A town in Latium, 16 miles (25 km.) southeast of Rome. It has long been known for its excellent wine. The town, which dates back to the ninth century BCE, is located on the shores of Lake Nemi. Not far away was a grove and sanctuary sacred to the goddess Diana, which was presided over by a priest known as the "Rex Nemorensis" ("King of Nemi"). Numerous Roman writers reported a practice of ritual sacrifice, as each Rex Nemorensis engaged his predecessor in ritual combat and killed him before taking his place. The phenomenon was explored at length in Frazier's "The Golden Bough".