ALBA LONGA (anc. geog.), a colony from Lavinium, in Latium, established by Ascanius the son of Aeneas, at the foot of the Mons Albanus: called Alba, from a white sow found by Aeneas, which farrowed 30 white pigs on that spot; which circumstance was interpreted to portend the building of a city there in 30 years after (Propertius). The epithet Longa was added on account of its length. It was the royal residence till the building of Rome, as was foretold by Anechises (Virgil); was destroyed by Tullius Hostilius, all but the fane or temple; and the inhabitants were transplanted to Rome (Strabo).