Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume I Part 2.djvu/158

FIDENAE. FIDEICAE (*i89m, Strab., PtoU bat *tjMit^ in Dionjsiui, and the sinf^lmr form Fidkna is used by yvffii, Aen, ri. 773, and by Tacitus, Ann. iv, 62 : JStk, FideniB,-fttis; ^t^voTar, Dionys.: Casiel Gin- bileo), an ancient citj of Latinm, sitnated on the left Iwnk of the Tiber, and on the Via Salaria, five mike from Rome. There appears no doubt that it was ori* ginallj and properly a Latin city. Virgil mentions it among the colonies founded by the kings of Alba; and in aocordanca with the same view, Dkmysiua relates that Fidenae, Cmstnmerium, and Nomentum were founded by colonists from Alba led by three brothers, the eldest of whom was the founder of Fidenae. (Virg. Aen. vL 773; Dionys. ii. 53; Steph. B.«. v.) Still more decisive is it that its name is found in Pliny in the list of the towns that were accustomed to share in the sacrifices on the Alban Mount. (Plln. iii. 5. 8. 9. § 69.) On the other hand, Livy expressly tells us it was of Etruscan origin (" Nam Fidenates quoque Etrusd fuerunt," L 15); and not only gives this as a reason for the dose connection between the Veientes and Fidenates* but even notices that the people of Fidenae had only learnt the Latin language from their intercourse with the Boman cdouists (i. 27). The last statement is evidently a mere touch added by the historian himself, and only serves to prove his conviction of their Etruscan descent No other writer alludes to this extension of the Tuscan power ; and though Fidenae frequently appears in alliance with Veil (for which their relative poeitioo will sufficiently account), we find no trace of its holding any relations with the other Etruscan cities. The dose proximity of Fidenae to Rome would naturally bring it early into collision with the rising dty: and accordingly we find that hardly any other dty plays so important a part in the earliest history of Rome. All authors agree in representing it as engaged in war with Romulus : according to Plutarch {Rom, 1 7) it took part with Caenina and Antemnae in the war which anwe out of the rape of the women ; but ndther Livj nor Dionydus mentions it on that oc- canon, and both refer the first hostilities to the period after the death of Tatius. According to their ob- viously fabulous account the dty itself was taken by Romulus, who occupied it with a garrison or colony of 300 men ; a number exaggerated by Plutarch to the absurd amount of 2500 colonists, of whom he repre- sents 2000 as shortly after cut ofi" by the Etruscans. (Liv. L U, 15; Dionys. ii. 53; Pint Botn. 23, 25.) As usually happens in the early history of Rome, all trace of tl^Romulian colony subsequently disappears. Fidenae b noticed during the reign of Numa as an independent dty, maintaining friendly relations with the peaceful king, while under his successor Tullus Hostilins it again united with the neighbouring Veil against the growing power of Rome. (Dionys. ii. 72, ilL 6; lir. i. 27.) Their combined forces were defeated under the walls of Fidenae, and according to Dionysius the dty itself was soon after besieged by Tullus, and compelled to surrender. Yet after this we find Fidenae again engaging in succesdve wars with Ancus Marcius and Tarqninius Priscus, and, if we may believe the Roman historians, succes- sively captured by both monarchs, the latter of whom is even represented as having again established there a Roman colony. (Dionys. iiL 39, 40, 50, 57.) It is evident that no reliance can be placed upon these ftcts as historical; but the inference that Fidenae was really (as described by the Roman historians) a large and powerful dty, almost on a par with Vdi, maj fairly be admitted. It is remarkable also that FIDENAE. 899 it appefUTB to have held a very independent podtion, and appears sometimes in league with the Latins, at others with the Sabines, but most frequently with the Vdentes. After the expulaon of the Tarquins from Rome, Fidenae is represented as taking an active part in attempting their restoration, ai^ for this purpose entered into a league first with the Sa- bines, and afterwards with Uie Latins ; but both attempts proved abortive, and in n. a 496 the Fide- nates, abandoned by their allies, were compelled to surrender to the Roman anns. (liv. iL 19 ; Dionys ▼. 40, 43, 52, 60.) Hence the name of Fidenae does not appear in the list given by Dionynus immediatdy afterwards of the confederate dties of Latium, and it is probable that it did not at this time form part of the Latin League. From this time the Fidenates appear to have continued tranquil for a conddeiable period, tin in B. G. 438 they were again induced to unite with their old allies Uie Veientes, and by the murder of the Roman ambassadors produced an irremediable breach with the republic. Thdr combined fbroes were, however, again defeated by Gomdius Cossus under the very walls of Fidenae (Liv. iv. 17 — 19^ and a few years after Fidenae itself was again takm (Id. 22). Yet in b. c. 426 we find both the Vdentes and Fidenates once more in arms, and the latter ci^ was once more captured by the dictator QuinctiuB Pennus. (Id. iv. 31 — 34.) On this occadon we are toM that it was plundered, and the inhabitants sold as slaves ; and though it does not appear that the dtj itself was destroyed, — the expresdon of Florus, "Cremati suo igne Fidenates" (i. 12. § 4), being evidently a mere rhetorical fiourish derived from Livy's language, — its humiliation must have been ccHnplete ; for, with the exception of an obscure notice in Varro (^L.L. vi. 18) of a sudden outbreak of the people of Fidenae, Ficulea, and the ndghbouring towns just after the capture of Rome by Uie Gauls, we hear no more of Fidoiae as an independent ci^. (For the history of these wars, see Niebuhr, vol. ii., and Bormann, AU,'La tm uche ChorographU^ pp. 24 1 —245.) Though we have no account of the destruction of Fidenae, which according to Varro was certainly in existence after the Gaulish War, b. g. 389, it seems to have rapidly sunk into a state of complete decay, and before the close of the republic had dwindled into an indgnificant village. Cicero speaks of it as a veiy poor and decayed place; and Strabo terms it (like Collatia and Antemnae) a mere village, the ex- dudve property of one individual. Horace also refers to Fidenae and Gabii as almost proverbial instances of deserted villages ("Gabiis desertior atque Fidenis vicns," Hor. Ep. i. 1 1. 7) ; and Juvenal more than once refiirs to the same places as poor and rustic country towns (Cic. di Leg. Agr, ii. 35; Strab. V. p. 230 ; Juv. vi, 57, x. 100). Yet it is evident that Fidenae never loet its municipal rank: Cicero, in the passage already cited, mentiws it among the " oppida" of the ndghbourhood of Rome, which he contrasts with the fiourishing cities of Campania; and Juvenal notices it as retdning its local magistrates (** Fidenarum — potestas," x. 100), which are mentioned also in inscriptions. It is therefore a complete error on the part of Pliny to reckon Fidenae among the *' populi " ii Latium, which had become utterly extinct (iii. 5. s. 9); and, by a singular inadvertency, be himself afterwards men- tions the Fidenates among the Sabines in the fourth region of Augustus (iii. 12. s. 17). The Anio being taken as the limit of that region, Fidenae, as wdl as 3h 2