Laurentum

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Laurentum was an ancient Roman city of Latium situated between Ostia and Lavinium. Roman writers regarded it as the original capital of the Latins, before Lavinium assumed that role after the death of King Latinus. In historical times, Laurentum was united with Lavinium, and the name Lauro-Lavinium is sometimes used to refer to both.^[1]

Under the Empire, Laurentum was the site of an imperial villa. Pliny the Younger also had a villa in the area.^[2]

Laurentius (feminine Laurentia), meaning "someone from Laurentum," was a common Roman given name. It survives in many regional forms, such as the English name Laurence or Lawrence.

[edit] References

1. ^ Edward Herbert Bunbury (1854). "Laurentum". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Ed. William Smith. London: Walton and Maberly. Retrieved on 2007-04-16. 
2. ^ T. W. Potter (2003). "Laurentum". The Oxford Classical Dictionary (3rd edition, revised). Ed. Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 822. ISBN 0-19-860641-9.