Landscape and Chthonic Cults in Republican Central Italy

Abstract

Cult places for chthonic deities in ancient Italy could be situated in places with exceptional
landscape features, such as volcanic crater lakes or caves from which poisonous
vapours arose. A closer examination of our evidence shows that other landscape
elements were associated with underworld gods: di inferi could be worshipped in sanctuaries
located near lakes or rivers, on islands, in thick forests or smaller groves. The
imagery of the Underworld that was widespread in Republican Italy played a significant
role in the choice of the locations for chthonic sanctuaries, both in extra-urban and
in urban settings. Literary and archaeological sources also indicate that sanctuaries for
Underworld gods often served as aggregation centres for different communities, and
were of special significance for marginal social groups.

Keywords: lakes, groves, rivers, chthonic cults, Central Italy