Monte- would indicate the hill of Mercato Vecchio, at the foot of which the town was built.[5] The origin of -belluna is more discussed: it could be in relation to the cult of the goddess Bellona; or, postponing its origin, it would refer to the city of Belluno which, in the 10th century, had expanded its jurisdiction beyond the Piave thanks to the conquests of Bishop Giovanni. The first evidence of the toponym is in the year 1000 << de Musano usque in capite montis Belluni >>, in 1239 << Montis Bellunensis Castrum >>, in 1245 << Castrum Montisbellune >> and in 1251 <<Montebelluna>>.