(German Mainz, ancient Moguntiacum), a town of Germany, capital of the province of Rhenish Hesse, in the grand duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, is beautifully situated on a sloping hill on the left bank of the Rhine, not far from its confluence with the Main, 20 miles W.S.W. of Frankfort. The town is built in an irregular and old-fashioned style; most of the streets are narrow and gloomy, the houses are in general high, and the squares have a fine and imposing appearance. Outside the town there are large public gardens, called Neue Anlage, which form a fashionable and much frequented promenade, and command a fine view of the town and surrounding country. The cathedral, which is of great antiquity, and has been destroyed by fire not less than six times, exhibits specimens of the styles of several centuries; and, though interesting as an illustration of the history of art, it does not possess much architectural beauty, and is not seen to advantage, owing to its being blocked up with mean houses. It has six towers, one of which is above 200 feet in height, while another, of 70 feet, is surmounted by a cupola. The building contains many monuments of much interest and of great antiquity; a handsome pulpit, 14 altars, and 20 chapels. There is also the church of St Ignatius, built in a beautiful style, and adorned with fine pictures by Zick. The other important buildings in Mayence are,—the church of St Peter, with two towers and a fine peal of bells; that of St Stephen, whose tower commands a fine view; the ancient palace of the electors, now used as the merchants' hall; the grand ducal palace, now occupied by the governor, and formerly the palace of the Teutonic order; the library, containing 100,000 volumes; and the theatre. There was formerly a college here; but its place is now supplied by a gymnasium. Opposite the theatre stands a bronze statue by Thorwaldsen of Gutenberg, a native of this town, who is one of the claimants of the honour of the invention of printing, as he was the first to use metal types. In the citadel stands the Eichelstein, supposed to be the monument mentioned by ancient authors as erected here in memory of Drusus, brother of the emperor Tiberius, and father of Germanicus. The town of Mayence is strongly fortified, and is indeed one of the strongest places in Europe, serving as a defence for Germany on the side of France. On the other side of the Rhine stands the suburb of Castel, which is joined to the town by a bridge of boats, and also fortified; and a small island in the river, called Petersan, is no less securely defended. Mayence has towards the country 4 gates, with double drawbridges, while the whole extent of the defences is so great as to require a garrison of 30,000 men to man them fully. The fortress belongs to the German Confederation; and is garrisoned in time of peace by 6000 Austrians, Prussians, and Hessians, under an Austrian and a Prussian general alternately, each of whom retains the command for five years. There is believed to have been a town of the Mediomatrici on the site of the modern Mayence, before the foundation of a fortress here by Drusus, in the year 13 B.C. The town does not, however, seem to have been of any great importance during the continuance of the Roman empire; and was destroyed by the Vandals in 406. After lying in ruins for some centuries, Mayence was restored by Charlemagne, and attained to great prosperity after the time of Bonifacius, bishop of Mayence. In the middle ages this was the first ecclesiastical city of Germany; and the archbishop was one of the electors, and premier prince of the German empire. In 1798 Mayence having fallen into the hands of the French, was made the capital of the department of Mont Tonnerre; but in 1816 it was given to the Grand Duke of Hesse. Pop. 31,365.