I. Without birds: “loca,” where no birds can live, on account of the pestiferous exhalations, Lucr. 6, 738 sq.; 6, 818: “aestus,” the vapor of Avernus, id. 6, 830.—But esp. Avernus lacus or absol. Avernus, Lake Avernus, near Cumœ, Puteoli, and Baiœ, almost entirely enclosed by steep and wooded hills (now Lago Averno), whose deadly exhalations killed the birds flying over it; therefore the myth placed near it the entrance to the lower world, Plin. 3, 5, 9, § 61; Cic. Tusc. 1, 16, 37; Lucr. 6, 746; Verg. A. 6, 201 al.; cf. Mann. Ital. I. p. 718 sq.; Heyne, Excurs. II. ad Verg. A. 6.—The renowned Cumæan Sibyl also dwelt in a grotto near it.—Poet., the lower world, the infernal regions, Ov. Am. 3, 9, 27; Luc. 6, 636; Mart. 7, 46 al.—Also = Acheron: “pigri sulcator Averni,” Stat. Th. 11, 588.—Personified as a deity, acc. to Serv. ad Verg. G. 2, 164.—Hence,
II. Another adj.: Ăvernus , a, um.
A. Belonging to Lake Avernus: “luci,” Verg. A. 6, 118; 6, 564: “valles,” Ov. M. 10, 51: “freta,” Lake Avernus, Verg. G. 2, 164.—Also absol.: Ăverna , ōrum, n. (sc. loca), Verg. A. 3, 442; 7, 91; Ov. M. 14, 105.—
B. Of or belonging to the infernal regions: “stagna,” Verg. G. 4, 493: “tenebrae,” Sil. 15, 76: “Juno,” i. e. Proserpina, Ov. M. 14, 114; Sil. 13, 601 (cf.: “Juno inferna,” Verg. A. 6, 138).
