Vescovio Pagan
The Roman town of 'Forum Novum' where now stands the Bishop, was the center of booming market coming to be of particular importance at the intersection of roads. It is already talk the writer Pliny naming along with other localitài "Sabinorum Amiterno, Curenses, Decii Forum, Forum Novum '(Hist. Nat. Lib. Ili chap. 12). Virgil assumes the existence and location when Aeneid Book VII (lines 706-717) the list of fighters gathered from Round enumerates what '... Gasperiamque colunt Forulosque Imellae et flumen "(... from Casper, and from Fonili Imella had come (v. 1074-1075): translation of Annibale Caro). In fact corresponds Casperia the modern town of the same name and pointing to the ovens and the inhabitants of Rocchette Rocchettine (or perhaps Forano), the final expression will certainly indicate the plain of the river and the town Imella (today Hague), ie its 'Forum Novum' where, still, this stream flows. The plain keep a little depth, remains of Roman houses, identified by occasional surveys, while others of considerable size, emerge for outreach. Far more numerous are the witnesses on the administrative and structural 'Forum Novum'.
The full array of epigraphic records relating to the subject, was ordered by Momsen in you. IX, No 4769-4851 of Corpus Latinorum Inscriptionum. From these results, first, of course, that 'Forum Novum' was a 'Municipium, which extends to the complex of buildings on the hill and the plain bounded by two rivers.

The importance of the center was interested in the places close because many epigraphic documents, which are a confirmation of 'Passion' Martyrs' premises which will be discussed below, that the said Hall was built at the intersection of many roads, one of which led to 'Ocricolum (Otricoli today), so, accessible, hosted a popular market, the most important area, which later will give rise to the city itself. Despite its nature as Municipium 'Forum Novum' was run by "mayors" and not "quadrumvirs, because, being a market town, it was necessary for any non-infrequent disorder, had more timely intervention of and effective.
A great aqueduct, built at his expense by meritorious countryman P. Faianus Plebeius was more than sufficient to meet the needs of the urban center. Faianus, indeed, was so generous to build, always at his own expense, even the fountain (lacus) and ensure that water reached the pools held and public baths, which stood in the plain foronovana (campus). A plaque, in the first half of the Towers, on the facade of the Villa Camuccini, Collecalvo in town, and the second Bishop recalls the work of generous public Paiano.

Sanctuary of Praise in St Mary Bishop: Internal To confirm, are extant and visible remains of this aqueduct, dating from the ancient town along a stretch of the road towards the valley dell'Imella rich sources. Like any self-respecting city hall, even the "Forum Novum" belonged to one of the tribes of the region: the Clustumina (CIL IX Momsen 4789-4808), Claudia (4790), The Granny (4842), the Stellatine (4792).
It was natural that in a center so important, where are numerous indices of material well-being, do not miss the expressions of religious sentiment and spiritual life. Near the aqueduct, as well as fountain, pool and market, was the temple of Venus. A plaque, which has all the features of the first century AD, preserved in Bishop, brings this dedication: VENERI LIVIA.PÌ AEDEm. Here we are, in all probability, before a dedication or a restoration of the temple of Venus. Other deities were worshiped as Ceres and Free (reminds us of the Passion of the Martyrs and Companions Antimo), Isis, Serapis, Mercury and the goddess Fortuna (there are authentic inscriptions of Momsen). The Penati and Lares (household gods) were held in high regard (stone bears an inscription: "Laribus dicatum DIIS). The good citizens of the town hall foronovano were particularly sensitive to any form of imperial cult, which was exercised at Forum Novum "a special College of Priests, said the" sevir "or" sevir Augustales. Dedications, the municipal authorities of Forum Novum "were affected in honor of the Emperors, bear the names of Drusus and Germanicus, and other emperors Gordian, as shown by fragments of inscriptions still visible.