BE´RGOMUM
BE´RGOMUM (
Βέργομον: Eth.
Bergomas, atis:
Bergamo), a city of Cisalpine Gauil,,situated at the foot of the Alps, between Brixia and the Lacus Larius: it was 33 miles NE. from
Milan. (Itin. Ant. p. 127.)
According to Pliny, who follows the authority of Cato, it was a city of the Orobii, but this tribe is not mentioned by any other author, and Bergomum is included by Ptolemy in the territory of the Cenomani. (
Plin. Nat. 3.17. s. 21;
Ptol. 3.1.31.) Justin also mentions it among the cities founded by the Gauls, after they had crossed the Alps, and expelled the Tuscans from the plains of northern Italy. (
Just. 20.5.) No mention of it is, however, found in history previous to the Roman Empire, when it became a considerable municipal town, as attested by inscriptions as well as by Pliny and Ptolemy.
It seems to have derived considerable wealth from valuable copper mines which existed in its territory. (
Plin. Nat. 34.1. s. 2; Orell.
Inscr. 3349, 3898.) In B.C. 452, it was one of the cities laid waste by Attila (
Hist. Miscell. xv. p. 549); but after the fall of the Roman Empire it is again mentioned by Procopius as a strong for--tress, and under the Lombard kings was one of the chief towns in this part of Italy, and the capital of a duchy. (Procop.
B. G. 2.12; P. Diac. 2.15, 4.3.)
In late writers and the Itineraries the name is corruptly written Pergamus and Bergame: but all earlier writers, as well as inscriptions, have Bergomum.
The modern city of
Bergamo is a flourishing and populous place, but contains no ancient remains.
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E.H.B]
