Geography

​And along the eastern part of Tyrrhenia runs Umbria, which takes its beginning from the Apennines and extends even further to the Adriatic. For indeed, starting from Ravenna, these people occupy the neighboring territories and, in order, Sarsina, Ariminum, Sena, and Marinon. In that very place are also the river Aesis, Mount Cingulum, Sentinum, the river Metaurus, and the temple of Tyche. For around these places are the boundaries of former Italy and Celtic territory on the side near this sea, although the rulers often changed them. Formerly, at least, they made the Aesis the boundary, but later the Rubicon river. The Aesis is between Ancon and Sena, and the Rubicon is between Ariminum and Ravenna, and both empty into the Adriatic. But now that the whole territory as far as the Alps has been designated as Italy, one must let these boundaries be, but as for Umbria, one must describe it according to which everyone agrees it nevertheless extends as far as Ravenna; for it is inhabited by them. Now, they say it is about three hundred stadia from here to Ariminum, and for one going from Ariminum to Rome along the Flaminian Way through Umbria, the entire route as far as Ocricli and the Tiber is one thousand three hundred and fifty stadia. This indeed is the length, but the width is unequal. Of the noteworthy cities inside the Apennine Mountains, along the Flaminian Way itself are Ocricli near the Tiber, and *Laroloni, and Narnia, through which flows the river Nar, which joins the Tiber slightly above Ocricli and is navigable for vessels of no great size; then Carsulae and Mevania, past which flows the Teneas, which also carries down the products of the plain to the Tiber in smaller boats. There are also other settlements which are populous rather because of the highway than because of a political system, namely Forum Flaminium, Nuceria which manufactures wooden vessels, and Forum Sempronium. On the right of the road for one walking from Ocricli to Ariminum are Interamna, Spoletium, Aesium, and Camertes, in the very mountains which bound the Picentine territory. On the other side are Ameria and Tuder, a well-fortified city, and Hispellum and Iguvium, the latter being already near the passes of the mountain. The whole country is prosperous, though a little mountainous, nourishing its people with spelt rather than wheat. Sabina, which is adjacent to this, is also mountainous, being stretched along in the same manner as this is along the Tyrrhenian coast; and those parts of Latium which lie near these and the Apennine Mountains are also more rugged. Now, these two nations begin from the Tiber and Tyrrhenia, and extend to the Apennine Mountains which lie obliquely towards the Adriatic, while Umbria also passes beyond them, as has been said, as far as the sea. Concerning the Umbrians, then, this is sufficient.