Ravenna

, a town of Italy on the Adriatic, which became celebrated under the Roman emperors for its capacious harbour, which could contain 250 ships, and for being for some time the seat of the western empire. It was difficult of acce by land, as it stood on a small peninsula; and so ill supplied with water, that it was sold at a higher price than wine, according to Martial. The emperors kept one of their fleets there, and the other at Misenum, on the other side of Italy. It was founded by a colony of The alians, or, according to others, of Sabines. It is now fallen from its former grandeur, and is a wretched town situate at the distance of about four miles from the sea, and surrounded with swamps and marshes. Strabo , bk. 5 .— Suet on i us , August us , ch. 49 .— Pliny , bk. 36 , ch. 12 .— Mela , bk. 2 , ch. 4 .— Martial , bk. 3 , ltr. 93 , li. 8 , .