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Strabo · c. 20 CE (Books I–VI likely composed/available by this period)
primary
passage 194 of 384 · BOOK I. > CHAPTER III. (1/11)
in brief
He describes Sabina’s geography, ancient origins, fertility, roads, and then turns to Latium around Rome, recounting myths of Aeneas, Lavinium, Alba, and the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus.
- The Sabini occupy a narrow country, its length from the Tiber and the small city of Nomentum[1791] to the Vestini being 1000 stadia. They have but few cities, and these have suffered severely in their continual wars
[with the Romans]. Such are Amiternum[1792] and Reate,[1793] which is near to the village of Interocrea[1794] and the cold waters at Cotyliæ, which are taken by patients, both as drink and as baths, for the cure of various maladies. The rocks of Foruli,[1795] likewise, belong to the
Sabini; fitted rather for rebellion than peaceable habitation. Cures is now a small village, although formerly a famous city: whence came Titus
Tatius and Numa Pompilius, kings of Rome. From this place is derived the name of Quirites, which the orators give to the Romans when they address the people. Trebula,[1796] Eretum,[1797] and other similar places, must be looked upon rather as villages than cities. The whole land [of
Sabina] is singularly fertile in olive-trees and vines, it produces also many acorns, and besides has excellent cattle: the mules bred at
Reate[1798] are much celebrated. In one word the whole of Italy is rich both in cattle and vegetable productions; although certain articles may be finer in some districts than in others. The race of the Sabini is extremely ancient, they are Autochthones. The Picentini and Samnitæ
descend from them, as do the Leucani from these latter, and the Bruttii again from these. A proof of their antiquity may be found in the bravery and valour which they have maintained till the present time.
Fabius,[1799] the historian, says that the Romans first knew what wealth was when they became masters of this nation. The Via Salaria, which however does not extend far, runs through their country: the Via
Nomentana, which commences likewise at the Porta Collina, falls in with the Via Salaria near to Eretum, a village of Sabina lying above the
Tiber.
topics:
agriculture and the land · geography and the description of places · myth and the gods of the nations
The Geography of Strabo, Volume 1 (of 3) · Strabo · 20
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