place
Veii
also: Veientem agrum, Veientine
Ancient Etruscan city about 16 km north of Rome, captured by Camillus in 396 BC; its territory (ager Veientanus) was prime farmland. In Fam. 9.17 (46 BC) Caesar's commissioners are surveying the Veientine and Capenate land for veteran allotments, dangerously near Cicero's Tusculan villa.
Reading notes
- Ad Familiares 9.17 §2 They are now measuring out the Veientine and Capenate land; this is not far from Tusculum.
Veii and Capena were old Etruscan towns just north of Rome; their territory was now being surveyed (centuriated) for veteran allotments. Cicero notes nervously that the commissioners' work is approaching his beloved Tusculan villa in the Alban hills, yet professes philosophic calm.