Following various alliances with the Romans and the Third Samnite War in the 3rd century BC the territory of Picenum gradually passed under the control of Rome.

The monumental Hellenistic-Roman sanctuary of Jupiter located today in the La Cuma area 0.5 km south of the present town was built in the 1st half of the 2nd century BC.

It was thus the focus of attraction of Roman colonists living nearby who used it also for the administration of justice and other civil or commercial purposes.

The 1st phase of the sanctuary from the 1st half of the 2nd century BC consisted of a temple of Jupiter on a podium in the centre of a square piazza.

[5] At the end of the 2nd c. BC a second sacellum (small temple), dedicated to Hercules, was built in the northern corner of the piazza.