Aricia

Ancient town of Latium, on the Appian Way, 26 km/16 mi southeast of Rome, and beside the Lacus Nemorensis (modern Lago di Nemi, ‘Lake Nemi’). In 388 BC it was subdued by the Romans and received the Roman franchise.

In its neighbourhood was a celebrated grove and temple of Diana Aricina where, until about the 1st century AD, there survived a unique relic of pagan worship. The priest, called rex nemorensis (‘king of the grove’), held office until he was slain by a stronger rival.