Arpinum
Arpinum | |
|---|---|
  Arpinum Location of ancient Arpinum in modern Lazio | |
| Coordinates: 41°38′52″N 13°36′35″E / 41.64778°N 13.60972°E | |
| Country | Roman Republic |
| Region | Latium |
| Founded | c. 7th century BC |
| Became | Modern Arpino |
| Government | |
| • Type | Roman municipium (after 90 BC) |
| Elevation | 447 m (1,467 ft) |
Arpinum was an ancient Roman city located in what is now Arpino, in the province of Frosinone, region of Lazio in central Italy, about 100 km southeast of Rome.[1] The town is notable for being the birthplace of two significant figures of the Roman Republic: Gaius Marius and Marcus Tullius Cicero.[2]
History
[edit]
Pre-Roman period
[edit]The ancient settlement of Arpinum dates back to at least the 7th century BC. Archaeological evidence and historical accounts connect the site initially with the Pelasgi, an ancient people mentioned in classical sources. The settlement was later controlled by the Volsci, an Italic tribe that frequently came into conflict with early Rome.[3]
Beside the Roman town, there are fortified remains of a much earlier Samnite settlement. The high defensive walls feature the polygonal masonry construction associated with this people, including a distinctive pointed arch that can still be seen today. These structures generally date from the early Roman period to about 400 BC. Arpinum, along with Atina and Cominium, was known as a Samnite stronghold before Roman conquest.[4]
Roman period
[edit]The Romans captured Arpinum in 305 BC and granted it civitas sine suffragio (citizenship without voting rights), a status often given to newly incorporated territories. In 188 BC, the city received full voting rights in Roman elections, and in 90 BC, following the Social War, it was granted the status of a municipium.[3]
Arpinum gained particular prominence for producing two significant Roman consuls despite being a provincial town:
1. Gaius Marius (157–86 BC) – A Roman general and statesman who was elected consul an unprecedented seven times. He reformed the Roman military and was instrumental in defeating the Cimbri and Teutones invasions that threatened Italy in 101 BC.
2. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) – One of Rome's greatest orators, statesmen, and philosophers. As consul in 63 BC, he suppressed the Catilinarian conspiracy. In his speeches before Roman courts, Cicero would often praise his hometown's contributions to the Republic when political opponents attacked him as a "foreigner" from outside Rome proper.[2]
Cicero maintained a deep attachment to Arpinum throughout his life. In letters to his friend Atticus, he frequently referred to the peace and quiet of his beloved birthplace. He owned a villa near Arpinum, believed to be located in the Liri valley, a little north of the modern Isola del Liri. The current church of S. Domenico is thought to mark this site.[3]
There is also an oral tradition suggesting that Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, the famous general and son-in-law of Emperor Augustus, may have been a native of Arpinum, though historians have not been able to confirm his birthplace conclusively.[5]
Post-Roman period
[edit]After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the settlement continued to exist but gradually evolved into the medieval town that would eventually become the modern Arpino. In the early Middle Ages, the Roman duchy and the Duchy of Benevento contended for control of the strategically positioned settlement.
Archaeological remains
[edit]
Several significant archaeological features of ancient Arpinum remain visible in modern Arpino:
- Circuit walls in polygonal masonry – These impressive defensive structures stand up to 11 feet in height and up to seven feet in width.[3] The walls feature distinctive Pelasgian or Cyclopean construction techniques dating to the pre-Roman period.[6]
- Ogive arch – A rare example of a pointed arch in ancient Italian construction, incorporated into the defensive walls. This distinctive architectural feature predates the widespread use of pointed arches in medieval architecture by centuries.
- Roman roads and pavements – Sections of ancient Roman basalt pavement remain visible in parts of modern Arpino, indicating the town's integration into the Roman road network.
- Ancient bridge – Near the supposed site of Cicero's villa lies an ancient bridge that was part of a road connecting Arpinum to Cereatae (modern Casamari), the birthplace of Gaius Marius.[3]
Cultural significance
[edit]Arpinum occupies a notable place in Roman historical consciousness as a provincial town that produced two of the Republic's most influential figures. It became emblematic of the Roman meritocratic ideal, where talent and ability could overcome humble origins. Cicero, in particular, used his Arpinate origin as a rhetorical device in his speeches, positioning himself as both an outsider to corrupt Roman politics and as a representative of traditional Italian values.
In later centuries, the connection to Cicero would make Arpinum an important destination for scholars and those interested in classical history, particularly during the Renaissance and the Grand Tour period.
In art and literature
[edit]
Arpinum features in several notable artistic works:
- The Welsh landscape painter Richard Wilson (1714–1782) created a romantic landscape depicting "Cicero with his friend Atticus and brother Quintus, at his villa at Arpinum."
- The site is mentioned frequently in Cicero's own writings, particularly in his letters to Atticus, where he often expressed fondness for his birthplace.
See also
[edit]- Arpino – The modern Italian comune located at the site of ancient Arpinum
- Cicero – Roman statesman and orator born in Arpinum
- Gaius Marius – Roman general and statesman born near Arpinum
- Roman Republic – The political entity that incorporated Arpinum
- Volsci – Italic tribe that originally controlled the area
References
[edit]- ^ Richard Stillwell (14 March 2017). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Princeton University Press. pp. 95–. ISBN 978-1-4008-8658-6.
- ^ a b Roselaar, Saskia T. (2016). "Cicero and the Italians". In du Plessis, Paul J. (ed.). Cicero and the Italians: Expansion of Empire, Creation of Law. Rethinking Roman Law of the Late Republic. Edinburgh University Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-4744-0882-0. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctt1g050m4.14.
- ^ a b c d e One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Ashby, Thomas (1911). "Arpino". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 641.
- ^ Dal Maso, Leonardo B; Vighi, Roberto (1979). Archeological Latium. Bonechi, Edizioni "Il Turismo".
- ^ Reinhold, Meyer (1933). Marcus Agrippa: A Biography. Geneva: W. F. Humphrey Press. p. 9. ISBN 9788870624144.
- ^ Charles Kelsall (1820). Classical Excursion from Rome to Arpino. author. pp. 88–.
Sources
[edit]- Purcell, N; Talbert, R; Elliott, T; Gillies, S; Becker, J (18 December 2020). "Places: 432700 (Arpinum)". Pleiades. Retrieved February 28, 2012.