TREBULA
TREBULA (
Τρήβουλα: Eth.
Trebulanus:
Treglia), a city of Campania, situated in the district N. of the Vulturnus, in the mountain tract which extends from near
Cajazzo (Calatia) to the Via Latina. Pliny terms the citizens “Trebulani cognomine Balinienses,” probably to distinguish them from those of the two cities of the same name among the Sabines (
Plin. Nat. 3.5. s. 9); but the Campanian town seems to have been the most considerable of the three, and is termed simply Trebula by Ptolemy, as well as by Livy.
The first mention of the name occurs in B.C. 303, when we are told that the Trebulani received the Roman franchise at the same time with the Arpinates. (
Liv. 10.1.)
There seems no doubt that the Campanian city is here meant: and this is quite certain in regard to the next notice in Livy, where he tells us that the three cities of Compulteria, Trebula, and Saticula, which had revolted to Hannibal, were recovered by Fabius in B.C. 215. (Id. 23.39.) The “Trebulanus ager” is mentioned also by Cicero among the fertile districts of Campania, which Rullus proposed to distribute among the poorer Roman citizens (
Cic. de Leg. Agr. 2.2. 5); and we learn from Pliny that it was noted for its wines, which had rapidly risen in estimation in his day. (
Plin. Nat. 14.6. s. 8.) The Liber Coloniarum also mentions Trebula among the municipal towns of Campania.
It appears to have received a fresh body of settlers under Augustus, but without attaining the rank of a colony. (
Lib. Col. p. 238;
Plin. Nat. 3.5. s. 9;
Ptol. 3.1.68.)
The site of Trebula, which was erroneously fixed by Cluverius and some local writers to the S. of the Vulturnus, appears to be correctly identified by local antiquarians with a place called
Treglia or
Tregghia, at the foot of the
Pizzo S. Salvatore, about 6 miles N. of the Vulturnus and 8 NE. of
Capua. There are said to be considerable ancient remains upon the spot, which together with the resemblance of name would seem clearly to establish the position of the ancient city. (Romanelli, vol. iii. pp. 575, 576; Trutta,
Antichità Allifane. Diss. xxiii; Abeken,
Mittel-ltalien, p. 99.)
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