Lucus Feroniae
Encyclopedia
Lucus Feroniae was an ancient sacred grove
("lucus
") dedicated to the Sabine
goddess Feronia
. It was located in Etruria
, across the ancient Via Tiberina, in what is now the territory of the modern commune of Capena
, Lazio, next to the border with the neighbouring commune of Fiano Romano
.
It was visited both by Latins
and Sabines even in the time of Tullus Hostilius
and was plundered by Hannibal in 211 BCE. In Imperial
times it became an independent community receiving a colony of Octavian
's veterans (Colonia Iulia felix Lucoferensis) and possessing an amphitheatre
, capable of housing up to 5,000 spectators, a basilica
, a forum, baths and numerous other edifices. See Feronia (Etruria)
.
A museum houses parts of statues, some of them with interchangeable hands and heads, depending from the current emperor ruling.
Sacred grove
A sacred grove is a grove of trees of special religious importance to a particular culture. Sacred groves were most prominent in the Ancient Near East and prehistoric Europe, but feature in various cultures throughout the world...
("lucus
Lucus
In ancient Roman religion, a lucus is a sacred grove.Lucus was one of four Latin words meaning in general "forest, woodland, grove" , but unlike the others it was primarily used as a religious designation...
") dedicated to the Sabine
Sabine
The Sabines were an Italic tribe that lived in the central Appennines of ancient Italy, also inhabiting Latium north of the Anio before the founding of Rome...
goddess Feronia
Feronia (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion, Feronia was a goddess broadly associated with fertility and abundance. She was especially honored among plebeians and freedmen...
. It was located in Etruria
Etruria
Etruria—usually referred to in Greek and Latin source texts as Tyrrhenia—was a region of Central Italy, an area that covered part of what now are Tuscany, Latium, Emilia-Romagna, and Umbria. A particularly noteworthy work dealing with Etruscan locations is D. H...
, across the ancient Via Tiberina, in what is now the territory of the modern commune of Capena
Capena
Capena is a town and comune in the province of Rome, Lazio region . The town has borrowed its modern name from a pre-Roman and Roman settlement that was located three kilometres to its north....
, Lazio, next to the border with the neighbouring commune of Fiano Romano
Fiano Romano
Fiano Romano is a town and comune in the province of Rome, Italy, approximately 40 kilometers north that city. It is the birthplace of the Italian actress Sabrina Ferilli....
.
It was visited both by Latins
Latins
"Latins" refers to different groups of people and the meaning of the word changes for where and when it is used.The original Latins were an Italian tribe inhabiting central and south-central Italy. Through conquest by their most populous city-state, Rome, the original Latins culturally "Romanized"...
and Sabines even in the time of Tullus Hostilius
Tullus Hostilius
Tullus Hostilius was the legendary third of the Kings of Rome. He succeeded Numa Pompilius, and was succeeded by Ancus Marcius...
and was plundered by Hannibal in 211 BCE. In Imperial
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
times it became an independent community receiving a colony of Octavian
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
's veterans (Colonia Iulia felix Lucoferensis) and possessing an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
, capable of housing up to 5,000 spectators, a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
, a forum, baths and numerous other edifices. See Feronia (Etruria)
Feronia (Etruria)
Feronia or Lucus Feroniae was an ancient town of southern Etruria, at the foot of Mount Soracte, within the territory of Capena, with a celebrated temple or shrine of the goddess from whom it derived its name, and a sacred grove, attached to it...
.
A museum houses parts of statues, some of them with interchangeable hands and heads, depending from the current emperor ruling.