Ardea

The capital of the Rutali people or the Rutalians, and home of Turnus. Ardea was a city on the Latin coast.

According to the Aeneid, Turnus led the Rutalians into war because Latinus favoured Aeneas as his son-in-law. Turnus was originally betrothed to Lavinia, Latinus' daughter, but Latinus changed his mind because of a prophecy. The goddess Juno (Hera) incited him and Amata, Latinus' wife, into war against the Trojans. The war led to Turnus' defeat, and eventually to his death in single combat against Aeneas.

Ardea was a cult centre of Juno.