The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites
Richard Stillwell, William L. MacDonald, Marian Holland McAllister, Stillwell, Richard, MacDonald, William L., McAlister, Marian Holland, Ed.

LARINUM (Larino) Molise, Italy.

About 39 km N-NE of Campobasso, it was a city of the Frentani, perhaps at one time a part of Daunia. It dominates the valley of the Biferno river. Famous for its bronze coins of the 3d c. B.C., it was the birthplace of L. Cluentius, an Italian commander during the social war. It became a municipium and was inscribed in Regio II.

The ancient city rose ca. 1 km E of the modern one, in an area now near the railroad station in the district of Piano San Leonardo. The most notable remains are the amphitheater, the baths, and some polychrome mosaics which came to light in 1948-50. One of the mosaics represents the Lupercal; all are preserved near the town hall.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

G. D. Magliano, Larino (1895); H. Nissen, Italische Landeskunde, 11 (1902) 783; Head, Hist. Num. 28ff; EAA 4 (1961) 485 (V. Cianfarani).

G. COLONNA