,Fermo. with its port of Castellum.Porto di Fermo. Beyond, is the temple of Cupra,Near to the river Monecchia, not far from Marano. built and dedicated by the Tyrrheni to Juno, who is named by them Cupra; and after it the river Tronto,Truentum. with a city of the same name.The position of this city is still disputed, it has been identified with Porto d’Ascoli, Torre di Seguro, and other places. Beyond this is Castrum Novum,Giulia Nova. and the river Piomba,Matrinus. flowing from the city of Adria,Atri. and having [at its mouth] the naval station of Adria, which bears the same name as itself. In the interior is [the city of Adria] itself and Asculum Picenum,Ascoli. a very strong position, upon which is built a wall: the mountains which surround it are not accessible to armies.The text is here defective. Above Picenum are the Vestini,The Vestini appear to have occupied the region where at present Aquila, Ofena, Civita Aquana, Civita di Penna, Civita di St. Angelo, and Pescara are situated. the Marsi,They inhabited the canton in which are built Tagliacozzo, Scurcola, Albi, Celano, Pescina, and the environs of Lake Celano. the Peligni,Inhabited the territories of Sulmona, Pentima, and Popolo. the Marucini,Occupied the district of Tieti or Chieti. and the Frentani,Inhabited the right bank of the Sangro, the territory of Guasto, the banks of the Trigno and Biferno, the district of Larino, the left bank of the Fortore, and extended north-west towards Pescara. a Samnitic nation possessing the hill-country, and extending almost to the sea. All these nations are small, but extremely brave, and have frequently given the Romans proofs of their valour, first as enemies, afterwards as allies; and finally, having demanded the liberty and rights of citizens, and being denied, they revolted and kindled the Marsian war.91 B. C. They decreed that Corfinium,Pentima near Popoli. the metropolis of the Peligni, should be the capital for all the Italians instead of Rome: made it their place d’armes, and new-named it Italica. Then, having convoked deputies from all the people friendly to their design, they created consulsThe first consuls were Q. Pompaedius Silo, and C. Aponius Mutilus; the praetors were Herius Asinius for the Marucini, C. Veltius Cato for the Marsi, M. Lamponius and T. Cleptius for the Leucani, Marius Egnatius Trebatius and Pontius Telesinus for the Samnites, C. Judacilius for the Apuli or Picentini, and A. Cluentius for the Peligni. Many other officers besides these distinguished themselves in the several campaigns of the Marsian war. and pretors, and maintained the war for twoA note in the French translation would make the duration of the Marsian war twelve years. years, until they had obtained the rights for which they struggled. The war was named the MarsianDiodorus Siculus agrees with Strabo, in asserting that this war was called Marsian, because it had been commenced by the Marsi, ̓ωνομᾶσθα δέ φησι μαοͅσικὸν [i. e. πόλεμον] ἐκ τῶν ἁοͅξάντων τῆς ἀποστάσεως. however, Velleius Paterculus asserts that the people of Asculum commenced the war, which was continued by the Marsi; and Livy (Epit. lib. lxxii.) makes the Picentini the first to raise the standard of revolt. war, because that nation commenced the insurrection, and particularly on account of Pompaedius.Quintus Pompaedius Silo. These nations live generally in villages, nevertheless they are possessed of certain cities, some of which are at some little distance from the sea, as Corfinium, Sulmo,Now Sulmona, about seven miles south-east of Corfinium. It was the birth-place of Ovid. Sulmo mihi patria est gelidis uberrimus undis. Ovid. Trist. iv. El. 9. Maruvium, Marruvium, veteris celebratum nomine Marri, Urbibus est illis caput. Sil. Ital. viii. 507. We must place this city, with Holstenius, at San Benedetto, on the eastern shore of the lake, where inscriptions have been found which leave no doubt on the subject. The coins of Marruvium have MARUB on the reverse and a head of Pluto. and TeateaNow Chieti, on the right bank of the Pescara. The family of Asinius Pollio came originally from this place. the metropolis of the Marrucini. Others are on the coast, as AternumPescara. on the Picentine boundary, so named from the river [Aternus], which separates the Vestini from the Marrucini. This river flows from the territory of Amiternum and through the Vestini, leaving on its right the Marrucini, who lie above the Peligni, [at the place where the river] is crossed by a bridge. The city, which bears the same name, (viz. Aternum,) belongs to the Vestini, but its port is used in common both by the Peligni and the Marrucini. The bridge I have mentioned is about 24 stadia from Corfinium. After Aternum is Orton,Ortona-a-Mare. a naval arsenal of the Frentani, and Buca,Romanelli, (tom. iii. p. 40,) founding his opinion on ancient ecclesiastical records and the reports of local antiquaries, informs us that the ruins of Buca exist at the present Penna. which belongs to the same people, and is conterminous with the Apulian Teanum.According to Holstenius and Romanelli, Civitate; according to others, Ponte Rotto. † OrtoniumKramer is of opinion that this passage, from Ortonium to life, is an interpolation posterior to the age of Strabo. is situated in the territory of the Frentani. It is rocky, and inhabited by banditti, who construct their dwellings of the wrecks of ships, and lead otherwise a savage life. † Between Orton and Aternum is the river Sagrus,Romanelli affirms that the mountain from which the river Alaro flows is called Sagra, and Cramer considers that river to be the ancient Sagrus. which separates the Frentani from the Peligni. From Picenum to the Apuli, named by the Greeks the Daunii,The Daunii formed only a portion of the Apuli. sailing round the coast, is a distance of about 490We have followed Kramer’s reading, τετοͅακοσίων ἐνενήκοντα. stadia.
