Crustumerium

About

Crustumerium (or Crustumium) was an ancient town of Latium, on the edge of the Sabine territory, near the headwaters of the Allia, not far from the Tiber. Crustumerium is unique among Latial settlements for its prolific usage of chamber tombs during the 6th-century BCE; whereas other contemporary Latial communities typically contain few examples of such burials, Crustumerium contains tens of chamber tombs. It is unclear precisely why Crustumerium adopted these distinct cultural customs, although it may relate to influence from the neighboring Faliscan-Capenate or Sabine cultures, who are known to have utilized chamber tombs during the 6th-century BCE.

In the legends concerning Rome's early history, the Crustumini were amongst the peoples which attended Romulus' festival of Neptune Equester. At that festival, the Roman men seized the young women amongst the visiting spectators, an event known as the Rape of the Sabine Women. Afterwards, according to Livy, the Crustumini commenced hostilities.

The Romans retaliated and captured Crustumerium. A Roman colony was subsequently sent to the town by Romulus and many citizens of the town migrated to Rome. More of the Roman colonists preferred...