Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume I Part 2.djvu/249

 990 GEBGOVIA. .time of Xenoplion (ffelL iii. 1. § 15) Gei^ris is calted a strong place ; it had an acropoIu> and strong walls, and was one of the chief towns of the Dardanian prinoess Mania. (Comp. Plat PAoc. 18; Liv. xzxviil. 39; Strab. xiii. p. 589; Plin. y. 32; Steph.B.f. v.; Athen. tL p. 256, xii. p. 524.) King Attains of Fergamus transplanted the inhabitants of Geigis to a place near the soorces of the Caicns, whence we aftenvards find a pUice called Gergetha or Ger- ffUhioHy near Larissa, in the territorj of Cyme. (Strab. Le.Bl 6.) The old town of Gergis was believed bj some to have been the birthplace of the Sibyl, whence cmns found there have the image of Uie prophetess impressed upon them. [L. S.] GERGO'ViA. In most texts of Caesar's Gallic War (B, G. vii. 9) there is mention made of " Ger- govia, a town of the Boii, whom Caesar planted there after their defeat in the Helvetic War, and made dependent op the Aedai." Bat the name of the town in this parage of Caesar is uncertain, though it may be something like Geigovia. And if Gergovia is the right name, we do not know where the place was. The Gergovia which Caesar tried to take was a city of the Arvcnii (^. G. vii. 34), the position of which may be detei-roined with tolerable accaracy from Caesai'*s narrative After the capture of Ava- ricum, Caesar went to Decetia {Dtcise) on the Loire to settle the differences of the Aedni, after which, taking six legions and some of his cavalry, he set out for the country of the Arvenii, and of course he must march southward. His course was along the river Elaver {AUifOr), But before he could reach Gergovia he had to cross the AUier. Gergovia, therefore, is south of Decetia, and west of ih^ AUier, Vercingetorix, who was on the west side of the ^2/t«r, broke down all the bridges on the river; and, while Caesar was marching along the east bank, he marched along the left, and kept him in sight. Caesar could not make a bridge over the river in face of his enemy ; and the AUier, he observes (£. G. vii. 35), is genei«lly not foniable before the autumn. Caesar got out of the difficulty in this way. He encamped in a wooded place opposite to one of the bridges which Vercingetorix had broken down, and on the following day he remained there with two legions. He sent forward iheother four legions with all his heavy material,di8tributing these troops in such a way as to present to Vercingetorix the appearance of six complete legions. The four legions had orders to make a long march ; and when Caesar judged from the time of the day that they were at their camping ground, he b^an to repair the broken bridge, of which the lower part of the piles remained entire. This was soon done; the two legions were taken over, and orders sent to the four legions to return. Vercingetorix, discovering what had hap- pened, and not choosing to risk fighting a battle against his will, marched ahead of Caesar as hard as he could, and reached Gergovia {B. G. vii. 35). From the place where he crossed the AUier Caesar readied Gergovia in five days' march. We neither know where he crossed the river, nor the length of his mardies, nor the precise direction; but it was south. He describes Gergovia as situated on a very high mountain, difficult of access on all sides. (£. G, vii. 36.) The camp of Vercuigetorix was near the town on the mountain, and around him were en- camped, at moderate distances and separately, the forces of the several states under his command. GEEGOVIA, The Gallic troops occupied all the heights vkUb commanded a view into the phiin below, and pre- sented a terrible appearance. Opposite to the t«m and close to the foot of the mountaui was a hill, excellent for defence, and with a steep iatt all round. This hill was held by the Galli, but Caetai saw that if he could take it, hus men wooM be aUe to cut off the enemy from a large part of tfaor water and prevent them from foraging so fivdr. The force tiiat the Galli had on this hill was sat very great; and Caesar, attackmg it in the dadtf the night, before any aid could conw from the ton, got the pUce and put two legions in it. He aln cut two ditches, twelve feet wide, from this hill !< his principal encampment, which was in the ]d«i. The road between the two ditches was the ttoh munication between the two camps. The moaatalo of Gergovia is marked a, a in the view; tite hifl ia front cif it, marked 6, 6, is the small hill which Caesir toik, now called Puy de JuttaL This view is ftna Scrope's CaUral France, PANDKAMIG YIEW OF THE GEROOVIAN HILL& From this hill that he had oocopied, the 7^ A Jussat^ Caesar attempted to surprise Gefgoria. fie moved his men, a few at a time, from the hup camp to the Puy de Jtusat, while he diverted tk attention of the enemy by a feint of attacking the mountain of Gergovia on the north-west skie. YHol all was ready, he ordered his allies, the Aedai,to}!fi up the mountain of Gergovia on the south-east side, while he with his men climbed up the ste^ fide of the mountain which is opposite to thtPvgdeJmiA The movement was successful, and he got oo the plateau of Gergovia and took three of the Gaffie camps. But the impetuosity of the Roman soldicfs marred all. They purAued the enemy up to the town vaD and the gates, in full (KHifidence that they should take the place at once. One of the centurions with lla help of three of his men climbed up the wall, and helped them up after him. The nuiae broiigbt >P the rest of the Galli, who were busy in fbrtifrii^ that part of the approaches to the dty onwliiefa they supposed that Caesar had a design, and a fan fight took place under the walls, to the great disad' vantage of the Romans, who were not a match (ai the enemy in numbers, were on unfavourable gnmnd, and were al^o exhausted by running and fightiog. Caesar sent to T. Sextios, whom he had left on tia /Vy efe Ju$9atf to bring up some cohorts and pbco thom at the foot of the hill on the enemy's right, that, if the Romans were driven down the mountain, lie might check the pursuit. While the fight was going on the Aedui made their appeanmce, whom Gaear had ordered to climb the mountain on the right, that is, on Caesar's right, or the south-east Eide cf the mountain. The resemblance of their arawor to that of the enemy made the Ramans take them fcr the troops of Vercingetorix, though the Aedoi ga^