Sulmo
Sulmo, also known as Sulmona, is a historic town located in central Italy, within the region of Abruzzo. It is notably situated on a plateau at the convergence of the Gizio and Vella rivers, which enriches the area with natural resources. Sulmo has a rich historical significance, having resisted Hannibal during the Second Punic War and later supporting Julius Caesar during his civil conflict with Pompey the Great. The town is most famously recognized as the birthplace of the renowned Roman poet Ovid, who hailed from a distinguished equestrian family and celebrated the region's abundant natural beauty, including its cold streams and agricultural wealth.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the layout of modern Sulmona retains elements of its ancient origins, reflected in its rectangular street design. Not far from the town lies the archaeological site of a large sanctuary dedicated to Hercules Curinus, often referred to as the "Villa of Ovid." This site features impressive terraced structures, including a temple and colonnades, and was historically significant for its religious festivals and associated rituals. Overall, Sulmo offers a unique glimpse into both its ancient past and its enduring cultural heritage.
Subject Terms
Sulmo
(Sulmona)
A town of the tribe of the Paeligni in central Italy, situated on a plateau near the confluence of the rivers Gizio and Vella. It resisted Hannibal during the Second Punic War (211) and, after becoming a municipium like other Italian cities, c 90/89, supported Julius Caesar in his civil war against Pompey the Great (49). Sulmo is chiefly famous, however, as the birthplace of the poet Ovid (43), who came from an old family of equestrian (knightly) rank. He describes the area as `rich in ice-cold streams.’ It also possessed grain, grapes and olives. The plan of the ancient habitation center can be deduced from the rectangular design of the medieval street plan preserved by the central section of the modern town.
Three and a half miles north of Sulmo, on the slopes of Mount Morrone, a large sanctuary of Hercules Curinus (known locally as the `Villa of Ovid’) has been excavated; it was one of the great Italian religious precincts associated with the name of the dictator Sulla (d. 78). On the highest of three terraces, supported by a massive polygonal wall, stands Hercules' temple. The middle terrace displays a colonnade and is linked by a monumental stairway to the third and lowest terrace, which is built of concrete and supported by massive vaults. It contained shops, constructed to serve the festivals associated with the sanctuary, and to provide materials for the sacrifices that accompanied these gatherings.