ALBURNUS MONS
ALBURNUS MONS a mountain of Lucania, mentioned in a well-known passage of Virgil (
Georg. 3.146), from which we learn that it was in the neighbourhood of the river Silarus.
The name of
Monte Alburno is said by Italian topographers to be still retained by the lofty mountain group which rises to the S. of that river, between its two tributaries, the
Tanagro and
Calore. It is more commonly called the
Monte di Postiglione, from the small town of that name on its northern declivity, and according to Cluverius is still covered with forests of holm-oaks, and infested with gad-flies. (Cluver.
Ital. p. 1254; Romanelli, vol. i. p. 418; Zannoni,
Carta del Regno di Napoli.）
We find mention, in a fragment of Lucilius, of a
PORTUS ALBURNUS which appears to have been situated at the mouth of the river Silarus, and probably derived its name from the mountain. (Lucil.
Fr. p. 11, ed. Gerlach; Probus,
ad Virg. G. 3.146; Vib. Seq. p. 18, with Oberlin.)
[
E.H.B]
