That of Diana, today consecrated to St Silvester, was erected by the Emperor Hadrian: Adrianus Imperator Atinam veniens, Templum Dianae continuo fecit in eo loco, ubi balnea dicebantur Imperialia, non longe ab Amphitheatro contra meridianam plagam, subtus viam Aquaeductus (Ib). There were still magnificent public buildings, such as the amphitheatre built in the latest good taste of Roman architecture, the Piazza Antoniana, and the Baths with a magnificent palace on the hill near the Church of St. Angelo.
This material delineation of the city somehow demonstrates the ancient power of Atina and that reasonably Pliny (12) praised its power together with Virgil (13) and others. It was precisely this confidence in their strength that often led them to join forces with the neighbouring Samnites, so that the fate of that rebellious people often followed. In fact, the Romans avenged the affront and disgrace suffered in 433 by Rome in the Valley of Caudio, and Atina was reduced in punishment to a prefecture. It ceased to have its own laws and the power to elect magistrates and began to be governed by Roman praetors or prefects elected by them. (14). In such a state she lasted in Cicero's time, as he himself attests. (15): Hic, he says of Planco, est è Proefectura Atinati... Hujus Proefectura, plena virorum fortissimorum, sic ut nulla tota Italia frequentior dici possit.
A few years later he returned Atina to throw off the yoke of the Romans, linking up again with the’ Samnites. But in 441 she was reduced to her duty by the Consul Junius: Adjiciunt Atinam, et Calatiam ab eodem (Junio) captas (16). Not long afterwards, Atina was reunited with the Samnites. Onde Sp. Carvilio having taken to the siege of Comino in 46o, destroyed by then, and ruined his fields (17). Under Nero read Cologne, which he wanted to be deduced there: Atina, muro ducta Colonia: duxit Nero Claudius Caesar (18). In this state of friendship with the Romans, the martial spirit of the City of Atina. In fact, the virtues and valour of the Athenians, shown in the Charges and in the expeditions against the enemies of the Roman Republic, moved the Senate to declare their City Municipality. There is, however, a tombstone in Atina reported by Muratori p. MCII:
Q. HERIO. Q. F. TER. OCTAVIUS. IVSTO
PATRIOT. MVNICIPI. FLAM. DIVI.
TRAIANI. AED. II VIR. II
QVINQ. Q. II. OB MERITA. EIVS
ATINATES. DEC. AVG. ARKANI. VI. VIR.
PLEBS. VTRIUSQVE. SEXVS. EX
REDITV. PECVVNIAE. LEGATAE
SIBI
L. D. D. D
We find no significant events in Atina in the lower centuries. Only at the beginning of the fifth century, or in the 42nd, do we hear with horror the total destruction of the city by Arcadio. These are the words of the Chronicle of Atina, which recounts the massacre: Quod (f) cum Imperator audisset, paravit exercitum valde terribilem... Cum fuissent ingressi, omnes, quos inveniebant trucidabant... Cives siguidem partim gladio corvuentes, partim fuga evaserunt; quosdam vero duxere captivos. Imperator vero deputatis fossoribus, omnia moenia, et muros Civitatis pariter dirui fecit... Civitas vero cd solum redacta multis temporibus mansit inculta (1o).
(f) The aforementioned Chronicle, which at that time dominated in Atina the son of the’Emperor Arcadius and that because of an insult committed by him against a respectable family, the whole city rose up and slaughtered him, whereupon the Emperor, in a rage, burnt the rebellious city to the ground. This untrue tale is opposed by the’Ughelli declaring it a fairy tale. For he says, that the’Emperor Arcadius had the only Theodosius, who succeeded his father in 4o8, and reigned with Honorius, e Valentinian until 449, at which time he passed on to the next life. Ital. Sacr. Ep. Atin. Hence everything else will have been the reason for this ruin of Atina as can be seen from the evidence of such an anachronism.
