Carsulae
- a town of Umbria, now Casigliano, Tac. H. 3, 60.—Hence,
- II Carsŭlāni, ōrum, the inhabitants of Carsulae, Plin. 3, 14, 19, § 113.—And neutr.: in Carsulano (sc. praedio), in an estate near Carsulae, Plin. Ep. 1, 4.
CARSULAE(Κάρσουλοι), a city of Umbria, situated on the Via Flaminia between Mevania and Narnia. (Strab. 5. p. 227.) Tacitus tells us that it was 10 miles from the latter city, and was occupied by the generals of Vespasian when advancing upon Rome by the Flaminian Way, while the Vitellians had posted themselves at Narnia. (Tac. list.3.60.) This is the only notice of it in history, but we learn from Strabo and Pliny that it was a place of consideration under the Roman Empire, and tiis is confirmed by the ruins still visible at a spot about half way between S. Geminoand Acqsua Sparta, and just about 10 miles N. of Narni. According to Holstenius the site was still called in his time Carsoli, and there existed remains of an amphitheatre and a triumphal arch in honour of the emperor Trajan. (Strab. l. c.;Plin. Nat. 3.14. s. 19; Plin. Ep. 1.4; Holsten. Not.in Cluv. p. 99.; D'Anville, Anal. Geogr. de l'Italie, p. 151.)
[E.H.B]A town on the Via Flaminia, 18 km N of Narnia, belonging to the tribus Clustumina. It figured in history only in A.D. 69 when Vespasian's army marching on Rome halted there, while the Vitellians held Narnia (Tac. Hist. 3.60). Its ruins are well preserved. Arches spanned the Via Flaminia at either gate; one survives. Around the forum, excavations have been in progress for the last 25 years; three sides of the trapezoidal square, including a basilica, twin temples on podia, and twin quadrifrontal arches have been uncovered; with, just to the E, an amphitheater (86 x 62 m) set in a limestone sink, and a theater. All the buildings are of similar construction and seem to belong to the Early Imperial period.
BIBLIOGRAPHYForma Italiae VII.1 Tuder-Carsulae (1938) 89-104 and pls. 35-39 (G. Becatti) MI; EAA 2 (1959) 372 (U. Ciotti) I; AA 85 (1970) 319-21 (H. Blanck).
L. RICHARDSON, JR.