AQUAE TARBE´LLICAE
AQUAE TARBE´LLICAE (
Dax or
Dacqs) or AQUAE TARBELLAE, as Ausonius calls it (
Praef. Tres, Syragrio). Vibius Sequester has the name Tarbella Civitas (p. 68, ed. Oberlin).
In the
Not. Gall. the name is Aquensium Civitas.
The word Aquae is the origin of the modern name
Aqs or
Acs, which the Gascons made
Daqs or
Dax, by uniting the preposition to the name of the place. Ptolemy is the only writer who gives it the name of Augustae (
ὕδατα Αὐγούστα).
This place, which is noted for its mineral waters, is on the road from Asturica (
Astorga) to Burdigala (
Bordeaux), and on the left bank of the Aturus (
Adour).
There are or were remains of an aqueduct near the town, and Roman constructions near the warm springs in the town.
The mineral springs are mentioned by Pliny (
31.2).
[
G.L]