The fortification system of southern Latium: polygonal walls, fortresses and terraces

The polygonal walls of Southern Latium form a complex system consisting of megalithic enclosures, fortresses and terraces supporting the foundations of towns, temples, sacred places, villas etc. This singular system is an intricate interweaving of mythology and history and of constructive techniques and matter. Giuseppe Lugli (XX century) identified four different constructive types, named “maniera” in relation to the way of assembling the stones. Since the XIX century, the polygonal walls have attracted the attention of travelers, topographers, antique dealers and viewers as evidenced by numerous travel notebooks of the period. In this first step of the research, the paper aims to produce a general overview of the phenomenon thanks to bibliographic analysis as well, fundamental for starting an in-depth process of knowledge and therefore of valorization. In a case of study (the tower of Cicerone-Arpino) the paper also shows, the survey approach to be used in all other sites.