Liternum is an ancient Roman city in the hamlet of Lago Patria in the City of Giugliano in Campania. The area was inhabited in prehistoric times and later by tribes of Oscan that probably founded there a city. This city was then expanded by the Romans in 194 BC that founded Liternum. Liternum was on the southern shore of Patria's Lake (Literna Palus) at the mouth of the river Clanis. The city was awarded to veterans of the Second Punic War, belonging to the army of Scipio the Africanus, who took refuge here in exile and died there in 184 BC. The city had a remarkable development in the Augustan age, but especially between the end of the first and second centuries AD, after it was crossed by Domitian way running from Sinuessa (the territory of Mondragone). It was connected with the centers of Campania coast and in particular to the Puteoli (Pozzuoli) port, where the road ended.

Liternum's fame is linked to the figure of Publius Cornelius Scipio also known as the Africanus, Roman statesman and general known for defeating Hannibal in the Battle of Zama in Africa, hence its nickname. He chooses Liternum as the place of his exile from Rome in the last years of his life. In the colony founded in 194 BC, known in the sources as "Literna Palus", an unhealthy and marshy area, Scipio died in 184 BC and is still handed down the legend of the presence of his tomb. According to ancient records, the great leader would order before he died, that the phrase "Ungrateful country (Patria) will not have my bones", from which derives the toponym of Patria, was engraved on his tombstone. In this way he wanted to take revenge for having been accused by the tribunes of Rome not to have declared to roman state the 500 talents received by Antiochus III, king of Syria.

Today you can see the Forum, found between the years 1932-37, and surrounded by a porticus, on whose western side are lined up three major monuments: the Capitolium in the center, the Basilica and the Theatre on the south north, while on the short sides of the square there were shops. On the west side there is a vast area almost completely affected by the presence of structures, brought to light only minimally: an imperial age cryptoporticus, a wall in opus reticulatum along the lake, a temple near the wall and a I - II century AD domus with mosaic floor and wall decorations. Recent investigations have uncovered near the lake thermal baths, with a caldarium, in conjunction with a tank with walls in opus reticulatum, in which there are three sources of fresh water. North access to the Forum was allowed through Domitian way, which is kept a long way and paving ruderatio, preparation made with a very accurate technique, resistant to the passage of time. The road also has operations of reset of the Late Antique period, which witnessed the use until at least the 6th century AD. During the excavation it was discovered a marble bust, perhaps representing an emperor, that is kept at the Archeological Museum of the Phlegraen Fields in Baia. Other excavations revealed a large quantity of fragments of clay containers that present on the inner scale of a vitrified mixture of blue beads. These are the products resulting from the process of caeruleum or "Egyptian blue" obtained by mixing sand, copper filings and sodium carbonate, probably used for the manufacture of mosaic tiles.

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Patria's Lake, the old Literna Palus, is a brackish basin (lagoon) of volcanic origin covering an area of 1.87 sq km, fed by freshwater springs and the river Vena. It is one of the most important wetlands in Campania. Despite the strong anthropic part of the banks and the evident deterioration of its water, it contains natural biotic communities of considerable importance, enough to be recognized in Europe as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) within the Natura 2000 network, and inserted at the regional level in the Reserve "Lake Falciano - Mouth of Volturno - Licola Coast". In particular, Patria's Lake has long been a major stopover during their migration for ducks, herons, shorebirds and songbirds: his reeds of Fragmites Australis (common reed) and its almost always mild microclimate also in winter, providing opportunities for wintering or breeding places for birds and waterfowl (coot, moorhens, cormorants, grebes, ducks, teals) and prey (kestrel), which more recently have been added species of African such as the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus Ibis) and Nivea Egret (Egretta Thula), which are now settled around the lake. Especially the Cattle Egret is named so for its characteristic ability to raise the alarm in case of danger to cattle grazing; in return they move from the ground prey such as grasshoppers, lizards and beetles in the heron feeds. On the shores of Patria's Lake, not infrequently, you can admire splendid examples of Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) and Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the majestic sailing reminds us that we must preserve their habitats and the natural biodiversity that guarantees life on Earth.

To see the gallery of birds of Liternum Click here