Venafrum
Encyclopedia
Venafrum was an ancient town of Campania
, Italy
, close to the boundaries of both Latium adiectum
and Samnium
. Its site is occupied by the modern Venafro
, a village on the railway from Isernia
to Vairano, 25 km southwest of the former, 201 m above sea-level.
Ancient authors tell us but little about it, except that it was one of those towns governed by a prefect
sent yearly from Rome, and that in the Social War it was taken by the allies by treachery. Augustus
founded a colony there and provided for the construction of an aqueduct
(cf. the long decree relating to it in Corp. Inscr. Lat. x. No. 4842). It seems to have been a place of some importance. Its olive oil
was the best in Italy, and Cato
mentions its brickworks and iron manufactures. The original line of the Via Latina
probably ran through Venafrum, making a detour, which the later road seems to have avoided. Rufrae was probably dependent on it. Roads also ran from Venafrum to Isernia
and to Telesia by way of Allifae
. Of ancient remains hardly anything is left, some traces of an amphitheatre and fragments of polygonal walls only.
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, close to the boundaries of both Latium adiectum
Latium adiectum
Latium adiectum or Latium Novum is an ancient Roman geographical term used at least as early as the 1st century BC, when mention of it occurs in Pliny in conjunction with Latium antiquum, the original territory of the Latini tribe...
and Samnium
Samnium
Samnium is a Latin exonym for a region of south or south and central Italy in Roman times. The name survives in Italian today, but today's territory comprising it is only a small portion of what it once was. The populations of Samnium were called Samnites by the Romans...
. Its site is occupied by the modern Venafro
Venafro
Venafro is a comune in the province of Isernia, region of Molise, Italy. It has a population of around 12,000, having expanded quickly in the post-war period.-Geography:...
, a village on the railway from Isernia
Isernia
Isernia Isernia Isernia (Latin: Aesernia or, in Pliny and later writers, Eserninus, or in the Antonine Itinerary, Serni is a town and comune in the central Italian region of Molise, and the capital of Isernia province.- Geography :...
to Vairano, 25 km southwest of the former, 201 m above sea-level.
Ancient authors tell us but little about it, except that it was one of those towns governed by a prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
sent yearly from Rome, and that in the Social War it was taken by the allies by treachery. Augustus
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...
founded a colony there and provided for the construction of an aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
(cf. the long decree relating to it in Corp. Inscr. Lat. x. No. 4842). It seems to have been a place of some importance. Its olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
was the best in Italy, and Cato
Cato the Elder
Marcus Porcius Cato was a Roman statesman, commonly referred to as Censorius , Sapiens , Priscus , or Major, Cato the Elder, or Cato the Censor, to distinguish him from his great-grandson, Cato the Younger.He came of an ancient Plebeian family who all were noted for some...
mentions its brickworks and iron manufactures. The original line of the Via Latina
Via Latina
The Via Latina was a Roman road of Italy, running southeast from Rome for about 200 kilometers.It led from the Porta Latina in the Aurelian walls of Rome to the pass of Mons Algidus; it was important in the early military history of Rome...
probably ran through Venafrum, making a detour, which the later road seems to have avoided. Rufrae was probably dependent on it. Roads also ran from Venafrum to Isernia
Isernia
Isernia Isernia Isernia (Latin: Aesernia or, in Pliny and later writers, Eserninus, or in the Antonine Itinerary, Serni is a town and comune in the central Italian region of Molise, and the capital of Isernia province.- Geography :...
and to Telesia by way of Allifae
Allifae
Allifae was an ancient town of Italy, a center of Oscan or Samnite origin, situated in the valley of the Vulturnus, at the foot of the lofty mountain group now called the Monte Matese, c...
. Of ancient remains hardly anything is left, some traces of an amphitheatre and fragments of polygonal walls only.