220 Br Charles Daubeny on the 



In one respect, indeed, even here the analogy held good ; 

 for, like the crater of Eocca Monfina, that of Monte Somma 

 seems to have been broken away on one side, by which the 

 troops of Spartacus must have entered it when besieged by 

 the Roman legions ; and it was by climbing up the sides of 

 that portion which continued entire, that the army alluded 

 to contrived to escape from their dangerous position, and to 

 take the enemy in the rear.* 



If such, then, was the condition of Rocca Monfina during 

 the early periods of the Roman Republic, we can hardly ima- 

 gine a position better calculated for the stronghold of such 

 a nation as the Aurunci are described to have been. 



Their outpost Suessa, situate, as we have seen, near the 

 bottom of the mountain, commanded the approach to it on 

 that side where it was most accessible, and secured to them 

 a communication with the sea, with the cities of the Pontine 

 Marshes, and with their possessions in Campania. 



If driven from thence, they had only to retreat to the sum- 

 mit of the mountain, where, posted on the external margin 

 of the crater, they would watch the movements of any invad- 

 ing force, long before it could gain the top of a mountain of 

 such height, and so difficult of access. In case of an attack, 

 they could drive their flocks and herds within the crater, 

 where they would find ample space and good pasturage, 

 without danger of molestation, unless, indeed, the enemy 

 were powerful enough to dislodge them from the vantage 

 ground which their army would occupy on the brim of the 

 crater, itself a natural fortress, inclosing within its ample 

 boundaries a large tract of fertile land. 



Even if compelled to relinquish this stronghold, they still 

 had it in their power to take refuge on the conical and pre- 

 cipitous mountain which rises up from the very centre of the 

 crater, where a small force might easily set at defiance a 

 host of invaders. 



On this mountain, called, from a cross which, till lately, 

 stood on its summit, the Monte de la Croce, they accordingly 

 appear to have placed their citadel ; for an Italian archseolo- 



♦ Plutarch, in Vit. Crassi. Florus III. 20. 



