Velzna was an Etruscan city in central Italy, the last Etruscan city to be taken by the Romans. It was conquered by the Roman consul Marcus Fulvius Flaccus in 264 BC.
The Byzantine historian Joannes Zonaras states that after the Roman conquest, the population of Velzna was relocated to a new city, named Volsinii (a Latinization of Velzna), and the original city of Velzna was destroyed.
The location of Etruscan Velzna is unknown: many historians place it at or near the modern Orvieto, and some place it at or near Bolsena. These two modern towns are only 20 km (12 mi.) apart, and many Etruscan ruins have been found in the entire area.
Roman Volsinii
The history of Volsinii during the Roman era is somewhat scanty. It was the birthplace of Sejanus, praetorian prefect under Tiberius, and Musonius Rufus the Stoic.
Volsinii eventually became the modern Italian city of Bolsena.
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Last updated: 10-21-2005 00:57:56
