AVERNI

AVERNI, among the ancient Naturalists, certain Lakes, Grottoes, and other Places which infect the Air with poisonous Steams or Vapours; called also Mephites. See MEPHITES, AIR, POISON, etc. The Word is Latin, formed of the Greek privative, α, and ὄρνις, Bird; as intimating that Birds could not fly over them, but dropped down dead. Averni are said to be frequent in Hungary on account of the abundance of Mines therein. See MINE and MINERAL. The Grotta dei Cani, in Italy, is famous. See GROTTA, EXHALATION, etc. But the most celebrated Avernus was a Lake near Baiae, in Campania, by Strabo called the Lucrine Lake, and by the Italian geographers, Lago di Tripergola.—The Fumes it emitted are represented by the Ancients as of so malignant a Nature, that Birds could not fly over it, but sank down dead; which some later Writers have chosen to attribute to this, that the sulphurous Effluvia hereof, not being of consistency to sustain the Birds, they fall by their own Weight. This Circumstance, joined with the great Depth of the Lake, occasioned them to take it for the Gate or Entrance of Hell; and accordingly Virgil makes Aeneas descend this Way to the Inferi. Vibius Sal says, there was no Bottom to be found of it, Trimensae Altitudinis cujus ima pars apprehendi non potest. See HELL.

AVERNI