Nuceria Alfaterna
Nuceria Alfaterna, located in the Campania region of southwestern Italy, is an ancient town that has a rich historical significance. Originally established as a settlement by the Aurunci people, it was strategically positioned along routes connecting Etruria to southern Campania, making it an important crossroads in antiquity. The town played a notable role during the Second Samnite War, supporting the Samnites against Rome before ultimately falling under Roman control. Despite experiencing destruction during various conflicts, including the Second Punic War and a revolt led by Spartacus, Nuceria was reconstructed and evolved over time, becoming a Roman colony around 41 AD.
The town is also recognized for its local silver coinage and fine grey tufa, which was used in the construction of Pompeii. Throughout its history, Nuceria was marked by cultural exchanges and conflicts, including a notable incident involving a gladiatorial event in Pompeii that led to a violent confrontation between its citizens and those of Pompeii. The area faced natural disasters, such as earthquakes and the eruption of Vesuvius, which impacted its infrastructure. Today, the ancient center lies between the modern towns of Nocera Inferiore and Nocera Superiore, with archaeological findings providing insight into its long-standing heritage.
Nuceria Alfaterna
(Nocera Superiore, Inferiore)
A town in Campania (southwestern Italy) lying seven miles inland in fertile territory, near the foot of the peninsula of Surrentum (Sorrento). Originally a settlement of the Aurunci (known also as Ausonians), it stood at a crossroads on the highway from Etruria to southern Campania (later probably known as the Via Annia, c 131 BC), commanding an important pass. The headwaters of the Sarnus (Sarno) were nearby. In the Second Samnite War, Nuceria, which at this time exercised some control over neighboring towns, supported the Samnites against Rome (316), but fell to the Romans in 308. Nevertheless, in the third century it enjoyed the privilege of issuing its own silver coinage, inscribed `Nuvkrinum Alafaternum’ in Oscan. Fine-grained grey tufa quarried in the neighborhood was employed for the construction of houses at Pompeii, which it used as its port.
During the Second Punic War, Nuceria was destroyed by Hannibal (216), but was subsequently reconstructed. In the Social War between Rome and its allies (91–87), its suburbs were burned by the Samnite general Papius Mutilus, although after hostilities were over it may have received, in compensation, part of the lands of the obliterated city of Stabiae (Castellamare di Stabia). Spartacus' revolted slaves destroyed Nuceria again in 73. One of its products was a wealthy knight and adventurer named Publius Sittius, whom Julius Caesar rewarded with a principality in North Africa. About 41, during the Second Triumvirate, Nuceria was made a Roman colony—bearing the surname of Constantia—and was subsequently recolonized with drafts of ex-soldiers by Augustus and again by Nero (AD 57). Nero's settlement is recorded by Tacitus, who also describes a fight between the people of Nuceria and Pompeii two years later (depicted on a Pompeian painting). The Nucerian fans were visiting a gladiatorial show in the amphitheater of Pompeii, and came off worse in the struggle; many of their wounded and mutilated citizens had to be taken to Rome for treatment. In 62 their city was damaged by the earthquake that destroyed most of Pompeii. Seven years later occurred the short-lived reign of the emperor Vitellius, whose family came from Nuceria. In 79 the town must have been seriously affected by the eruption of Vesuvius.
The ancient center lay between the modern towns of Nocera Inferiore and Nocera Superiore, but little is known of its plan; shrines of Sarnus, Juno Sarrana and the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux) are recorded. The cemetery has yielded rich material, going back to the sixth century BC. The circular church of Santa Maria Maggiore (or della Rotonda) at Nocera Superiore is built over a baptistery of the fifth century AD; the dome of the church collapsed during the eruption of Vesuvius in 1944.