 | |
  Trebula Balliensis Trebula shown within Campania region andCaserta province | |
| Location | Pontelatone,Province of Caserta,Italy |
|---|---|
| Region | Campania |
| Coordinates | 41°13′42″N14°15′58″E / 41.228301°N 14.266013°E /41.228301; 14.266013 |
| Type | Settlement |
| Site notes | |
| Management | Soprintendenza per i beni archeologici di Salerno, Avellino e Caserta |
| Public access | Yes |
Trebula orTrebula Balliensis orTrebula Baliensis (Greek:Τρήβουλα), was an ancient city ofCampania,Italy, the location of which is occupied by the modern village of Treglia in thecomune ofPontelatone.[1] TheMonti Trebulani, a small mountain group in the modernprovince of Caserta, take their name from it.
It was situated in the district north of the Vulturnus (modernVolturno), in the mountain tract which extends from near Caiatia (modernCaiazzo) to theVia Latina.Pliny terms the citizensTrebulani cognomine Balinienses, probably to distinguish them from those of the two cities of the same name among theSabines;[2] but the Campanian town seems to have been the most considerable of the three, and is termed simply Trebula byPtolemy, as well as byLivy.
The first mention of the name occurs in 303 BCE, when we are told that the Trebulani received theRoman franchise at the same time with theArpinates.[3] There seems no doubt that the Campanian city is here meant: and this is quite certain in regard to the next notice in Livy, where he tells us that the three cities ofCompulteria, Trebula, andSaticula, which had revolted toHannibal, were recovered byFabius in 215 BCE.[4] The Trebulanus ager is mentioned also byCicero among the fertile districts of Campania, whichServilius Rullus proposed to distribute among the poorer Roman citizens;[5] and Pliny writes that it was noted for its wines, which had rapidly risen in estimation in his day.[6] TheLiber Coloniarum also mentions Trebula among the municipal towns of Campania. It appears to have received a fresh body of settlers underAugustus, but without attaining the rank of acolony.[7]
The site of Trebula, which was erroneously fixed byCluverius and some local writers to the south of the Vulturnus, appears to be correctly identified by local antiquarians with a place called Treglia or Tregghia, at the foot of the Pizzo San Salvatore, about 10km north of the Vulturnus and 13 km northeast ofCapua. There are said to be considerable ancient remains upon the spot, which together with the resemblance of name would seem clearly to establish the position of the ancient city.[8]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857).Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
