NÎMES His History

Sourdant of depths of the earth, a debit can vary very quickly and capable of violent overflows, the source of the Fountain inspired the cult of the Nemoz god.

The Tower Hurries overhangs it of the height of the Mount Rider. Long before to be included in the Roman rampart, she signalled the agglomeration of the Volques Arécomiqueses and the presence of the sanctuary.

Descended progressively in the South of France of France at the same time as of other Celtic groups since the first Age of Iron, these spread of the Cévennes to the sea, and of the Rhone to the harbor of Laths close to Montpellier. Since their habitats established on heights in oppidas (Swimmings, St-cap-of-Gard or the " Mount Rider " in Nîmes), they assured the security of communications between the Greek counters of Marseille, coast languedocienne and Catalonia.

Hannibal, left to the assault of Rome with his Carthaginian army, borrow these ways in 218 avs. J. -C. without meeting, he seems, of opposition.

To the following century, bring in 125 and 120 avs. J. -C., the consul Cneius Domitius Ahenobarbus follows the same path, conquers from Spain the first Roman province in Gaul, the Narbonnaise, and improve the road sufficiently to give him his name of Via Domitia. The Volqueses become the best allies of the Roman.

Toward 25 avs. J. -C., the Augustus emperor, that wants himself guarantor of the peace, insure of their fidelity. He endows the colony of Nîmes of an administration and inspired urban facilities by those of Rome. Some monumental facilities invade the south of the sanctuary associating the picture of the divine Augustus to the god of the source.

Become Nemausus, the Gallic god gives his name to the county seat of the new civitas of the Volques Arécomiqueses. His magistrates acquire the Latin citizenship.

To the 18èmth century, on occasion of intended works to solve problems of provision in water of the city, vestiges of the ancient sanctuary will be put to the day. Their presence will determine the tracing of the new urban plan.

Some Pictures of Nîmes and his region: