I am researching the history of pineta.  On pages 666-667 of the 1867
publication, _Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology_,
edited by William Smith, there is a reference to a literary character
named Rufinus (or, "Tyrannius or Turranius or Toranus, as the name is
variously written") who returned to a place known as Pinetum.  Several
of the other places mentioned in this bio are legitimate, real places:
Syria, Jerusalem, Italy, etc.  I'd like to learn if Pinetum is a place
that either actually existed or exists and where that is and perhaps
some details about how it received its name.

I believe the first published use of the term "pinetum" comes from the
1839 publication _Pinetum Woburnense_ by James Forbes.  I am also
aware of later publications by George Gordon and John Claudius Loudon
which mention pineta.

Birchpole,

Pinetum was an Italian monastery where Rufinus Tyrannius stayed.
Quoting from his biography on the 1911 Encyclopedia site at:

http://100.1911encyclopedia.org/R/RU/RUFINUS_TYRANNIUS.htm

"In 408 we find Rufinus at the monastery of Pinetum (in the
Campagna?); thence he was driven by the arrival of Alaric to Sicily,
being accompanied by Melania in his flight."

On the Institute for Korean Thoelogical Information I found a further
refining of the location:

http://www.iktinos.org/classics/npnf2-03/npnf2-03-30.htm

"Rufinus stopped at the monastery of Pinetum near Terracina. His
welcome by the Abbot Urseius and the philosopher Macarius, and their
request to him to translate various Greek books..."

Both of these sites offer much more detailed information about the man
and his travels.

Google Search Terms

pinetum Rufinus
pineta

I hope you find this information useful.

---

Clarification of Answer by morris-ga on 20 Jun 2002 12:07 PDT

Birchpole, 
 
Not sure the comments get e-mailed to you, so I'm repeating my comment
in a clarification. It was apparently named for the famous pine grove
(pineta) that
stretched along the Italian coast in those days. Sorry I forgot to
include it in the answer.

The Italy entry from the online Catholic Encyclopedia:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08208a.htm
 
morris-ga

Answer is on point as to whether or not it is an actual place, but
unresponsive as to how it received its name.  In all fairness, I said
that I would perhaps like these details, so, it's a good answer, but
it would have been great with that little extra.  I'll need to find
out the rest on my own or submit another question.

Birchpole,

It was apparently named for the famous pine grove (pineta) that
stretched along the Italian coast in those days. SOrry I forgot to
include it in the answer.

morris-ga

Pinetum is indeed the Greek word for pine wood.

http://www.e2ni.com/~latingreek/latin/p.htm

rhansenne-ga

Here's a cool modern coincidence: there is a modern (new
construction?) village in the Italian province of Campania (see
Naples) called "Pinetamare."

Campagna - pinetum
Campania - Pinetamare

And I think that Terracina is to the north of Pinetamare.

Nearby Pinetamare are the ancient ruins of the Sybil of Cuma. These
ruins are considered Greek ruins as part of the Greek colonization of
the southern part of the Italian peninsula, commonly called Magna
Grecia. You can see some nice pictures of Cuma at:

   http://www.archart.it/archart/italia/campania/cuma/cuma.htm

I think the trees that look like umbrellas in the photos at the site
above are the pine trees referred to by morris-ga. They're still all
over the place.

Just an incorrigible Italophile! fugitive-ga