Ferentium

Ferentium

Shown within Lazio
Alternate name	Ferentum
Region	Lazio (Province of Viterbo)
Coordinates	42°29′19″N 12°07′57″E / 42.48861°N 12.13250°E / 42.48861; 12.13250
Type	Settlement
History
Cultures	Etruscan
Site notes
Excavation dates	yes
Condition	ruined
Public access	yes

Ferentium was a town of ancient Etruria, situated near the modern city of Viterbo in the northern part of the Roman province of Latium, now in modern Lazio. The city was also known as Ferentinum, Ferentum or Ferentia, and should not be confused with ancient Ferentinum (now Ferentino), which is in southern Lazio.

Ferentium had an Etruscan predecessor at modern Acquarossa, as shown by the presence of a necropolis. In the Roman period, the city was a municipium of the Stellatina tribe and part of the seventh regio of the province of Italia. Several famous families came from the city, including that of the Roman emperor Otho and Flavia Domitilla, the wife of the emperor Vespasian. Either she or her identically named daughter were worshipped as diva Domitilla.

In 1172 Ferentium was conquered by and incorporated into neighboring Viterbo.

Extensive remains of the ancient city are still extant, including a theater and several domestic and municipal buildings.

Much of the early work at the site is due to the "archaeologist king" Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden. The most recent excavations took place between 1994 and 2009 under the supervision of Tuscia University in Viterbo. Many of the most important remains may be found in the National Archaeological Museum of Viterbo at Rocca Albornoz, including some reconstructed building remains and some marble statues depicting characters from classical tragedy and comedy which presumably came from the area of the theater. A small wooden model of the theater is also present.