Home1778 Edition

AUTUN

Volume 2 · 149 words · 1778 Edition

an ancient city of France in the duchy of Burgundy, the capital of the Autunnois, with a bi- shop's see. The length of this city is about three quar- ters of a mile, and its breadth nearly equal. The river Arroux washes its ancient walls, whose ruins are so firm, and the stones so closely united, that they seem almost to be cut out of the solid rock. In this city are the ruins of three ancient temples, one of which was dedicated to Janus, and another to Diana. Here are likewise a theatre and a pyramid, which last is probably a tomb; it stands in a place called the field of urns, because sev- eral urns had been found there. Here are also two antique gates of great beauty. The city lies at the foot of three great mountains, in E. Long. 4° 15'. N. Lat. 45° 50'.