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PRATOLA PELIGNA Corriere Peligno/Gente Italica
PRATULAE "Terra Pratulorum" (LATIN PRATULUM = SMALL MEADOW) copyright© by Sestino Casasanta Certain information to Pratulae's ancient origins is unknown, and as far as we know Pratulae was not ever mentioned before or during the Roman domination. The first referral of Pratulae was found in the Chronicon Vulturnense written by Giovanni the abbot of the Monastery of S. Vincenzo al Volturno, dated just prior to the year 1.000 A.D. (without taking anything away from those cities with a legend, we would like to point out that Pratulae had the misfortune for not having a local historian that could relate this town to some kind of legend or fairy tale). Today having access to a book written by a Russian archeologist named Ivan Zvetaieff titled "Italics Inscriptions - Paeligni Inscriptions" (translated to the Italian language by Maria Svetloff Marzii-Rasla 1906), and in the book's preface, we find that Zvetaieff refers to the Paeligni Tombstones Inscriptions. He has written: "... only in the year 1877, different Paeligni inscriptions began to come to light, one after the other in the territories of the ancient Corfinium and in the nearby cities of Sulmona, Pratola and in the other's surrounding towns...". Prior to 1877 most of the tombstones recovered were inscribed with Osco-Sabellian characters. Zvataieff dedicates almost five pages to one of the tombstones uncovered near Pratola, that as we are aware, are preserved in the old city hall (vecchio palazzo comunale). The text reads:"MEDIX*ATICVS /BIAM* IOCATIN/P. SADRIES*T./V. POPDIS*T." He went on to say that experts from Paris, Bonn and Rome who took interest in the above inscription had agreed to its authenticity, but, they were still unable to resolve the meaning of the complete text, and as far as we know, today, its meaning still remains a mystery. But if the ancient gravestones were recovered near Pratola, then without any doubt we can assume that an "Oppidum" or "Pagus" (town or village) with a nearby cemetery was in existence, at the site where Pratola lies today, and in the historic times must have played a prominent role in the life of the Paelignians and the Paeligna Valley. Then what was the name of this site which had its own (sepulcretum) cemetery? Was this place within the perimeter of the ancient metropolis of Corfinium? We have researched some writings from the ancient and modern historians. Here are some of our findings: Diodorus Siculus (I. century B.C.): (Corfinium) "... greatest and most famous...". Strabo: " ... great Paelignian metropolis...". "...350 temples existed in Corfinium...". Caius Julius Caesar: "Commentaries on the Civil Wars" (49 B.C.): "...Inside the walls of Corfinium were 19,000 soldiers recruited by Domitius..." Percky Moro: "... the ancient Corfinium must have been built, in the area, where Pratola lies today ..." (theory discarded by A. De Nino) Marco Bonocore: "... the focal point of Corfinium was further south from where, today, there lies the town of Corfinio." Antonio De Nino: "... during glorious times Corfinium had one hundred thousand "fuochi" households ..." Colarossi-Mancini: (the Paeligni) "... they were known for their fidelity to their own spouse and for having numerous children...". Map of the Peligna Region: It is less than four kms from the ruins of Corfinium (south of the Basilica of San Pelino) to Pratola. From the writings of the above historians, we have reached the following conclusion: CORFINIUM: great and most famous / Paelignian metropolis / (with) 350 temples / (and) in the glorious time had one hundred thousand households / (with an) abundance of children. / (In 49 B.C..) Domitius had 19.000 soldiers inside the city's walls (therefore Corfinium had to be a fairly big city). From the ancient site to Pratola there is a distance of about 4 km.. Even if we concede, like our fellow townsman historian-archaeologist Antonio De Nino, that the Percky Moro theory is erroneous, it is not improper to declare without any doubt that the site of "Dentro la Terra" was the south-east fortress in the periphery of the metropolis of Corfinium, to guard the green and fertile meadows (Latin: Pratulorum). Therefore this may well be the reason why Pratulae was never mentioned prior to the year 997 A.D. To help us solve the enigma, there is the statement of Sigibert of Gembloux: "... In the year 965 A.D. the magnificent city (Corfinium) had completely vanished...". Also according to Don Settimio Ottavi in his book "Prezza" he wrote: "... After Corfinium was reduced to a small village without the defensive walls, the nearby Villa Carrena (Prezza) was called Praesidium Corfinii. This means that not only the majority of the population had left. but also, the military garrison had abandoned Corfinium. From other "historical notes" we learn that: "... After the fall of the Roman Empire, this area was invaded by barbarians who devastated the Italic and Roman cities. The population took refuge near castles and monasteries, usually in high land, creating the characteristic walled and fortified villages of the area, and forming the nuclei of later urban development...". The above statements substantiate our belief more firmly, that after the disappearance of the most famous Paelignian's city, the population spread in the surrounding location and many folks established to the fertile land in the south. Even today from aerial photographs, one can still identify the perimeter of the old fortress in the historic site of "Dentro la Terra" which remained intact to survive, and for the fertile soil in the surrounding was given the Latin name of Pratulum = small meadow, and afterward changed to Terra Pratulorum and later to Castrum of Pratulae. |
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