GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX. A. ABORIGINES. A name given by the Roman writers to the primitive race of the Latins. According to Cato, they dwelt originally about mount Velino, in Italy, and the lake of Celano, (Fucinus,) as far as Carseoli, and towards Reate; but were driven onward by the Sabines, who came from Aquila. (Dion. Hal. 2, 49.) On leaving this vicinity, they came down the Anio, and expelled the Siculi from the neighbourhood of Tibur, Antemnæ, Crustumerium, and Aricia. Sallust represents them as a savage race, living in hordes, without any civilization, and ignorant of agriculture. This, however, does not agree with the traces of their towns in the Apennines. The Aborigines revered Janus and Saturn; the latter of whom, according to some authorities, taught them husbandry, and induced them to choose settled habitations. From this ancient race, blended with a remnant of the Siculi, came the later Latin nation. (Compare Niebuhr, Rom. Hist., vol. i., p. 62. Cambridge Transl.) p. 82. AEGYPTUS. An extensive country of Africa, consisting of the long and narrow valley which follows the course of the Nile, from Syene (Assooan) to Cairo, together with the Delta, or triangular region, spreading from this point, to the Mediterranean sea. Sallust and Pomponius Mela (1,8) consider it as a part of Asia, making Africa end at the Catabathmus. Other ancient writers give the Nile as forming the dividing line between Asia and Africa; and, of course, make Egypt belong half to the former continent and half to the latter. P. 14. AETHIOPES. A race, according to Sallust, occupying the central parts of Africa, from east to west. The early Greeks meant by Aethiopes all races of a dark complexion (ai0w, uro, and 4, vultus,) and called their country Aethiopia, wherever situated. Hence, Homer speaks of the Eastern and Western Aethiopians, meaning by the former the Arabians, Indi, &c., and by the latter the natives of central Africa. Aethiopia, according to the more definite account of Herodotus, includes the countries above Egypt, the present Nubia and Abyssinia; and it is in somewhat the same sense that the term is now employed, when we speak of Aethiopia as the parent of Egyptian civilization. p.14. AFRICA. Called by the Greeks Libya; and commonly regarded by the ancients as forming the third division of the world. Some, however, of the geographers of antiquity considered the world as composed of four parts, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Egypt; and others again of only two, Europe and Asia, including Africa in Europe. In general, Africa was reckoned a third part. The name was first applied by the Romans to the immediate territories of Carthage. Hence, we find, on the coast of the Mediterranean, Africa Propria, corresponding to the modern country of Tunis. On the east, Africa is bounded by the isthmus of Suez, and the Sinus Arabicus, or Red sea; on the north by the Mediterranean, called by the Romans Mare Nostrum; on the west by the Atlantic; and on the south by the Indian ocean. It is extremely doubtful whether the ancients were acquainted with the circumnavigation of Africa. Hero dotus informs us, that it was accomplished by Phenician mariners, sent out by the orders of Necho, king of Egypt. p. 12, 13, 14 AFRICUM MARE. Another name for that part of the Mediterranear which washes the shores of Africa. Mela (1, 14) calls it Libycum Mare. According to other authorities, however, the Libycum Pelagus was between Africa and the coast of Crete. p. 13. ALLOBRŎGES. A people of Gaul, between the Isara, or Isere, and the Rhodanus, or Rhone, in the country answering to Dauphiné, Piedmont, and Savoy. Their chief city was Vienna, now Vienne, on the left bank of the Rhodanus, thirteen miles below Lugdunum, or Lyons. They were finally reduced beneath the Roman sway by Fabius Maximus, who hence was honoured with the surname of Allobrogicus. Their name is said to mean "Highlanders," from Al, "high," and Broga, "land." (Thierry, Hist. des Gaulois, vol. ii., p. 168, seqq.—Adelung, Mithridates, vol. ii., p. 50.) p. 99, 100, 101. APULIA. A country of Magna Graecia, lying along the coast of the Hadriatic. The name Apulia was unknown to the Greeks, who gave the country the appellation of Iapygia. It must be remarked, however, that the term Iapygia was confined at first to that peninsula, to which the name Messapia was sometimes applied; but we find, at a later period, that Polybius gives to Iapygia the same extension which the Roman geographers and historians assign to Apulia. The modern name of Apulia is Puglia. The country now supports more sheep than men. (Cramer's Ancient Italy, vol. ii., p. 264, seqq.) p. 93, 94. 100. ARMENII. The inhabitants of Armenia, a region of Asia, which was divided into Armenia Major and Minor. The first of these answers to the modern Turcomania, and is still sometimes called Armenia, lying south of mount Caucasus, and comprehending the Turkish pachalics of Erze-Roum, Kars, and Van, and also the Persian province Iran, or Erivan. It was separated from Armenia Minor by the river Euphrates. Armenia Minor was, properly speaking, a part of Cappadocia. It is now called Aladulia, or Pegian. Armenia Major is a rough, mountainous country, which has Caucasus for its northern boundary, and in the centre is traversed by branches of mount Taurus, to which belongs mount Ararat. Here the rivers Euphrates, Tigris, and Cyrus, cr Kur, take their rise. The climate is rather cold than warm; the soil in general moderately fertile, and better fitted for grazing than for agriculture. The mountains are rich in iron and in copper. p. 13. ARPINUM. A small town of Latium, southeast of Rome, still known by the name of Arpino. It was famous for having been the birthplace of Marius, and Cicero. It originally belonged to the Volsci, but was taken by the Samnites, from whom it was again wrested by the Romans. p. 43. ARRETINUS AGER. The territory of Arretium, a city of Etruria, north of Cortona, and near the Arnus, or Arno. Its modern name is Arezzo. Arretium was a place of considerable celebrity, and generally considered as one of the principal states of Etruria. It was much celebrated for its terra cotta vases. (Plin. H. N. 35, 12.) p. 97. ASIA. One of the divisions of the ancient world. (Vid. Africa.) The name of Asia was applied by Homer, Herodotus, and Euripides, to a district of Lydia, watered by the Cayster. As their geographical knowledge of the continent increased, the Greeks extended the term gradually to the whole of Asia Minor, and eventually to the other extensive countries of the East. When the Roman writers refer to Asia specially, they mean the Roman province in Asia Minor. B. p. 13, 85. In BALEARES. A name anciently given to the islands of Majorca and Minorca. The word is derived from the Greek Baλew, "to throw," or "strike," from the expertness of the inhabitants in the use of the sling. The Romans obtained some of their best slingers from these islands. In Majorca is Palma, which still retains its ancient name. Minorca is Portus Magonis, now Port Mahon. p. 72. BRUTTII. A people of Magna Graecia, below Lucania. They were a pastoral race, and, according to some of the ancient writers, were called Bruttii by the Romans, from their cowardice in submitting to Hannibal during the second Punic war. A much better etymology, however, is given by Strabo, who informs us, that they were called Bruttii from the circumstance of their being revolted slaves; Βρεττίους γὰρ καλοῦσι ἀποστά Tas, says Strabo, speaking of the Lucanians. This appellation the insurgents are supposed to have accepted as a term of defiance. The Bruttii flocked eagerly to the victorious standard of Hannibal, and subsequently enabled that commander to maintain his ground in this quarter of Italy, when all hope of final success seemed to be extinguished. Hence they were reduced by the Romans to the most abject state of dependance, after the departure of the Carthaginian general and the victory at Zama. They were pronounced incapable of being employed in a military capacity, and their services were confined to the menial offices of couriers and letter-carriers. (Cramer's Ancient Italy, vol. ii., p. 386.) C. p. 100. CAMERTEM. A native of Camerinum. This place was a Roman colony, on the borders of Picenum, but lying in Umbria. It was probably not the same with the Camerte of Strabo, as some suppose. (Cramer's Ancient Italy, vol. i., p. 274.) Barbié du Bocage is of opinion, that Camerinum was founded by the inhabitants of Camerte, after the latter city had been destroyed by Sylla for favouring the party of Marius. (Consult the French Strabo, vol. ii., p. 60.) p. 93. CAMPANIA. A very fertile district of Italy, below Latium, of which Capua was the chief city. The natural advantages of Campania, its genial climate, and fertile soil, so rich in various productions, are a favourite theme with the Latin writers. CAPSA. A city of Africa, in the district of Byzacium, north of the p. 60, 62, 66/ CAPUA. The capital of Campania in Italy, a rich and flourishing city |