Tetrica Mons

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography

TETRICA MONS a mountain in the central range of the Apennines, adjoining the territory of the Sabines. Virgil enumerates the Tetricae horrentes rupesamong the localities of that people, and Silius Italicus in like manner closely associates the Tetrica rupeswith Nursia. Varro also speaks of the Montes Fiscellus and Tetrica as abounding in wild goats. (Verg. A. 7.713; Sil. Ital.; Varr. R. R. 2.1.5.) From all these passages it is evident that it was one of the lofty and rugged chain of the Central Apennines, which extend from the Monti della Sibilla, southwards as far as the Gran Sasso, separating Picenum from the country of the Sabines: and this position is confirmed by Servius and Vibius Sequester, of whom the former calls it Mons in Piceno asperrimus,while the latter terms it Moans Sabinorum.(Serv. ad Aen. l. c.;Vib. Seq. p. 33.) It cannot be identified with more accuracy. The two grammarians just quoted write the name Tetricus Mons;but Varro, as well as Virgil and Silius, adopts the feminine form, which is not therefore one merely poetical.
[E.H.B]

Related Words