(περιγεια, near, γη, the earth) is that point of the moon's orbit at the least distance from the earth. In this sense it is opposed to apogee. (See Astronomy.)

PÉRIGUEUX, a town of France, capital of the department of Dordogne, is built in the form of an amphitheatre on the right bank of the Isle, here crossed by a fine bridge, 68 miles E.N.E. of Bordeaux, and 296 S.S.W. of Paris. It consists of two parts, the town proper and Puy-Saint-Front. The former of these is substantially though irregularly built of freestone. The streets are narrow; and many of the houses are curiously ornamented. The ancient ramparts are now replaced by boulevards; and a fine public walk in the highest part of the town commands a beautiful view of the valley of the Isle. The cathedral of St Front is a very remarkable edifice; it is an exact copy of St Mark's at Venice, having five domes, and a tower 197 feet high at Perihelion the W. end. The prefecture of Périgueux is a fine edifice of modern date; and the church of the Jesuits is also a beautiful structure. There are here a public library, containing 16,000 volumes, a museum of antiquities, courthouse, barracks, hospital, theatre, and other buildings. In one of the suburbs stands a round tower of Roman origin, 100 feet high; also a Roman arch and amphitheatre. The manufactures principally carried on in the town are those of paper, woollen fabrics, hosiery, leather, cutlery, brandy, and the celebrated pies of Périgueux, made of partridges and truffles, and which form a considerable article of export. An active trade is carried on in flour, salt, iron, wood, pork, groceries, &c. Périgueux occupies the site of the ancient Vesunna, which was at the time of the Roman invasion the capital of the Petrocorii. Under the empire it was a place of no small importance, as it stood at the junction of five roads and was strongly fortified. Périgueux, along with Aquitaine, was ceded to the English by Louis IX. After having been recovered by the French, the town was again lost; but it was finally taken from the English by Charles V. During the civil wars of the Reformation it was a stronghold of the Protestants till the year 1581; and it was not till 1653 that it came into the power of the Crown. Pop. (1856) 13,291.