GÆTULIA, in Ancient Geography, a district of Africa, bounded on the N. by Mauretania and Numidia, E. by the country of the Garamantes, S. by the basin of the Niger, and W. by the Atlantic. The Gætuli, who inhabited it, and from it took their name, are stated by Sallust to have been one of two great aboriginal races of Africa; the Libyans being the other. They originally occupied the northern
sea-board of Africa, from which they were gradually driven out by the Asiatic invaders, who afterwards became known as Numidians and Mauretans. They were a warlike race of fierce disposition, and without a settled government; and roved over the deserts, clad in skins, and living on milk and the proceeds of the chase. They engaged but little in trade, though their country yielded abundantly some valuable natural products. The shores of the Atlantic, especially, furnished in great quantities the murex, from which the famous purple dye of antiquity was obtained.
Till the Jugurthine war the Gætuli, according to Sallust, were ignorant of the Roman name. In that struggle they furnished a quota of cavalry to the armies of the Numidian king. Some of them afterwards served under Marius, and owned a kind of allegiance to Hiempsal. In the civil war large numbers of them sided with Cæsar; but in the time of Augustus conducted themselves in a manner so turbulent and disorderly, that they had to be kept in check by a powerful army.