Saxa Rubra
Encyclopedia
Saxa Rubra was a village and station on the Flaminian Way, 9 miles from Rome
.
It is now the name of a Rome neighboorhood (and of its Roma Nord railway station) located 9 kilometres north of Rome's center along the Via Flaminia. It is now seat of a major RAI
public service broadcaster center.
It evidently derived its name from the redness of the tuff
rocks, which is still conspicuous in the neighborhood of Prima Porta
and Grottarossa (both of which have been identified as the current site of Saxa Rubra -Grottarossa meaning red cave).
, while Martial
calls the place simply Rubrae; and this form is found also in the Jerusalem Itinerary. (Martial, iv. 64. 15; Itin. Hier. p. 612.) But the proper form of it seems to have been Saxa Rubra, which is used both by Livy
and Cicero
. The former mentions it during the wars between Rome and Veii
, in connection with the operations on the Cremera
(Liv. ii. 49); and Cicero notices it as a place in the immediate vicinity of Rome, where Marcus Antonius halted before entering the city. (Cic. Phil. ii. 3. 1) It was there also that Antonius, the general of Vespasian
, arrived on his march upon Rome, when he learnt the successes of the Vitellians and the death of Sabinus
. (Tac.
Hist. iii. 79.) At a much later period also (312
) it was the point to which Maxentius
advanced to meet Constantine
previous to the battle at the Milvian bridge
. (Vict. Caes. 40. § 23.) We learn from Martial (l. c.), that a village had grown up on the spot, as would naturally be the case with a station so immediately in the neighborhood of the city.
On a hill on the right of the Via Flaminia, a little beyond Prima Porta, are considerable ruins, which are believed to be those of the villa of Livia, known by the name of Ad Gallinas, which was situated 9 miles from Rome, on the Via Flaminia. (Plin.
xv. 30. s. 40; Suet.
Galb. 1.)
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
It is now the name of a Rome neighboorhood (and of its Roma Nord railway station) located 9 kilometres north of Rome's center along the Via Flaminia. It is now seat of a major RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
public service broadcaster center.
It evidently derived its name from the redness of the tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
rocks, which is still conspicuous in the neighborhood of Prima Porta
Prima Porta
Prima Porta is a suburb of Rome located 12 kilometres north of its center along the Via Flaminia and just a kilometre outside of the Grande Raccordo Anulare highway. It is located on the right bank of the Tiber where the Via Tiberina leads away from the Via Flaminia and another road led off along...
and Grottarossa (both of which have been identified as the current site of Saxa Rubra -Grottarossa meaning red cave).
History
The name is written Ad Rubras in the TabulaTabula Peutingeriana
The Tabula Peutingeriana is an itinerarium showing the cursus publicus, the road network in the Roman Empire. The original map of which this is a unique copy was last revised in the fourth or early fifth century. It covers Europe, parts of Asia and North Africa...
, while Martial
Martial
Marcus Valerius Martialis , was a Latin poet from Hispania best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan...
calls the place simply Rubrae; and this form is found also in the Jerusalem Itinerary. (Martial, iv. 64. 15; Itin. Hier. p. 612.) But the proper form of it seems to have been Saxa Rubra, which is used both by Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
and Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
. The former mentions it during the wars between Rome and Veii
Veii
Veii was, in ancient times, an important Etrurian city NNW of Rome, Italy; its site lies in Isola Farnese, a village of Municipio XX, an administrative subdivision of the comune of Rome in the Province of Rome...
, in connection with the operations on the Cremera
Cremera
Cremera is a 36.7 km Italian stream in Lazio which runs past Sacrofano, Formello, and Campagnano di Roma before falling into the Tiber about 10 km north of Rome...
(Liv. ii. 49); and Cicero notices it as a place in the immediate vicinity of Rome, where Marcus Antonius halted before entering the city. (Cic. Phil. ii. 3. 1) It was there also that Antonius, the general of Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
, arrived on his march upon Rome, when he learnt the successes of the Vitellians and the death of Sabinus
Sabinus
Sabinus may refer to:* several ancient Romans; see Sabinus * Sabinus of Seville, 3rd century bishop of Seville, Spain* Sabinus , 4th century historianSaint Sabinus may refer to:* Saint Sabinus , Roman martyr...
. (Tac.
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
Hist. iii. 79.) At a much later period also (312
312
Year 312 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantinus and Licinianus...
) it was the point to which Maxentius
Maxentius
Maxentius was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 312. He was the son of former Emperor Maximian, and the son-in-law of Emperor Galerius.-Birth and early life:Maxentius' exact date of birth is unknown; it was probably around 278...
advanced to meet Constantine
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
previous to the battle at the Milvian bridge
Battle of Milvian Bridge
The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28 October 312. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the...
. (Vict. Caes. 40. § 23.) We learn from Martial (l. c.), that a village had grown up on the spot, as would naturally be the case with a station so immediately in the neighborhood of the city.
On a hill on the right of the Via Flaminia, a little beyond Prima Porta, are considerable ruins, which are believed to be those of the villa of Livia, known by the name of Ad Gallinas, which was situated 9 miles from Rome, on the Via Flaminia. (Plin.
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
xv. 30. s. 40; Suet.
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
Galb. 1.)