Ostia may have been Rome's first colony. According to legend, Ancus Marcius, the fourth king of Rome, destroyed the area and founded the colony. An inscription seems to confirm the foundation of the ancient castrum of Ostia in the 7th century BC.
Archaeological evidence shows that the area around Rome has been inhabited since around 14,000 years ago. Excavations support the theory that Rome grew from pastoral settlements on the Palatine Hill, which was built over the area of the Roman Forum.
Sutri is an Ancient town, modern comune and former bishopric in the province of Viterbo, about 50 kilometres from Rome and about 30 kilometres south of Viterbo.
The modern comune of Sutri has a few more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Tarquinia, formerly Corneto, is an old city in the province of Viterbo, Lazio, Central Italy, known chiefly for its ancient Etruscan tombs in the widespread necropoleis, or cemeteries, for which it was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
In 1922, i
Tivoli is a town and comune in Lazio, central Italy, 30 kilometres north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills.
The Mithraeum of the Snakes preserves paintings of serpents, representing Genius Loci, part of an older private sanctuary, which were respected in the temple of Mithras.
Gessius Castus and Gessius Severus have placed a decorated stutue and left testimony on this inscription below.
TNMM571 – CIMRM 687
Dicatus V id(us) Sept(embres) Antonino aug(usto) II et sacerdote II co(n)s(ulibus)
N(umini) s(ancto) S(olis) i(nvicti) Mithrae / duo Gessi Castus / et Severus simu/lacrum exoma/tum voto posu/erunt.
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