Page:The geography of Strabo (1854) Volume 1.djvu/369

 B. v. c. in. 12. ITALY. LATIUM. 355 For hither the revolutionary movers take refuge, and when at lust they surrender, in addition to the injury sustained by the city during the war, the country is confiscated, and the guilt thus imputed to the guiltless. The river Verestis 1 flows through this region. The said cities are to the east of Rome. 12. But within-side the chain of mountains, [where these cities are situated,] there is another ridge, leaving a valley be- tween it and Mount Algidus ; it is lofty, and extends as far as Mount Albanus. 2 It is on this ridge that Tusculum is situated, a city which is not wanting in adornment, being entirely sur- rounded by ornamental plantations and edifices, particularly that part of it which looks towards Rome. For on this side Tusculum presents a fertile hill, well irrigated, and with numerous gentle slopes embellished with majestic palaces. Contiguous are the undulating slopes of Mount Albanus, which are equally fertile and ornamented. Beyond are plains which extend some of them to Rome and its environs, others to the sea ; these latter are unhealthy, but the others are salubrious and well cultivated. Next after Albanum is the city Aricia, on the Appian Way. It is 160 stadia from Rome. This place is situated in a hollow, and has a strong citadel. 3 Beyond it on one side of the way is Lanuvium, 4 a Roman city on the right of the Via Appia, and from which both the sea and Antium may be viewed. On the other side is the Artemisium, 5 which is called Nemus, 6 on the left side of the way, leading from Aricia to the temple. 7 They say that it is consecrated to Diana Taurica, and certainly the rites performed in this temple are something barbarous and Scythic. They appoint as priest a fugitive who has murdered the pre- ceding priest with his own hand. Apprehensive of an attack upon himself, the priest is always armed with a sword, ready for resistance. The temple is in a grove, and before it is a 1 The Abbe Chaupy is inclined to think that this was a name given to the part nearest the source of the river which Strabo, 9, calls the Trerus, but Kramer thinks it was originally written 6 Tpjjpoc, and corrupted by the copyists. 2 Monte Cavo. 3 We have translated literally tx tl $' vpuq ipv/jivfiv aicpav, but it is possible that Strabo may have meant that the citadel was built on a height above the town ; if so the citadel would occupy the site of la Riccia. 4 Civita Lavinia, or, Citta della Vigna. 5 Or Grove of Diana. 6 Nemus Arieiae. 7 The text here appears to be mutilated. 2 A 2