Geography

​The Valerian road begins from Tibur, and leads to the Marsi and Corfinium, the metropolis of the Peligni. And on it are the Latin cities Varia, Carseoli, and Alba, and near them also the city Cuculum. Tibur, Praeneste, and Tusculum are within sight of those in Rome. Tibur, where is the temple of Hercules and the waterfall, which the Anio, being navigable, makes by falling from a great height into a deep and wooded ravine near the city itself. From there it passes through a very fertile plain past the quarries of Tiburtine stone and of that in Gabii, which is also called red stone, so that the carriage from the quarries and the transport by water are perfectly easy, since most of the works in Rome are constructed from there. And in this plain also flow the cold waters called Albula, from many springs, healthy for various diseases both to those who drink them and to those who bathe in them; and such also are the Labana, not far from these, on the Nomentan road and in the places around Eretum. Praeneste is where is the famous temple of Fortune, which delivers oracles. Both these cities happen to be situated on the same mountain range, and are distant from each other about one hundred stadia, and from Rome, Praeneste is even double this distance, and Tibur less. And they say that both are Greek; Praeneste, at least, was formerly called Polystephanus. Now each of them is strong, but Praeneste is much stronger; for it has as its citadel a high mountain above the city, and at the back separated from the continuous mountain range by a neck, rising above it even by two stadia of steep ascent. And in addition to its strength, it is pierced in all directions by secret passages down to the plains, some for the sake of water-supply, and others for secret exits, in one of which Marius, when besieged, died. Now, while for other cities a strong defense is considered a great advantage, for the Praenestines it has become a calamity on account of the Roman civil wars. For those who revolt take refuge there; and when they are forced to surrender, in addition to the ruin of the city, it happens that their land is confiscated, the blame being transferred to the guiltless. And the river Verestis flows through their territory. These mentioned cities are to the east of Rome.