GERONTES, in antiquity, a kind of judges, or magistrates, in ancient Sparta, answering to what the Areopagites were at Athens. See AREOPAGUS. The word is formed of the Greek γέρων, which signifies "old man." Whence also the words gerontic, something belonging to an old man; and Geronicon, a famous book among the modern Greeks, containing the lives of the ancient monks. The senate of gerontes was called gerusia, that is, assembly or council of old men. The gerontes were originally instituted by Lycurgus: their number, according to some, was 28; and, according to others, 32. They governed in conjunction with the king, whose authority they were intended to balance, and to watch over the interests of the people. Polybius defines their office in few words, when he says, per ipsos, et cum ipsis, omnia administrari. None were to be admitted into this office under 60 years of age, and they held it for life. They were succeeded by the ephori. GEROPOGON, a genus of plants belonging to the syngenesia class, and in the natural method ranking under the 49th order, Compositæ. See BOTANY Index. GERRETZ. See REMBRANDT. GERS, a department in the south-west of France. Its surface is in general lilly but fertile, and abounds more in pasture soil than in arable land. In 1815 it contained 286,500 inhabitants, on an area of 2620 square miles. Auch is the chief town. GERVAISE, or GERVASE, of Tilbury, a famous English writer of the 13th century; thus named from his being born at Tilbury on the Thames. He was nephew to Henry II. king of England; and was in great credit with Otho IV. emperor of Germany, to whom he dedicated a Description of the World, and a Chronicle. He also composed a History of England, that of the Holy Land, and other works.