Nasium

About

Nasium, the city of Gaule, the first capital of the Civitas des Leuques, in eastern France, is now Naix-aux-Forges in the Meuse near Ligny-en-Barrois and Bar-le-Duc. The Roman city of Nasium developed at the end of the first century B.C. below the Boviolles oppidum, at the confluence of the Ornain and Barbour. During its maximum extension, the agglomeration had an important monumental appearance and reached an area of 120 ha, making it, together with Metz, the major ancient city of the present Lorraine. In the second century, the geographer Ptolemy called Nasium "the city of the Leuques". Ranxin expressed himself in his historic and picturesque journey on the ruins of Nasium:

« HERE FUT NASIUM. I wish that a military column with this simple inscription, erected on the great road that crosses the Roman way in the midst of these ruins, perpetuates its memory. »