費(fei),古方國。《元和郡(jun)縣圖志》謂(wei):“費(fei)縣,古費(fei)國也。 ”春秋(qiu)初期為(wei)魯(lu)懿公之孫費(fei)伯之邑。《論語》所記孔子(zi)為(wei)魯(lu)司寇時,曾“墮三都(dou)”,費(fei)即其一。漢(han)置(zhi)費(fei)縣,屬東海郡(jun),東漢(han)屬泰山郡(jun),晉屬瑯琊國,劉宋為(wei)瑯琊郡(jun)治(zhi)。北魏(wei)太和年間移治(zhi)枋城(cheng),此城(cheng)遂(sui)廢。
清乾隆二(er)(er)十二(er)(er)年(nian)(公元1757年(nian))正(zheng)月(yue)二(er)(er)十七日,高宗弘(hong)歷南(nan)巡,途(tu)經費縣,曾題詩一(yi)首,名曰《費阝城覽古》:季氏(shi)初頒邑,南(nan)遺(yi)乃筑(zhu)城。庶幾仆文(wen)出,不改井恒成。無(wu)度卑(bei)公室,有權擅(shan)上卿。名言思(si)史墨,宜慎(shen)器和名。
故(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺址呈長(chang)(chang)方形,南北(bei)長(chang)(chang)2公(gong)里(li)(li),東(dong)西寬1公(gong)里(li)(li),周長(chang)(chang)6公(gong)里(li)(li),面(mian)積約234平方公(gong)里(li)(li)。故(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南半部(bu)土地(di)(di)平坦,是(shi)當年王府和市井(jing)所在地(di)(di)。隨(sui)處可見一些古(gu)代瓦礫、陶片和磚塊等(deng)。當地(di)(di)群(qun)眾稱此處為季王城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。故(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內坐落著古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)里(li)(li)、西畢城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、寧國莊3個自然村,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)輪廓依稀(xi)可見。 北(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)長(chang)(chang)954米,西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)長(chang)(chang)2170米,東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)長(chang)(chang)1935米,南城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)長(chang)(chang)1077米。 近似長(chang)(chang)方形。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內偏北(bei)部(bu)有(you)一丘陵,東(dong)西橫列,嶺(ling)北(bei)俗稱“兵(bing)馬城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”,順嶺(ling)南下俗稱“宮(gong)殿(dian)區”。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)部(bu)有(you)小(xiao)月(yue)河經(jing)古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)里(li)(li)注入(ru)浚河。
故(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)經(jing)常出土文物。在兵馬城(cheng)(cheng)常見銅箭鏃、鐵刑具(ju)等(deng)(deng);宮殿區(qu)內(nei),多“千秋(qiu)萬歲”瓦(wa)當、銅鏡、五銖錢(qian)(qian)、石(shi)錢(qian)(qian)范、犁范、磚、瓦(wa)等(deng)(deng);城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)南角和東(dong)部不斷發現春秋(qiu)戰國(guo)墓(mu);城(cheng)(cheng)西南角為居(ju)民(min)區(qu),磚、瓦(wa)遍地,堆積厚度近60厘米。另在宮殿區(qu)之東(dong)有(you)季桓子(zi)井(jing)(jing)一眼,井(jing)(jing)旁有(you)石(shi)碑兩幢:一為清乾隆年(nian)間(jian)(jian)費縣知事(shi)駱(luo)大俊所(suo)立,中(zhong)刻隸書“季桓子(zi)井(jing)(jing)” ;一為嘉慶年(nian)間(jian)(jian)山東(dong)督(du)糧道孫星衍同知縣郭志青(qing)所(suo)立。
古遺址西(xi)面(mian)原(yuan)有(you)費阝城(cheng)湖,與(yu)故城(cheng)毗鄰。今(jin)已毫無痕(hen)跡,僅“水湖”村名(ming),可(ke)以證明(ming)它在歷史(shi)上的(de)存(cun)在。
2013年5月,被國務院(yuan)核定(ding)公布為第七批全國重點文(wen)物保護單(dan)位(wei)。
在費縣城西北10公(gong)里處(chu)的上(shang)冶鎮南,浚河西岸,有一(yi)(yi)座(zuo)古(gu)(gu)城遺址,便是(shi)費國(guo)(guo)故城。據《史記·魯(lu)(lu)周公(gong)世(shi)家》記載(zai): “厘(li)公(gong)元年,以(yi)汶(wen)陽、封(feng)(feng)季(ji)友(you)(you)”。這(zhe)座(zuo)古(gu)(gu)城原是(shi)一(yi)(yi)個古(gu)(gu)老的東方姬姓封(feng)(feng)國(guo)(guo)的國(guo)(guo)都。《沂州(zhou)志·藩(fan)封(feng)(feng)志》載(zai):“費阝國(guo)(guo),姬姓,伯(bo)爵,文武之后,春秋時去(qu)‘阝’為費。”后被魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)吞(tun)并,成(cheng)為魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)大(da)夫季(ji)孫氏,即季(ji)友(you)(you)的封(feng)(feng)邑。季(ji)友(you)(you),春秋魯(lu)(lu)桓公(gong)季(ji)子(zi),即魯(lu)(lu)桓公(gong)小(xiao)的兒子(zi),魯(lu)(lu)莊公(gong)弟,名友(you)(you),號成(cheng)季(ji),故稱季(ji)友(you)(you),又稱公(gong)孫友(you)(you)”。這(zhe)就是(shi)季(ji)王城的來(lai)歷(li)。