A Report upon the Herculaneum Manuscripts

“burning.” Should this etymological conjecture be deemed not entirely admissible, it must, however, be confessed that it is at least recommended to some notice by the situation of the city itself. Besides, the impending Vesuvius is generally stated by antiquarians to derive its name from the oriental esh or esha “fire.” Hence Vesuv among the Tuscans, who are fond of the u, then Besbios, and then Vesuvius. Vesta is supposed to be of the same origin. Strabo calls the mountain Ouesouion. Dionysius of Halicarnassus calls it Ouesbion. Galen says, “The more precise scholars call the mountain Besoubion, which is the glorious and new name of the hill.”