P. 497, c. 1.—“Cisalpine.” On the hither side of the Alps, with reference
to Rome, that is, on the south side of the Alps, opposed to _transalpine_.
“Doria Baltea,” doˈri-a bal-teˈa. Formerly called the _Duria_. It is a
river which rises in the south of the Alps, and flows through the country
to the Salassi, into the Po. It is said to bring gold dust with it.
“Salassians,” sa-lasˈsi-ans. A brave, fierce people, formerly living at
the foot of the Pennine Alps.
P. 497, c. 2.—“Insubrians,” in-suˈbri-ans. A Gallic people who had
crossed the Alps and settled in the north of Italy. They had become one
of the most powerful and warlike of the Gallic tribes in Cisalpine Gaul.
“Leptis,” lepˈtis. An important place on the coast of northern Africa,
now in ruins.
“Adrumetum,” or Hadrumetum, adˈri-mēˌtum. A large city founded by the
Phœnicians in northern Africa. It is now called _Hammeim_.
“Polybius,” po-lybˈi-us. A Greek historian, born about 206 B. C.
P. 498, c. 1.—“Masinissa,” mas-i-nisˈsa. The Numidians were divided into
two tribes, of the easternmost of which the father of Masinissa was king.
He was an ally of the Carthagenians, and for many years warred with them
against Syphax, the king of the other Numidian tribe. Masinissa remained
friendly to the Carthagenians until Hasdrubal, who had betrothed his
daughter to him, broke his promise, marrying her to Syphax. Masinissa
then joined the Romans, to whom he rendered valuable service both before
and at this battle. He was rewarded with much territory, which he ruled
in peace until the breaking out of war between him and Carthage in 150.
This outbreak led to the Third Punic War. Masinissa died, however, soon
after the beginning of the trouble.
“Lælius,” læˈlĭ-us. Sometimes called _Sapiens_ (the wise). Was an
intimate friend of Scipio Africanus, the younger, while his father had
been the companion of the elder Scipio. Polybius was his friend, and
probably gained much help from him in writing his history. Lælius had
a fine reputation as a philosopher and statesman, and it was Seneca’s
advice to a friend “to live like Lælius.”
“Maniples,” manˈi-ples. Literally a handful, from the Latin words for
hand and full. A name given to a small company of Roman soldiers.
“Ligurians,” li-guˈri-ans. Inhabitants of Liguria. A name given to a
district of Italy which at that time lay south of the river Po.
P. 498, c. 2.—“Metaurus,” me-tauˈrus. A small river of northern Italy
flowing into the Adriatic Sea, made memorable by the defeat and death of
Hannibal on its banks in 207 B. C.
“Euboic.” Pertaining to Eubœa. An island east of Greece, the largest of
the archipelago, lying in the Ægean Sea.