Τυσκλανοὶ

Nomenclature

Greek Names: Τυσκλανοὶ, Τουσκλάνοι

Latin Name:Tusculani

Anglicized Name: Tusculans

Contents

Location

Tusculum
Tusculum was located on a hill in Latium, about 15 miles southeast of Rome. This city was known for its luxurious villas that housed wealthy Romans, like Cicero and Lucullus. The location was important for its situation between Rome and the lands of the Volsci and Aequi, as its high position allowed for control of the route leading north from the Algidus Pass to Rome . Many famous Roman families came from Tusculum, including the Mamilii, the Fulvii, the Fonteii, the Iuventii, and the Porcii.

Cicero’s villa, whose exact location has been disputed, used water from the Aqua Crabra. Cicero paid the Tusculans water rent for its use.

Map of Rome and nearby cities, including Tusculum

Origins

Archaeological evidence suggests that Tusculum dates to the 9th century BC. It was a powerful city in early Latium, leading the Latins into battle in the 5th century BC.

The name of Tusculum is of Italic origin and it refers to a region where Latin peoples recorded earlier Etruscan settlements. Ancient sources associated the Tusculans with the Etruscans, but these may have been aetiological stories to explain the name of Tusculum.

The mythical founder of Tusculum was Telegonus, the son of Odysseus and Circe.

Sociopolitical Organization

The Tusculans were ruled by a dictator, the most notable being Octavius Mamilius, who died in 496 BC. He was said to be descended from Odysseus and Circe by way of their son, Telegonus.

Tusculum came under Roman control in 381 BC, but was self-governing. In the Late Republic and Early Empire, Tusculum was a municipium and a popular resort for wealthy Romans.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Tusculum was governed under a comes and had a much smaller population.

Customs and Beliefs

Religion

Temples of the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux) and of Jupiter Maius were located in Tusculum. The cult of the Dioscuri spread to Rome via the Latin cities, especially Tusculum, where it was especially important.

During the Roman Imperial era, the cult of the emperors was associated with the Dioscuri, which was a prominent, if not the most prominent, cult in Tusculum. Tiberius and his brother Drusus were especially associated with the Dioscuri.

Written evidence has indicated that Tusculum took part in the cult of Diana. One lucus, or sacred grove, dedicated to Diana was located in the wood at Aricia. It was dedicated around 500 BC by Egerius Baebius of Tusculum, a Latin dictator, and was frequented by people of Tusculum, Aricia, Lanuvium, Lavinium, Cora, Tibur, Pometia, and Rutulian Ardea. Another federal cult of Diana is mentioned by Pliny as an ancient grove of beeches on the hill of Corne. A fragment of a dedication to Diana dated to 100 BC in Tusculum has been found that could be the only known Republican-period dedication to Diana by a slave.

Major Events

496 BC: The Tusculans led the Latins against the Romans at the battle of Lake Regillus. Here, the Tusculan dictator, Octavius Mamilius, was killed in battle.

460 BC: When a Sabine named Appius Herdonius occupied the Roman Capitol, only the neighboring Tusculans sent aid to the Romans to defeat him. This was an important event for the alliance between Rome and Tusculum.

458 BC: The Aequi (Aequians) invaded Tusculum. Rome sent troops to drive the invaders away.

381 BC: Tusculum became the first self-governing city under Roman power, with the Tusculans receiving Roman citizenship.

340 BC: Some Tusculans joined the Latin revolt against Rome.

Relationships

At the battle at Lake Regillus in 496 BC, Latin forces allied with the Tarquinii and their exiled supporters and fought the Romans in the territory of Tusculum. Allegedly, Tusculan leader Octavius Mamilius was the one who gathered the Latin forces and convinced them to support Tarquinius Superbus, who was his son in law. It is said that the Dioscuri themselves appeared on the battlefield to fight for the Romans, who won the battle. The gods were also seen in the forum, watering their horses at the fountain of Juturna. At this spot, the temple of the Dioscuri was erected by Aulus Postumius and dedicated by his son in 494 BC.

The Tusculans allied with the Volsci and revolted against the Romans in 381 BC, but the dispute was quickly quelled. However, rather than punishing the Tusculans, the Romans treated them as allies and offered them the benefits of citizenship. The Romans did not try to change any aspects of Tusculan culture and left their leaders in place. As citizens, Tusculans were required to serve in Roman armies. Even if they had wanted to refuse the “gift” of Roman citizenship, they had no ability to fight and defeat the Romans. Some Tusculans joined a Latin revolt in 340 BC, but Tusculum usually remained loyal, as it did against Hannibal during the Punic Wars.

The Volsci, the Aequians, and the Gauls attempted to plunder Tusculum. As their allies, the Romans sent consuls with armies to aid the Tusculans against the Aequians.

Material Culture

The remains of ancient Tusculum that have been excavated primarily belong to the Roman Imperial period. The site is on hill, the north slope of which has revealed evidence of human habitation dating back to the Early Iron Age.

The city was split into the acropolis, where the temples of the Dioscuri and Jupiter Maius were located, and the city proper along the ridge of the hill. The main street led through the forum to the theater, where it branched and continued onto the acropolis. Remains of the curia, the amphitheater, the residential blocks, the Imperial villas along the southern slope of the hill and western boundary, and fragments of the outside walls can still be seen. A stretch of the city wall along the northern slope is particularly well preserved and can be dated to the 5th or 4th centuries BC based on its construction. The theater was built into the side of the hill in the Greek fashion, but it has Roman construction. It can be dated to the beginning of the 1st century AD.

References

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