Vergellus
- a river of Apulia, Val. Max. 9, 2, ext. 2; Flor. 2, 6, 18.
VERGELLUS a rivulet or torrent, which crossed the field of battle of Cannae. It is not indeed mentioned by either Livy or Polybius in their circumstantial accounts of the battle, but it is noticed by both Florus and Valerius Maximus in connection with a story that seems to have been current among the Romans, that its course was choked up by the dead bodies of the slain, to such an extent that the Carthaginian troops crossed over them as a bridge. (Flor. 2.6.18;> Val. Max., Ext. § 2.) The same incident is alluded to by other writers, but without mentioning the name of the stream. (Sil. Ital.; Lucian, Dial. Mort. 12.2.) The stream meant is probably a rivulet which falls into the Aufidus on its right bank between Cannae and Canusium, and is wholly dry in summer.
[E.H.B]A rivulet in Apulia, said to have been choked by the dead bodies of the Romans slain in the battle of Cannae (Flor. ii. 6, 18; Val. Max. ix. 2, 2).