Forum Domitii
FORUM DOMITII is placed by the Itins. on the great Roman road from Nemausus (Nimes) to Narbo (Narbonne). The distance from Cessero (St. Tiberi) on the Hérault to Forum Domitii is 18 M. P.: and the Antonine Itin. makes it 17 M. P. from Forum Domitii to Sextantio (Soustantion), which is a few miles west of Montpellier. Though Forum Domitii lies between two well-known places, its position is not known. We may conclude that it was on the Via Domitia, so called from Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, who defeated the Allobroges (Liv. Epit. 61). This road is mentioned by Cicero (Cic. Font. 4) as repaired by the legati of M. Fonteius.
[G.L]Important market created by the proconsul Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus two or three years before the founding in 118 B.C. of the provincial capital of Narbonne. The market was established on the great interprovincial road that was to bear his name, the Via Domitiana, exactly halfway between Nimes and Narbonne, the two most important native cities in that part of the province and on the right bank of the Rhône.
The stopping place designated under this name in all ancient itineraries should be located in the area around Montbazin. The area has never been systematically explored, but important substructures have been found in different sectors on both sides of the ancient road, the line of which is still easily recognizable in this flat region. Moreover, numerous Gallo-Roman objects have been discovered in the surrounding area.
BIBLIOGRAPHYCarte archéologique de la Gaule romaine, fasc. X, Hérault (1946) 16-17, no. 41; P.-M. Duval, Gallia 7 (1949) 227; “Informations,” Gallia 22 (1964) 494; 29 (1971) 385.
G. BARRUOL