Editing Poitiers (section)

===Antiquity===
Poitiers was founded by the [[Celts|Celtic]] tribe of the [[Pictones]] and was known as the [[Oppidum]] ''Lemonum'' before [[Roman Republic|Roman]] influence. The name is said to have come from the Celtic word for [[elm]], ''Lemo''. But after, the Pax Romana settled, the town became known as ''Pictavium'', or later "Pictavis", after the original Pictones inhabitants themselves.

The Pictavis Period has provided the city with a rich wealth of [[archeological]] finds from the Roman-era in Poitiers. In fact until 1857, Poitiers hosted the ruins of a vast Roman [[Amphitheatre]], which was larger than the Amphitheater of [[Nîmes]]. Furthermore, [[Roman bath]]s, or ''Thermæ'' built in the 1st century and demolished in the 3rd century, were uncovered after the Amphitheater in 1877.<ref name=EB1911/>

In 1879, a burial-place and tombs of a number of [[Christian martyr]]s were discovered on the heights to the south-east of the town.<ref name=EB1911/> The names of some of the Christians had been preserved in paintings and inscriptions.<ref name=EB1911/> Not far from these tombs is a huge [[Dolmen]] (the ''Pierre Levée''), which is {{convert|22|ft|m|order=flip}} long, {{convert|16|ft|m|order=flip}} wide and {{convert|7|ft|m|order=flip}} high, and around which the great fair of [[Saint Luke]] used to be held.<ref name=EB1911/>

The Romans also built at least three [[aqueduct (bridge)|aqueduct]]s. This extensive ensemble of Roman constructions suggests Poitiers was a town of primary importance, possibly even the capital of the [[Roman province]] of ''[[Gallia Aquitania]]'' during the 2nd century.

As [[Christianity]] ([[Chalcedonian Christianity|Chalcedonian]]) was made official and gradually introduced across the [[Roman Empire]] during the 3rd and 4th centuries due to [[Constantine the Great and Christianity|Constantine I's influence]]. The first [[Bishop of Poitiers]] from 350 to 367, was [[Hilary of Poitiers]] or Saint Hilarius,<ref name=EB1911/> who proceeded to evangelize the town. Exiled by [[Constantius II]], he risked death to return to Poitiers as [[Bishop]]. In tandem, the first foundations of the [[Baptistère Saint-Jean]] can be traced to that era of open Christian conversion. This man was later named "Doctor of The Church" by Pope Pius IX.

In the 3rd century, a thick wall 6m wide and 10m high was built around the town.{{sfn|Bachrach|1975|p=540}} It was {{convert|2.6|km|0|abbr=on}} long{{sfn|Bachrach|1975|p=540}} and stood lower on the naturally defended east side and at the top of the promontory. Around this time, the town began to be known as Poitiers.

Fifty years later, Poitiers fell into the hands of the [[Visigoths|Arian Visigoths]], and became one of the principal residences of their royals.<ref name=EB1911/> Visigoth King [[Alaric II]] was defeated by [[Clovis I]] at [[Vouillé, Vienne|Vouillé]], not far from Poitiers, in 507, and the town thus came under [[Franks|Frank]]ish dominion.<ref name=EB1911/>