Chap. 9.] ACCOUNT Or COUNTttlES, ETC. 193 



the Pelasgi, the Arcades, the Seculi, the Aurunci, the Riituli., 

 and, beyond Circeii, the Volsci, the Osci, and the Ausones 

 whence the name of Latium came to be extended as far as 

 the river LirisV 



We will begin with Ostia^, a colony founded by a king of 

 E/ome, the town of Laurentum^, the grove of Jupiter Indi- 

 ges'', the river Numicius^and Ardea", founded by Danae, the 

 mother of Perseus. Next come the former site of Aphro- 

 disium', the colony of Antium*, the river and island called 

 Astura*, the river Nymphaeus^", the Clostra Eomana", and 

 Circeii ^^, formerly an island, and, if we are to believe Homer, 

 surrounded by the open sea, though now by an extensive plain. 

 The circumstances which Vire are enabled to publish on this 

 subject for the information of the world are very remarkable. 

 Theophrastus, the first foreigner who treated of the affairs of 

 Eome with any degree of accuracy (for Theopompus, before 

 whose time no Greek writer had made mention of us, only 



^ Now the GarigUano, the same river which he previously callB the 

 Glanis. It was the boundary between Latium and Campania. 



2 Founded by Ancus Martius, as we learn from Livy. It was aban- 

 doned under the Emperor Claudius, who built the Portus Romanus or 

 Portus Augusti in its vicinity ; and it only continued famous for its salt- 

 works, which had been estabhshed there by Ancus Martius. Its nxins, 

 BtiU called Ostia, are nearly three miles from the coast, in consequence of 

 the receding of the sea. 



3 Now San Lorenzo. It was between Ostia and Antium. 



* By some, ^neas was supposed to have been worshiped by that 

 name. * Now tne river Numico. 



^ The ruins of this once great city may still be seen near the present 

 village of the same name. Its situation was pecuUarly imhealthy. An- 

 other tradition, besides the one mentioned by Phny, was, that it was 

 founded by a son of Ulysses and Cii-ce. It was twenty-four miles distant 

 from Rome. 



7 A temple of Venus, of which the ruins are stiU to be seen. 



*• Its few ruins are still known as Anzio Rovinato. It was famous for 

 its temple of Fortune, addressed by Horace, Odes, i. 35. Near the site is 

 the modem village of Porto d'Anzo. 



^ This island was occupied by villas of the Roman nobility, and was 

 the resort of Cicero, Augustus and Tiberius. There is still a fortified 

 town called the Torre di Astura. " The modem Ninfa. 



" "The Roman Bulwarks." They were thrown up to protect the 

 frontier of the ancient kingdom of Rome from the inroads of the Volscians' 



^' To our previous note we may add that this spot was supposed to 

 have been once inhabited by the enchantress Circe, the daughter of the 

 Sun, and from her to have token its name. 



YOI-. I. O 



