description Averno (Avernus) Overview
Lake Averno (or Avernus) is a volcanic crater lake located in Italy's Phlegraean Fields, near Naples. The name derives from the Greek word 'aornos,' meaning 'without birds,' referring to the ancient belief that birds flying over the lake would die due to toxic volcanic fumes. In Roman mythology, it was considered the entrance to the underworld, a tradition that Virgil incorporated into his epic poem the Aeneid. The lake formed within a tuff cone created by volcanic activity and was later connected to the sea by an underground tunnel built during Roman times.
help Averno (Avernus) FAQ
Where is Lake Averno located?
Lake Averno is a volcanic crater lake in the Phlegraean Fields near Pozzuoli, west of Naples in Italy's Campania region. It is part of an active volcanic caldera containing several craters and volcanic lakes.
Why is Averno associated with the phrase "without birds"?
The name is commonly linked to the Greek word aornos, meaning "without birds," because ancient stories attributed the absence of birds to poisonous fumes. Modern Lake Averno supports birdlife, so the phrase describes an ancient belief rather than a current condition.
How large and deep is Lake Averno?
Treccani describes the crater lake as covering about 0.55 square kilometers with a maximum depth of 34 meters. It has an approximately 3-kilometer perimeter and is surrounded by wooded slopes.
Why does Lake Averno appear in classical mythology?
Greeks and Romans associated Avernus with an entrance to the underworld, and Virgil placed the descent of Aeneas near Lake Avernus in the Aeneid. The nearby area was also incorporated into the Roman Portus Iulius harbor system.
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