---
title: "Gallic War — Book VII"
author: "Julius Caesar"
translator: "W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 69 of 90
url: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-vii/69/
cite: "Julius Caesar, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn, Gallic War — Book VII, section 69. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-vii/69/"
---

# Gallic War — Book VII

*Julius Caesar, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn*

## 69. Book VII — Chapter 69

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-vii/69/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-vii/69/#p-N

[¶0] The town itself was situated on the top of a hill, in a very lofty position, so that it did not appear likely to be taken, except by a regular siege.

> Latin: Ipsum erat oppidum Alesia in colle summo admodum edito loco, ut nisi obsidione expugnari non posse videretur.

[¶1] Two rivers, on two different sides, washed the foot of the hill.

> Latin: Cuius collis radices duo duabus ex partibus flumina subluebant.

[¶2] Before the town lay a plain of about three miles in length;

> Latin: Ante id oppidum planities circiter milia passuum tria in longitudinem patebat:

[¶3] on every other side hills at a moderate distance, and of an equal degree of height, surrounded the town.

> Latin: reliquis ex omnibus partibus colles mediocri interiecto spatio pari altitudinis fastigio oppidum cingebant.

[¶4] The army of the Gauls had filled all the space under the wall, comprising a part of the hill which looked to the rising sun, and had drawn in front a trench and a stone wall six feet high.

> Latin: Sub muro, quae pars collis ad orientem solem spectabat, hunc omnem locum copiae Gallorum compleverant fossamque et maceriam sex in altitudinem pedum praeduxerant.

[¶5] The circuit of that fortification, which was commenced by the Romans, comprised eleven miles.

> Latin: Eius munitionis quae ab Romanis instituebatur circuitus XI milia passuum tenebat.

[¶6] The camp was pitched in a strong position, and twenty-three redoubts were raised in it, in which sentinels were placed by day, lest any sally should be made suddenly; and by night the same were occupied by watches and strong guards.

> Latin: Castra opportunis locis erant posita ibique castella viginti tria facta, quibus in castellis interdiu stationes ponebantur, ne qua subito eruptio fieret: haec eadem noctu excubitoribus ac firmis praesidiis tenebantur.