Fundi
- a sea-coast town of Latium, on the Appian Way, between Formiae and Tarracina, now Fondi, Mel. 2, 4, 9; Cic. Att. 14, 6, 1; Liv. 41, 27; Hor. S. 1, 5, 34; Suet. Tib. 5; id. Galb. 4; 8.—
- II Derivv.
- A Fundānus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to Fundi: ager, Cic. Agr. 2, 25, 66: solum, Ov. P. 2, 11, 28: lacus, near Fundi, whence the famous Caecuban wine, Plin. 3, 5, 9, § 59; hence, Amyclae, situated on the Lacus Fundanus, Mart. 13, 115: vina, Plin. 14, 6, 8, § 65.—Subst.: Fundāni, the inhabitants of Fundi, Inscr. Orell. 821.—
- B Fundānĭus, a, um, adj., the same: Hercules, who was worshipped at Fundi, Vop. Flor. 4; Inscr. Orell. 1539.
FUNDI(Φοῦνδοι: Eth. Φουνδανός, Fundanus: Fondi), a city of Latium, in the more extended sense of the term, situated on the Appian Way between Tarracina and Formriae, and about 5 miles from the sea-coast. In the marshy plain between it and the sea is a considerable lake or pool, known in ancient times as the LACUS FUNDANUS(Plin. Nat. 3.5. s. 9), and still called the Lago di Fondi. The city was probably at one time in the hands of the Volscians; and in B.C. 340, during the great Latin War, it would appear to have occupied a sort of neutral position between the Latins and Campanians, and, as well as its neighbour Formiae, continued faithful to the Romans during that trying period. For this conduct the inhabitants of both cities were rewarded with the Roman civitas,but without the right of Suffrage. (Liv. 8.14.) Shortly after this, however, a part of the citizens of Fundi joined in the revolt of their neighbours of Privernum, under the lead of Vitruvius Vaccus, who was himself a native of Fundi. But the authorities of the city succeeded in excusing themselves to the Roman senate, and escaped without punishment. (lb. 19.) They did not however obtain the full Roman franchise with the right of voting till B.C. 190, when they were for the first time enrolled in the Aemilian tribe. (Liv. 38.36; Veil. Pat. 1.14.) Hence it is to this interval that Pompeius Festus must refer when he speaks of Fundi as well as Formiae as having been in the condition of praefecturae. (Fest. p. 233.) At a subsequent period it received t colony of veterans under Augustus (Lib. Colon. p. 234), and appears to have continued under the Roman empire to be a flourishing municipal town (Strab. 5. p. 234; Mel. 2.4.9; Plin. Nat. 3.5. s. 9; Ptol. 3.1.63; Orell. Inscr. 821, 2951), for which it was probably indebted to its situation on the Appian Way, which is here compelled to deviate from the sea-coast, and make an angle inland from Tarracina to Fundi, and thence again to Formiae, where it rejoins the coast. According to the Itineraries, Fundi was distant 13 miles from each of the above towns. ( Itin. Ant. pp. 108, 121: Itin. Hier. p. 611.) The mention of its name by Horace on his journey to Brundusium, and the ridicule cast by him on the pompous airs assumed by its local magistrate or praetor, Aufidius Luscus, are familiar to all readers. (Hor. Sat. 1.5. 34.) It is incidentally mentioned also by Cicero and Suetonius, from whom we learn that the family of Livia, the wife of Augustus, came originally from Fundi: some writers also represented Tiberius himself as born there. (Cic. ad Att. 14.6; Suet. Tib. 5, Cal. 23, Galb. 8). Silius Italicus seems to include Fundi as well as Caiëta in Campania (8.524--530), but it is certain that they were both comprised within Latium, according to the bounds assigned to it under the Roman empire, or what was called Latium Novum. [LATIUM]
The modern city of Fondistill retains the ancient site, and considerable remains of antiquity, of which the most important are an ancient gateway with a portion of the walls adjoining it, the lower part of which is of polygonal construction, and the upper part of later Roman style. An inscription over the gate (now called the Portella) records the construction of the walls and gates of the city by the local magistrates or aediles. (Hoare, Class. Tour, vol. 1. p. 106.) The principal street of the town is still formed by the Via Appia, and retains great part of the ancient pavement: numerous fragments of ancient buildings are also scattered throughout the modern town, or have been employed in the middle ages in the construction of its castle, cathedral, &c.
Fundi was celebrated among the Romans for the excellence of its wines: the famous Caecuban wine was in fact produced within its territory [CAECUBUS AGER], but besides this the wine of Fundi itself (Fundanum vinum) seems to have enjoyed a high reputation, though inferior to that of the Caecuban and Falernian. (Martial (Mart. 13.113; Plin. Nat. 14.6. s 8.) It was probably on this account that the Fundanus agerwas one of those districts which the agrarian law of Servilius Rallus sought to apportion among the needy citizens of Rome. (Cic. de Leg. Agr. 2.2. 5)
[E.H.B]The modern Fondi; an ancient town in Latium on the Appia Via, at the head of a narrow bay of the sea running a considerable way into the land, called the Lacus Fundanus. The surrounding country produced good wine (Mart.xiii. 113).
An Auruncan town astride the Via Appia in a fertile triangular valley opening on the sea. It is first known in 338 B.C. (Latin war). It won full Roman citizenship in 188 B.C. and was inscribed in the tribus Aemilia. Many important Romans of the Late Republic had villas in the neighborhood, and its wine was esteemed (Pliny HN 14.65).
Much of the ancient city plan survives in the modern town; the insulae seem to have been small and squarish, while two main streets cross at right angles at the center of town next to the forum. There are excellent remains of the fortifications, laid out in a square, with at least one gate of sophisticated plan, flanked by towers and provided with a portcullis. The original construction (3d c. B.C.) is of large polygonal blocks of the local limestone, well fitted on the outer face, but without snecking, with coursing and arching for short stretches. The inner face is less finely finished. The rectangular towers are in bond with the curtain, and beds at joints and corners are usually level. Subsequently (1st c. B.C.) the walls were extensively rebuilt in opus incertum with round towers.
The town was known for a cult of Hercules (Porphynon on Hor. Epist. 1.1.4), but no remains of the temple have been traced. There are ruins of numerous monumental tombs along the Appia nearby and many villas. A bath has been discovered just outside the SE gate and partially excavated.
BIBLIOGRAPHYC. F. Giuliani, Studi di urbanistica antica (Quaderni dell'Istituto di Topografia Antica della Università di Roma 2, 1966) 71-78MPI; E. L. Caronna, NSc (1971) 330-63.
L. RICHARDSON, JR.