Ampsanctus
Ampsanctus, all hallowed
Frieze-Dennison Vergil
Ampsanctus , ī, m.: Lake Amsanctus, in the country of the Hirpini, from its noxious exhalations supposed to be one of the entrances to Hades, 7.65.
Amp-sanctus (better than Am-), i, m.,
- a lake in Italy, highly dangerous from its pestiferous exhalations (hence, in the poets, the entrance to the infernal regions), now Le Mofete or Lago d’Ansante, Verg. A. 7, 565; Cic. Div. 1, 36; Plin. 2, 93, 95, § 208.
Ampsānctus (16) ( Ams-, Serv. ), ī, m. , lac dʼItalie [très dangereux par ses émanations pestilentielles]: Virg. En. 7, 565 ; Cic. Div. 1, 79 ; Plin. 2, 208.
Ampsānctus (Am-) ī, m
- see ambi-, all hallowed(sc. lacus), a lake of Italy, noted for pestiferous exhalations.—Poet.: valles (of the entrance to the infernal regions), V.
Ampsanctus
(or Amsanctus) Lacus. A small lake in Samnium, near Aeculanum, which, by reason of its mephitic vapours, was reputed to be the entrance to the lower world. ( De Div. i. 36.)
AMPSANCTUS (Rocca San Felice) Campania, Italy.
At this place in the Hirpine country a sanctuary of Mephitis (Pliny HN 2.208) stood near a volcanic spring that constantly boils with the release of noisome gases. There are no remains of the sanctuary except votive material, including interesting wooden figures, now in the Museo Irpino at Avellino. The coins come from mints all over S Italy and show the shrine was venerated from the 5th c. B.C. to the 2d c. A.D. Vergil (Aen. 7.563-71) sets the descent of Allecto to the Underworld here.
L. RICHARDSON JR.