in Culture

Laurentum

Today’s OCD entry is Laurentum.

Laurentum (mod. Tor Paterno), on the Tyrrhenian coast, to the south of Ostia; an imperial villa, much developed in the Antonine period, and covering at least 20 ha. (66 acres); Commodus stayed there (Hdn. 1.12.2).  Near by was the associated Vicus Laurentium Augustanorum, which developed rapidly from Tiberian times, and was replanned with imperial support in the Antonine period.  The younger Pliny’s villa (Ep. 2.17) remains to be identified.  Laurentum is referred to in the Peutinger Table.