[750] Marruvium or Marrubium was the capital of the Marsi, though it is not mentioned previous to their conquest by Rome (Dict. G.).
[751] So Stat. Theb. 4. 216 describes Amphiaraus, “vatem cultu Parnasia monstrant Vellera, frondenti crinitur cassis oliva, Albaque puniceas interplicat infula cristas.” ‘Fronde et felici oliva’ ἓν διὰ δυοῖν.
[752] Pliny 3. 12. 17 mentions a story told by Gellianus of a town Archippa, founded by Marsyas, and swallowed up by the waters of lake Fucinus.
[753] Graviter spirantibus seems to indicate both intolerable smell (see on G. 3. 415) and a poisonous breath (Hor. 2. 5. 8. 95).
[754] Spargere somnos like “quietem inrigat” 1. 692, where see note. This is done here partly by incantation, partly by manipulation. For the latter comp. Pliny 7. 2. Forb. quotes Sil. 3. 300 (of the Marmaridae), “Ad quorum cantum serpens oblita veneni, Ad quorum tactum mites iacuere cerastae.” Pliny (l. c.) and Sil. 8. 496 foll. speak of the whole Marsian race as serpent charmers.
[756] From Il. 2. 859 foll., ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ οἰωνοῖσιν ἐρύσσατο κῆρα μέλαιναν, Ἀλλ᾽ ἐδάμη ὑπὸ χερσὶ ποδώκεος Αἰακίδαο, also imitated below 9. 328. ‘Medicari’ with acc. is found also in Plautus and Pliny: see Dictt. “Volnus cuspidis Ausoniae” 11. 41.
[757] “Quae pervincere voces Evaluere sonum?” Hor. 2 Ep. 1. 201. Med. (1st reading), Rom., and originally one of Ribbeck's cursives, have ‘in volnere,’ which Gossrau prefers, denying that ‘in volnera’ can be satisfactorily explained. But it is merely arbitrary to say that the words quoted stand for “ad volnera infligenda,” but cannot for “ad volnera sananda.” ‘Helped with a view to wounds’ is the sense: what kind of help is given depends on the nature of the case. A correction in Med. gives ‘ad volnera.’
[758] “Falcibus et messae ad Lunam quaeruntur aenis Pubentes herbae” 4. 513. Med. corrected and one of Ribbeck's cursives have ‘in montibus,’ which was the reading before Heins. Wagn. comp. Tibull. 1. 5. 53, “herbasque sepulcris Quaerat.”
[759] ‘Angitia,’ not ‘Anguitia’ is the spelling of this name attested by inscriptions and the best MSS. The spelling ‘Anguitia’ probably arose from a supposed connexion of the name with “anguis:” it is more probably connected with “ancus.” The chief seat of the worship of this goddess was the shore of the lake Fucinus: but inscriptions “Angitiis,” “Angitiae,” “Dis . . . Ancitibus,” have been found elsewhere. (Preller, Römische Mythologie. p. 362.) She was said to be a daughter of Aeetes, sister or niece of Circe and sister of Medea, who taught the Marsians the use of drugs. Comp. the connexion of Circe with Italy v. 10 above.
[761-782] ‘Virbius, son of Hippolytus, comes from Aricia to join the allies.’
