[10] Ombrica lies along the eastern boundary of Tyrrhenia, and commencing from the Apennines, or rather beyond those mountains, [extends] as far as the Adriatic. For com- mencing from Ravenna, the Ombrici inhabit the neighbouring country together with the cities of Sarsina, Ariminum,1 Sena,2 † and Marinum. †3 To their country likewise belongs the river Esino,4 Mount Cingulum, [the city of] Sentinum,5 the river Metaurus, and the Fanum Fortunæ;6 for about these parts are the boundaries which separate ancient Italy and [Cisalpine] Keltica on the side next the Adriatic, although the boundary has frequently been changed by the chief men of the state. First they made the Esino the boundary; afterwards the river Rubicon: the Esino being between Ancona and Sena, and the Rubicon between Ariminum and Ravenna, both of them falling into the Adriatic. At the present day, however, since Italy comprehends the whole country as far as the Alps, we need take no further notice of these limits. All allow that Ombrica7 extends as far as Ravenna, as the inhabitants are Ombrici. From Ravenna to Ariminum they say is about 300 stadia. Going from Ariminum to Rome by the Via Flaminia, the whole journey lies through Ombrica as far as the city of Ocricli8 and the Tiber, a distance of 1350 stadia. This, consequently, is the length [of Ombrica]; its breadth varies. The cities of considerable magnitude situated on this side the Apennines along the Via Flaminia, are Ocricli on the Tiber, Laroloni,9 and Narnia,10 through which the Nera11 flows. This river discharges itself into the Tiber a little above Ocricli; it is not navigable for large vessels. After these are Carsuli and Mevania,12 past which latter the Teneas13 flows, by which river the merchandise of the plain is transported in small vessels to the Tiber. There are also other cities well populated, rather on account of the route along which they lie, than for their political importance. Such are Forum Flaminium,14 Nuceria15 where wooden vases are manufactured, and Forum Sempronium.16 Going from Ocricli to Ariminum, on the right of the way are Interamna,17 Spoletium,18 Asisium,19 and Camerta, situated in the mountains which bound Picenum. On the other side20 are Ameria,21 Tuder,22 a well-fortified city, Hispellum,23 and Iguvium,24 near to the passes of the mountain. The whole of this country is fertile, but rather too mountainous, and producing more rye25 than wheat for the food of the inhabitants. The next district, Sabina, is mountainous, and borders on Tyrrhenia in like manner. The parts of Latium which border on these districts and the Apennines are very rugged. These two nations26 commence from the Tiber and Tyrrhenia, and extend as far as the Apennines which advance obliquely towards the Adriatic: Ombrica extends, as we have said, beyond as far as the sea. We have now sufficiently described the Ombrici.
1 Rimini.
2 Sinigaglia.
3 Apparently an interpolation; vide Kramer's edition, vol. i. p. 358, n.
4 The Æsis.
5 Sentina.
6 Fano.
7 Umbria.
8 Otricoli.
9 No such city as this is mentioned in any other writer; the word as it now stands is evidently corrupt.
10 Narni
11 The ancient Nar.
12 Bevagna.
13 Mevania stood at the junction of the Tinia (now Timia) and the Topino.
14 Forfiamma, or Ponte-Centesimo, or the village of Vescia.
15 Nocera Camellaria.
16 Fossembruno.
17 Terni.
18 Spoleto.
19 Between Spoleto and Camerino.
20 The left side of the Via Flaminia.
21 Amelia.
22 Todi.
23 Hispello.
24 Eugubbio, or Gubbio, where the celebrated inscriptions were found in 1440.
26 Sabinaand Latium.
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