Strabo · c. 20 CE (Books I–VI likely composed/available by this period)
primary
passage 202 of 384 · BOOK I. > CHAPTER III. (9/11)
↪ you wandered here via “Venafrum olive varieties” — the connecting lines are tinted below
of those situated upon the Via Latina, may be said to be Campanian; as well as that of Cales,[1864] another considerable city which lies beyond, and is contiguous to Casilinum.[1865]
- As to the places situated on either side of the Via Latina, those on the right are between it and the Via Appia; of their number are
Setia[1866] and Signia,[1867] which produce wine, that of Setia being one of the dearest wines, and that called Signium the best for strengthening the stomach. Before this[1868] are Privernum,[1869]
Cora,[1870] Suessa,[1871] ‘Trapontium,’[1872] Velitræ,[1873]
Aletrium,[1874] and also Fregellæ,[1875] by which the Garigliano flows, which discharges itself [into the sea] near Minturnæ. Fregellæ, though now a village, was formerly a considerable city, and the chief of the surrounding places we have just named. Even now their inhabitants throng to it on market days, and for the performance of certain religious solemnities. Its defection from the Romans was the cause of its ruin.[1876] Both these, and also the cities lying on the Via Latina and beyond, situated in the territories of the Hernici, Æqui, and Volsci, were for the most part founded by the Romans. To the left of the Via
Latina, the cities between it and the Via Valeria, are, Gabii,[1877]
standing in the Via Prænestina, it possesses a stone-quarry, in greater demand at Rome than any other, and is at an equal distance of about 100
stadia between Rome and Præneste.[1878] Then Præneste, of which we shall have occasion presently to speak. Then, in the mountains above Præneste,
Capitulum, a small city of the Hernici, and Anagnia,[1879] a considerable city; Cereate,[1880] and Sora, by which the river
Garigliano[1881] flows as it passes on to Fregellæ, and Minturnæ. After these there are other places, and finally, Venafrum,[1882] from whence comes the finest oil. This city is situated on a high hill by the foot of which flows the Volturno,[1883] which passing by Casilinum,[1884]
discharges itself [into the sea] at a city[1885] bearing the same name as itself. Æsernia[1886] and Alliphæ,[1887] cities of the Samnites, the former was destroyed in the Marsian war,[1888] the other still remains.
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