Tusculum

TUSCULUM, an ancient city of Latium, in a commanding position on the north edge of the outer crater ring of the Alban volcano, I Z m. N.E. of the modern Frascati. The highest point is 2,198 ft. above sea-level. It has a very extensive view of the Campagna, with Rome lying 15 m. distant to the north-west. Rome was approached by the Via Latina (from which a branch road ascended to Tusculum, while the main road passed through the valley to the south of it), or by the Via Tusculana.

According to tradition, the city was founded by Telegonus, the son of Ulysses and Circe. When Tarquinius Superbus was expelled from Rome his cause was espoused by the chief of Tusculum, Octavius Mamilius, who took a leading part in the formation of the Latin League, composed of the thirty principal cities of Latium, banded together against Rome. Mamilius commanded the Latin army at the battle of Lake Regillus (497 p.c.), but was killed, and the predominance of Rome among the Latin cities was practically established. In 381 B.c., the people of Tusculum re ceived the Roman franchise. Several of the chief Roman families were of Tusculan origin, e.g., the gentes Mamilia, Fulvia, Fonteia, Juventia and Porcia (to which the Catos belonged). By the end of the Republic, and still more during the imperial period, the territory of Tusculum was one of the favourite places of residence of the wealthy Romans. The number and extent of the remains is very great. Even in the time of Cicero we hear of eighteen owners of villas there. Much of the territory (including Cicero's villa), but not the town itself, which lies far too high, was sup plied with water by the Aqua Crabra. On the hill of Tusculum itself are remains of a small theatre (excavated in 1839), with a reservoir behind it, and an amphitheatre. Both belong probably to the imperial period, while a temple (the substructures of which are preserved), often called the villa of Cicero, or of Tiberius, near the latter, is probably earlier. Between the amphitheatre and

the theatre lay the Forum. The citadel—which stood on the high est point, an abrupt rock—was approached only on the side, towards the city. Upon it remains of the mediaeval castle, which stood here until 1191, are visible.

It was here that Cicero composed his

Tusculan Disputations and other philosophical works. His villa must have been at or near Grotta Ferrata and what is now known as Poggio Tulliano a little to the east (where remains of a villa exist) may well have been its site. After the transference of the seat of empire to Constantinople, Tusculum became a very important stronghold, and in the oth-12th centuries its counts occupied a leading po sition in Rome. During the 12th century there were constant struggles with Rome, but in 1191 the Romans destroyed the city.

See L. Canina, Descr. dell' antico Tusculo (Rome, 1841) ; A. Nibby, Dintorni di Roma, iii. 293 (2nd ed., Rome, 1841) ; H. Dessau in Corp. inscript. hit. pp. 252 sqq. (Berlin, 1887) ; F. Grossi-Gondi, Il Tuscolano nell' eta classica (Rome, 1907) ; T. Ashby in Papers of the British School at Rome, iv., v. (London, 1907, 1909). (T. A.) TUSKEGEE (tils-ke'ge), a city of Alabama, U.S.A. Pop. (1930), 3,314. It is the seat of U.S. Veterans Bureau hospital 91 (for negroes) and of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial institute (for negroes), founded in 188o by Booker T. Washington (q.v.), who was its principal until his death in 1915, and endowed by Con gress in 1889 with 25,000 ac. of land. The institute provides practical training for many trades and agricultural occupations, and for nursing, teaching, home-keeping and commercial posi tions. In the year 1927-28 it gave systematic instruction to 3,323 persons from 31 States and 9 foreign countries.