FORO NOMENTUM

In the hamlet of Casali di Mentana, at the height of km 21.500 of via Nomentana corresponding to the distance of 14 miles from Rome as indicated by the Tabula Peutingeriana, was Nomentum, center of Latin origin, whose earliest evidence dates back to the Eastern period (8th-7th century BC).  

During its long life, the urbanism has seen the occupation of several localities such as Romitorio, Monte d’Oro, Ara Cacamele, with the image of necropolis.  

In the IV sec. a. C. the hill of Monte d’Oro was defended by a wall made of blocks of tuff, while following the Roman conquest, of the III sec. av.C, the flat saddle of the Romitorio is transformed into the place of the forum, Civil and religious centre of the Roman commune of Nomentum.  

The forum square, today partly corresponding to the area occupied by the old Dominedo villa, built in the 50s of the 20th century, was paved with limestone or travertine slabs and was crossed along its median line, of via Nomentana, according to a plan of urbanism widespread in the Roman world.  

Almost all the discoveries made in the locality of Romitorio were made as a result of construction work for the construction of the hamlet of Casali from 1945 onwards: Evidence of an archaeological dig of the time are these photos kept in the archives of the Archaeological Directorate for Lazio and dated 9 March 1949.  

(1 didascalia)  In the years 2007 – 2009, the forum area was the subject of a project of excavation directed by the Danish Academy in Rome, whose results demonstrated the use of the site from the archaic period (VI c. BC) to modern times.  

(2 didascalia) In this section are exposed two marble arès found in the locality of Romitorio, one with a dedication to Vulcan and the other with a bas-relief representing an orgiastic dance of Menedism.