Treves

trevz, a city of Prussia. It is situated on a plain on the right bank of the Moselle, surrounded by vine-clad hills and wooded heights. It is said to be the oldest city in Germany. It was the capital of the Belgic Gauls, known as Treviri. The Romans made Treves an important center. During the fourth century it was at times the residence of the Roman emperors. No other city north of the Alps contains so many remains of the Roman period. A brick basilica dates from the reign of Constantine; an amphitheater, still in good preservation and once capable of seating 30,000 spectators, dates from the reign of Trajan or Hadrian. It is now surrounded by vineyards. It was here that Constantine butchered captives, or turned them loose to be torn by wild beasts for the amusement of the populace. The city is still surrounded by strong walls of red sandstone, fortified by numerous picturesque towers. A huge gateway, three stories in height, 115 feet wide, and 29 feet deep, still stands. It is made of huge blocks of sandstone fastened together with iron or copper clamps instead of mortar. Other remains of Roman times are hardly less imposing. The cathedral, consisting in part of an older edifice by the Emperor Valentinian, claims to possess the coat of Christ which was without seam, a nail from the cross, and a part of the crown of thorns. They are shown to pilgrims at rare intervals. A provincial museum contains many antiquities of the Roman and previous periods. The town library possesses a number of rare specimens of early printing and noted manuscripts. Among the latter is the Codex Aurens, a copy of the Four Gospels presented by Ada, a reputed sister of Charlemagne, to an abbey. It is bound superbly. The covers are adorned with jewels; the pages are illuminated. During the Middle Ages the archbishop of Treves was one of the electors of the German emperors. The city has at present a population of about 44,000 people. It is an important center of the wine trade.