A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

NAUMACHIA;

Sea-fights, which were the finest Shews the Ancients had; for Nature and the Elements gave way to the Art and Inven∣tions of Men: Julius Caesar having found out a convenient Place on the Banks of the Tiber, and near enough to the City, called Codetta, as Sueto∣nius says, caused the same to be cleansed and ex∣cavated, wherein he presented the People with the Diversion of a Sea-fight: There Tyrian and Egyptian Ships fought; and this kind of Shew was so new, that it drew Spectators thither from all Parts of the World. Among these Sea-fights may be comprehended the fantastical Actions of Caligula who built a Bridge upon Two Rows of

Ships joined and fastned together, that reached from Baiae as far as Puteoli, insomuch that those Two Towns in the Territories of Rome, which by Sea and Nature were separated from each other 3600 Paces, were hereby joined together; the Emperor mounted upon a charging Horse and richly accoutred, rid several Times backwards and forwards upon the said Bridge the first Day, having a Crown on his Head, an Ax upon his Saddle-bow, his Shield on his Arm, and a Sword by his Side: Next Day he appear'd in an Ha∣bit that was less Warlike, and rode to and fro a few Times in a Chariot drawn by Two state∣ly Horses, being followed by a great many Per∣sons of Quality, who are named in the History.

As for his Successor, he undertook a real Sea-fight upon the Lake Fucinus; he made a Line of a Dozen Ships to fight against as many of the opposite Side, the one being Rbodians and the other Tyrians. They were animated to fight by the Trumpets of a Triton, who by the Help of an Engine arose out of the Water with his Com∣pany: He had the Curiosity to make the Com∣batants pass before him, who saluted him with these Words.

Sir, cried they, receive the Sa∣lutation of those who come to die for your Diver∣sion, Ave, Imperator, morituri te salutant. To whom he gave no other Answer than, Avete vos.

Nero also diverted the People with a Naval∣fight, after he had first divided the Mountain which separates the Lake Fucinus from the Ri∣ver Lyra: He fitted out Gallies in Three or Four Lines and put 19000 Men aboard them to fight. But the most remarkable of all the Sea-fights and which is most extolled by Historians and Poets, is that of Titus and Domitian: For here were 3000 Fighting Men on both Sides, one of whom they called Athenians, and the other Party Sy∣racusians.