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The Geography of Strabo, Volume 1 (of 3)

Strabo · c. 20 CE (Books I–VI likely composed/available by this period) primary

passage 162 of 384 · BOOK I. > CHAPTER III. (1/3)

↪ you wandered here via “Loire river crossing Roman cavalry” — the connecting lines are tinted below

in brief
He shifts to the Gaul region up to the Rhine from the Loire and Rhone, focusing on Lugdunum, Roman control, and the relations and conflicts among Segusiani, Sequani, Aedui, and Rome’s dominance of the Saone.
  1. Next in order after Aquitaine and the Narbonnaise, is that portion [of Gaul] extending as far as the Rhine from [CAS. 191] the river Loire, and the Rhone, where it passes by Lugdunum:[1438] in its descent from its source. The upper regions of this district from the sources of the Rhine and Rhone, nearly to the middle of the plains, pertain to Lugdunum; the remainder, with the regions next the ocean, is comprised in another division which belongs to the Belgæ. We will describe the two together.

  2. Lugdunum itself, situated on[1439] a hill, at the confluence of the Saone[1440] and the Rhone, belongs to the Romans. It is the most populous city after Narbonne. It carries on a great commerce, and the Roman prefects here coin both gold and silver money. Before this city, at the confluence of the rivers, is situated the temple dedicated by all the Galatæ in common to Cæsar Augustus. The altar is splendid, and has inscribed on it the names of sixty people, and images of them, one for each, and also another great altar.[1441]

This is the principal city of the nation of the Segusiani who lie between the Rhone and the Doubs.[1442] The other nations who extend to the Rhine, are bounded in part by the Doubs, and in part by the Saone. These two rivers, as said before, descend from the Alps, and, falling into one stream, flow into the Rhone. There is likewise another river which has its sources in the Alps, and is named the Seine.[1443] It flows parallel with the Rhine, through a nation bearing the same name as itself,[1444] and so into the ocean. The Sequani are bounded on the east by the Rhine, and on the opposite side by the Saone. It is from them that the Romans procure the finest salted-pork. Between the Doubs and Saone dwells the nation of the Ædui, who possess the city of Cabyllinum,[1445] situated on the Saone and the fortress of Bibracte.[1446] The Ædui[1447] are said to be related to the Romans, and they were the first to enter into friendship and alliance with them. On the other side of the Saone dwell the Sequani, who have for long been at enmity with the Romans and Ædui, having frequently allied themselves with the Germans in their incursions into Italy. It was then that they proved their strength, for united to them the Germans were powerful, but when separated, weak. As for the Ædui, their alliance with the Romans naturally rendered them the enemies of the Sequani,[1448] but the enmity was increased by their contests concerning the river which divides them, each nation claiming the Saone exclusively for themselves, and likewise the tolls on vessels passing. However, at the present time, the whole of it is under the dominion of the Romans.

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topics: conquest, plunder, and captives · empire and the rule of provinces · faction, party, and civil strife

The Geography of Strabo, Volume 1 (of 3) · Strabo · 20