DIJON (the ancient Dibio, Divio, Dicionense Castrum), a town of France, formerly the capital of the duchy of Burgundy, now of the department of Côte d'Or, and of an arrondissement of its own name. This town is of considerable antiquity, and is said by some to have been in existence previous to the Roman Conquest; but if so, it must have been a place of small importance. The more common opinion is, that it was founded by Marcus Aurelius, by whom it was also surrounded with walls, flanked with towers. It was considerably enlarged and improved by Aurelian about 274. It seems to have been, probably about this time, important for its manufactures of iron, from an inscription found here which speaks of the inhabitants as, "Fabri Ferrarii Dibionenses." Dijon, if not the capital, was at least one of the principal towns of the first kingdom of Burgundy. It was destroyed by fire in 1137, but rebuilt twenty years afterwards; and from 1179 to the death of Charles the Rash it was the ordinary residence of the dukes of Burgundy.
Dijon is situated in a pleasant and fertile plain at the foot of the Côte d'Or mountains, 105 miles N. of Lyons, and 160 S.E. of Paris; in 47. 19. 25. N. Lat., and 6. 2. 5. E. Long. It is surrounded by ramparts planted with trees, and has five gates. Outside the walls are avenues, parks, and other agreeable promenades. Its southern walls are washed by the Ouche; and the small stream of Suzon traverses it from N. to S. by a channel under the streets, and contributes greatly to the cleanliness for which this town is remarkable. Dijon is generally well built, the streets are wide and well paved, and the houses neat and built of free-stone. It contains many remarkable buildings, some of them of great antiquity. The present cathedral, dedicated to St Benigne, was rebuilt in 1271, the previous edifice having been founded in the fifth century. It is a fine specimen of the Gothic style, contains some handsome monuments, and is surmounted by a light and elegant wooden spire 330 feet in height. The church of Notre Dame is a singularly fine specimen of the purest Gothic, and is remarkable for the boldness of its construction. The portal of the church of St Michael is composed of three circular arches, with a very fine frieze above. Many of the ancient churches have been converted into stables, warehouses, &c. That of St Etienne is now used as a covered market, and St Philibert as cavalry barracks; some of these, however, are still worthy of notice for their architecture, as St Jean, which is remarkable for the span of its roof. The palace of the dukes of Burgundy has had its principal front modernized, but otherwise it still retains most of its ancient features. It is now used as public offices, and a portion of it is allotted to an extensive museum. It is surmounted by lofty towers, now used as an observatory. The castle, commenced by Louis XI., and finished by Louis XII. in 1513, became in the eighteenth century a state prison, in which the duchess of Maine, Mirabeau, and others were confined; and now serves as a barracks for the gens-d'armes. Dijon is the seat of a bishop, a royal court, tribunals of primary instance and commerce, and of a university and academy, having faculties of law, science, and literature; and has a special school of the fine arts, a royal college, a primary normal school, a seminary, a royal academy of sciences and belles-lettres, a botanic garden, agricultural society, and a public library of upwards of 40,000 vols. It has manufactures of woollen, linen, and cotton goods, hats, leather, soap, vinegar, mustard, starch, and brandy; but its principal dependence is on the wine trade, being the chief depot and market for the sale of Burgundy. Dijon has produced a number of cele-
Dilpoleia, brated men, of whom may be mentioned Bossuet, Crebillon, Longepierre, and Daubenton. Pop. (1851) 28,998.
Dilpoletia, in Grecian Antiquity, the name of a festival. See Buphonia.
DIKE (Δίκη), the goddess of justice, was, according to Hesiod, the daughter of Jupiter and Themis. The special office of Dike was to punish injustice and to reward virtue. She regarded with particular abhorrence all unjust judges, whose misdemeanours she instantly reported to Jupiter. In the oldest works of art, as for instance the chest of Cypselus, Dike is represented as a young and handsome female, dragging with one hand an old and ugly hag, Adikia (Injustice), while in the other she holds a staff with which to beat her. In the dramas of the three great tragedians of ancient Greece, the idea of Dike or retribution is wrought out with great care, and sometimes, as by Eschylus, with very great success.