Nimes

nem, a city of southwestern France. It is situated in a beautiful valley sixty-two miles northwest of Marseilles. It lies in the midst of a fertile district, and is a local point of considerable importance in the wine, brandy, vinegar, and oil trade. Like Lyons, it is a center of the silk industry. The chief importance of Nimes to the reader, however, lies in its antiquities. It was one of the principal seats of Roman power in Gaul. It was a fortified city of great strength. Although the ramparts have been leveled to make place for boulevards some idea may yet be had of their extent. What is known as the Great Tower has been preserved. It is still sixty feet in height.

There is an ancient Corinthian temple in the center of the city. It stands on a platform approached by fifteen steps. It is surrounded by thirty columns. It is one of the most beautiful and best preserved specimens of Grecian architecture known. Early in the nineteenth century, it was restored, surrounded by an iron railing, and converted into a museum of antiquities. The old Roman amphitheater in which the military governors held gladiatorial shows to amuse the populace still stands. It is 100 feet in height and has thirty-two ranges of seats. It is sufficiently commodious to accommodate 20,000 spectators. It was occupied as a fortress by the Visigoths and by the Saracens. In 1809, when the local authorities decided to protect the building against further desecration, it was necessary to drive out no less than 2,000 people who were living in the various chambers beneath the seats. It is not only a great edifice, but it is the most perfectly preserved Roman amphitheater in the world. It is now in use as an open-air theater.

Another relic of the time of Roman occupancy is a magnificent aqueduct, known as the Pont du Gard. This aqueduct, which serves also as a bridge, crosses the valley of the Gard on a series of beautiful stone arches. It is regarded as one of the finest specimens of Roman architecture extant. There are also gates, fountains, statues, reliefs, and other sculptures of interest.