BAETERRAE
BAETERRAE (
Βαίτερα, Ptol.;
Βαίταρρα, Stephan. s. v.
Βαιταρροῦς; and
Βαίταρρα and
Βήτηρρα on the coins: Eth.
Βαιταρρίτης, Eth.
Biterrensis, Eth.
Baeterrensis:
Béziers).
The name of this place is written
Βιλτέρα incorrectly in the ordinary texts of Strabo (p. 182). Pliny (
3.4) calls the place “Baeterrae Septimanorum,” and also Mela (2.5), whence it appears that the place received some soldiers of the seventh legion as a colony. Baeterrae is on the Orbis (
Or.be), and on the road from
Narbonne to
Nîmes, at tie distance of xvi Roman miles from Narbonne. On this part of the road the Romans constructed a causeway over the marsh of Cap-estang, of which some traces exist (D'Anville).
There are said to be at
Béziers the vestiges of an amphitheatre, and the remains of an aqueduct. Pliny (
14.6) mentions the wine of Baeterrae as good; and it is so still.
The antiquity of
Béziers and of the present name is proved by the passage of Festus Avienus (589): “Dehinc Besaram stetisse fama casca tradidit;”
and the canton of Béziers is said to retain the name of
Besarès, or
Bezarès. [
G.L]