248 PLINX'S KATUEAL HISTOET. [Book III. 



From Cato we also learn that Comum, Bergoinuin\ and 

 Liciniforum^, and some other peoples in the vicinity, origin- 

 ated with the Orobii, but he admits that he is ignorant as 

 to the origin of that nation. Cornelius Alexander however 

 informs us that they came from Grreece, interpreting their 

 name as meaning " those who live upon the mountains^." 

 In this district, Parra has disappeared, a town of the Orobii, 

 from whom, according to Cato, the people of Bergomum are 

 descended ; its site even yet shows that it was situate in a 

 position more elevated than fruitful^. The Caturiges have 

 also perished, an exded race of the Insubres, as also Spina 

 previously mentioned; Melpum too, a place distinguished 

 for its opulence, which, as we are informed by Cornelius 

 Nepos, was destroyed by the Insubres, the Boii, and the 

 Senones, on the very day on which Camillua took Veil. 



CHAP. 22. (18.) — THE TENTH EEGIOK OF ITALY. 



We now come to the tenth region of Italy, situate on the 

 Adriatic Sea. In this district are Venetia^ the river Silis', 

 rising in the Tarvisanian^ mountains, the town of Alti- 



residence of his colleague Maximianus, and continued to be the abode of 

 the Emperors of the West till it was plundered by Attila, who transferred 

 the seat of government to Ravenna. It afterwards became the capital of 

 'the kingdom of the Ostro-Goths, and was again sacked by the Goths in 

 A.D. 539, and its inhabitants put to the sword. The present city, known 

 to us as Milan, contains no remains of antiquity. 



1 The modern Como and Bergamo stand on their sites. 



2 From its name, signifying the " market of Licinius," it would appear 

 to be of Roman origin. Its site is supposed to have been at a place 

 called Tncino, near the town of Erba, between Como and Lecco, where 

 inscriptions and other antiquities have been found. 



^ Deriving it from the Greek opos, "a mountain," and (3ios, "Ufe." 



■* "Etiamnum prodente sealtius quam fortunatius situm." Hardouin 

 seems to think that " se" refers to Cato, and that he informs us to that 

 effect ; but to aU appearance, it relates rather to the town, which even 

 yet, by its ruins, showed that it was perched too high among the moun- 

 tains to be a fertile spot. 



s The district of the Yeneti. These people, taking refuge in the ad- 

 joining islands in the fifth century to escape the Huns under Attila, 

 founded the modem city of Venice. 



^ Now called the Sile, which flows past Trevigio or Treviso. 



' The mountainous district in the vicinity of Tarvisivun, the modem 

 Treviso. 



