Healing with mineral waters. Places, objects and written sources in Roman Italy

The article discusses some aspects related to the exploitation of natural thermalism in Antiquity starting with an examination of pre-Roman and Roman contexts that were used for curative purposes over time, focusing on the Grotte del Kronio, in Sicily, and the Aquae Cutiliae, in Latium. These two sites are different from each other both in terms of the quality of the geo-thermal phenomenon and the type of settlements, but they also allow us to gather interesting elements on aspects related to the literary and cultural-historical tradition that developed around them over the centuries. Prospects for further study also open up to the consideration of the socio-economic consequences that the exploitation of mineral springs entailed for ancient societies, including veterinary care and the economic incentive resulting from the possession of healthy herds with high commercial potential.