A CLASSICAL DICTIONARY, ETC., ETC. (continued 14)

Cynosūra, a nymph of Ida in Crete. She nursed Jupiter, who changed her into a star which bears the same name. It is the same as the Ursa Minor. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 3, li. 107.

Cynthia, a beautiful woman who was mistress to Propertius.――A surname of Diana, from mount Cynthus, where she was born.

Cynthius, a surname of Apollo, from mount Cynthus.

Cynthus, a mountain of Delos, so high that it is said to overshadow the whole island. Apollo was surnamed Cynthius, and Diana Cynthia, as they were born on the mountain, which was sacred to them. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 3, li. 36.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 6, li. 304; Fasti, bk. 3, li. 346.

Cynūrenses, a people of Arcadia. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 27.

Cynus, a naval station of Opus. Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 1.

Cypărissi and Cyparissia, a town of Peloponnesus, near Massenia. Livy, bk. 32, ch. 31.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 5.

Cypărissus, a youth, son of Telephus of Cea, beloved by Apollo. He killed a favourite stag of Apollo’s, for which he was so sorry that he pined away, and was changed by the god into a cypress tree. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 680.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 10, li. 121.――A town near Delphi. Mela, bk. 2, ch. 3.

Cyphăra, a fortified place of Thessaly. Livy, bk. 32, ch. 13.

Cypriānus, a native of Carthage, who, though born of heathen parents, became a convert to christianity, and the bishop of his countrymen. To be more devoted to purity and study, he abandoned his wife; and as a proof of his charity, he distributed his goods to the poor. He wrote 81 letters, besides several treatises, De Dei gratiâ, De virginum habitu, &c., and rendered his compositions valuable by the information which he conveys of the discipline of the ancient church, and by the soundness and purity of his theology. He died a martyr, A.D. 258. The best editions of Cyprian are that of Fell, folio, Oxford, 1682, and that reprinted Amsterdam, 1700.

Cyprus, a daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, who married Agrippa.――A large island in the Mediterranean sea, at the south of Cilicia, and at the west of Syria, formerly joined to the continent near Syria, according to Pliny. It has been anciently called Acamantis, Amathusia, Aspelia, Cerastis, Colonia or Colinia, Macaria, and Spechia. It has been celebrated for giving birth to Venus surnamed Cypris, who was the chief deity of the place, and to whose service many places and temples were consecrated. It was anciently divided into nine kingdoms, and was for some time under the power of Egypt, and afterwards of the Persians. The Greeks made themselves masters of it, and it was taken from them by the Romans. Its length, according to Strabo, is 1400 stadia. There were three celebrated temples there, two sacred to Venus, and the other to Jupiter. The inhabitants were given much to pleasure and dissipation. Strabo, bk. 16.—Ptolemy, bk. 5, ch. 14.—Florus, bk. 3, ch. 9.—Justin, bk. 18, ch. 5.—Pliny, bk. 12, ch. 24; bk. 33, ch. 3; bk. 36, ch. 26.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.

Cypsĕlĭdes, the name of three princes as descendants of Cypselus, who reigned at Corinth during 73 years. Cypselus was succeeded by his son Periander, who left his kingdom, after a reign of 40 years, to Cypselus II.

♦Cypsĕsus, a king of Arcadia, who married the daughter of Ctesiphon, to strengthen himself against the Heraclidæ. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 3.――A man of Corinth, son of Eetion and father of Periander. He destroyed the Bacchiadæ, and seized upon the sovereign power, about 659 years before Christ. He reigned 30 years, and was succeeded by his son. Periander had two sons, Lycophron and Cypselus, who was insane. Cypselus received his name from the Greek word κυψελος, a coffer, because when the Bacchiadæ attempted to kill him, his mother saved his life by concealing him in a coffer. Pausanias, bk. 5, ch. 17.—Cicero, Tusculanæ Disputationes, bk. 5, ch. 37.—Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 114; bk. 5, ch. 92, &c.—Aristotle, Politics.――The father of Miltiades. Herodotus, bk. 6, ch. 35.

Cyraunis, an island of Libya. Herodotus, bk. 4, ch. 195.

Cyrbiāna, a province of the Elymæans.

Cyre, a fountain near Cyrene.

Cyrēnaĭca, a country of Africa, of which Cyrene is the capital. See: Cyrene.

Cyrēnaĭci, a sect of philosophers who followed the doctrine of Aristippus. They placed their summum bonum in pleasure, and said that virtue ought to be commended because it gave pleasure. Diogenes Laërtius, Aristotle.—Cicero, de Natura Deorum, bk. 3.

Cyrēne, the daughter of the river Peneus, of whom Apollo became enamoured. He carried her to that part of Africa which is called Cyrenaica, where she brought forth Aristæus. She is called by some daughter of Hypseus, king of the Lapithæ and son of the Peneus. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 4, li. 321.—Justin, bk. 13, ch. 7.—Pindar, Pythian, li. 9.――A celebrated city of Libya, to which Aristæus, who was the chief of the colonists settled there, gave his mother’s name. Cyrene was situate in a beautiful and fertile plain, about 11 miles from the Mediterranean sea, and it became the capital of the country, which was called Pentapolis, on account of the five cities which it contained. It gave birth to many great men, among whom were Callimachus, Eratosthenes, Carneades, Aristippus, &c. The town of Cyrene was built by Battus, B.C. 630, and the kingdom was bequeathed to the Romans, B.C. 97, by king Ptolemy Appion. Herodotus, bks. 3 & 4.—Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 13.—Strabo, bk. 17.—Mela, bk. 1, ch. 8.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 5.—Tacitus, Annals, bk. 3, ch. 70.

Cyriades, one of the 30 tyrants who harassed the Roman empire in the reign of Gallienus. He died A.D. 259.

Cyrillus, a bishop of Jerusalem, who died A.D. 386. Of his writings, composed in Greek, there remain 23 catecheses, and a letter to the emperor Constantine, the best edition of which is by Milles, folio, Oxford, 1703.――A bishop of Alexandria, who died A.D. 444. The best edition of his writings, which are mostly controversial, in Greek, is that of Paris, folio, 7 vols., 1638.

Cyrne, a place of Eubœa.

Cyrnus, a driver in the games which Scipio exhibited in Africa, &c. Silius Italicus, bk. 16, li. 342.――A man of Argos, who founded a city of Chersonesus. Diodorus, bk. 5.――A river that falls into the Caspian sea. Plutarch, Pompey.――An island on the coast of Liguria, the same as Corsica; and called after Cyrnus the son of Hercules. Virgil, Eclogues, poem 9, li. 30.—Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 17.

Cyrræi, a people of Æthiopia.

Cyrrhadæ, an Indian nation.

Cyrrhes, a people of Macedonia, near Pella.

Cyrrhestĭca, a country of Syria near Cilicia, of which the capital was called Cyrrhum. Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 23.—Cicero, Letters to Atticus, bk. 5, ltr. 18.

Cyrrhus and Cyrus, a river of Iberia in Asia.

Cyrsīlus, an Athenian, stoned to death by his countrymen, because he advised them to receive the army of Xerxes, and to submit to the power of Persia. Demosthenes, de Coronâ.—Cicero, bk. 3, de Officiis, ch. 11.

Cyrus, a king of Persia, son of Cambyses and Mandane, daughter of Astyages king of Media. His father was of an ignoble family, whose marriage with Mandane had been consummated on account of the apprehensions of Astyages. See: Astyages. Cyrus was exposed as soon as born; but he was preserved by a shepherdess, who educated him as her own son. As he was playing with his equals in years, he was elected king in a certain diversion, and he exercised his power with such an independent spirit, that he ordered one of his play companions to be severely whipped for disobedience. The father of the youth, who was a nobleman, complained to the king of the ill treatment which his son had received from a shepherd’s son. Astyages ordered Cyrus before him, and discovered that he was Mandane’s son, from whom he had so much to apprehend. He treated him with great coldness; and Cyrus, unable to bear his tyranny, escaped from his confinement, and began to levy troops to dethrone his grandfather. He was assisted and encouraged by the ministers of Astyages, who were displeased with the king’s oppression. He marched against him, and Astyages was defeated in a battle, and taken prisoner, B.C. 559. From this victory the empire of Media became tributary to the Persians. Cyrus subdued the eastern parts of Asia, and made war against Crœsus king of Lydia, whom he conquered, B.C. 548. He invaded the kingdom of Assyria, and took the city of Babylon by drying the channels of the Euphrates, and marching his troops through the bed of the river, while the people were celebrating a grand festival. He afterwards marched against Tomyris the queen of the Massagetæ, a Scythian nation, and was defeated in a bloody battle, B.C. 530. The victorious queen, who had lost her son in a previous encounter, was so incensed against Cyrus, that she cut off his head, and threw it into a vessel filled with human blood, exclaiming, Satia te sanguine quem sitisti. Xenophon has written the life of Cyrus; but his history is not perfectly authentic. In the character of Cyrus he delineates a brave and virtuous prince, and often puts in his mouth many of the sayings of Socrates. The chronology is false; and Xenophon, in his narration, has given existence to persons whom no other historian ever mentioned. The Cyropædia, therefore, is not to be looked upon as an authentic history of Cyrus the Great, but we must consider it as showing what every good and virtuous prince ought to be. Diodorus, bk. 1.—Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 75, &c.—Justin, bk. 1, chs. 5 & 7.――The younger Cyrus was the younger son of Darius Nothus, and the brother of Artaxerxes. He was sent by his father, at the age of 16, to assist the Lacedæmonians against Athens. Artaxerxes succeeded to the throne at the death of Nothus; and Cyrus, who was of an aspiring soul, attempted to assassinate him. He was discovered, and would have been punished with death, had not his mother Parysatis saved him from the hands of the executioner by her tears and entreaties. This circumstance did not in the least check the ambition of Cyrus; he was appointed over Lydia and the sea coasts, where he secretly fomented rebellion, and levied troops under various pretences. At last he took the field with an army of 100,000 barbarians, and 13,000 Greeks under the command of Clearchus. Artaxerxes met him with 900,000 men near Cunaxa. The battle was long and bloody, and Cyrus might have perhaps obtained the victory, had not his uncommon rashness proved his ruin. It is said that the two royal brothers met in person, and engaged with the most inveterate fury, and their engagement ended in the death of Cyrus, 401 years B.C. Artaxerxes was so anxious of its being universally reported that his brother had fallen by his hand, that he put to death two of his subjects for boasting that they had killed Cyrus. The Greeks, who were engaged in the expedition, obtained much glory in the battle; and after the death of Cyrus, they remained victorious in the field without a commander. They were not, however, discouraged, though at a great distance from their country, and surrounded on every side by a powerful enemy. They unanimously united in the election of commanders, and traversed all Asia, in spite of the continual attacks of the Persians; and nothing is more truly celebrated in ancient history than the bold retreat of the 10,000. The journey that they made from the place of their first embarkation till their return, has been calculated at 1155 leagues, performed in the space of 15 months, including all the time which was devoted to take rest and refreshment. This retreat has been celebrated by Xenophon, who was one of their leaders, and among the friends and supporters of Cyrus. It is said, that in the letter he wrote to Lacedæmon to solicit auxiliaries, Cyrus boasted his philosophy, his royal blood, and his ability to drink more wine than his brother without being intoxicated. Plutarch, Artaxerxes.—Diodorus, bk. 14.—Justin, bk. 5, ch. 11.――A rival of Horace, in the affections of one of his mistresses, bk. 1, ode 17, li. 24.――A poet of Panopolis, in the age of Theodosius.

Cyrus and Cyropŏlis, a city of Syria, built by the Jews in honour of Cyrus, whose humanity in relieving them from their captivity they wished thus to commemorate.

Cyrus, a river of Persia, now Kur.

Cyta, a town of Colchis, famous for the poisonous herbs which it produced, and for the birth of Medea. Flaccus, bk. 6, li. 693.—Propertius, bk. 2, poem 1, li. 73.

Cytæis, a surname of Medea, from her being an inhabitant of Cyta. Propertius, bk. 2, poem 4, li. 7.

Cythēra, now Cesigo, an island on the coast of Laconia in Peloponnesus. It was particularly sacred to the goddess Venus, who was from thence surnamed Cytheræa, and who rose, as some suppose, from the sea, near its coasts. It was for some time under the power of the Argives, and always considered as of the highest importance to maritime powers. The Phœnicians had built there a famous temple to Venus. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 1, li. 262; bk. 10, li. 5.—Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 33.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 4, li. 288; bk. 15, li. 386; Fasti, bk. 4, li. 15.—Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 29.

Cythĕræa, a surname of Venus.

Cythēris, a certain courtesan, much respected by the poet Gallus, as well as by Antony.

Cythēron. See: Cithæron.

Cythērun, a place of Attica.

Cytherus, a river of Elis. Pausanias, bk. 6, ch. 22.

Cythnos, now Thermia, an island near Attica, famous for its cheese. It has been called Ophiousa and Dryopis. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 5, li. 252.

Cytineum, one of the four cities called Tetrapolis in Doris. Strabo, bk. 9.—Thucydides, bk. 1, ch. 107.

Cytissorus, a son of Phryxus, &c. Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 197.

Cytōrus, now Kudros, a mountain and town of Galatia, built by Cytorus son of Phryxus, and abounding in box-wood. Catullus, poem 4, li. 13.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 4, li. 311.—Strabo, bk. 11.—Virgil, Georgics, bk. 2, li. 437.

Cyzĭcum, or Cyzicus, an island of the Propontis, about 530 stadia in circumference, with a town called Cyzicus. Alexander joined it to the continent by two bridges, and from that time it was called a peninsula. It had two harbours called Panormus and Chytus, the first natural, and the other artificial. It became one of the most considerable cities of Asia. It was besieged by Mithridates, and relieved by Lucullus. Florus, bk. 3, ch. 5.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 32.—Diodorus, bk. 18.

Cyzĭcus, a son of Œneus and Stilba, who reigned in Cyzicus. He hospitably received the Argonauts, in their expedition against Colchis. After their departure from the coast of Cyzicus, they were driven back in the night, by a storm, upon the coast; and the inhabitants seeing such an unexpected number of men, furiously attacked them, supposing them to be the Pelasgi, their ancient enemies. In this nocturnal engagement, many were killed on both sides, and Cyzicus perished by the hands of Jason himself, who honoured him with a splendid funeral, and raised a stately monument over his grave. Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 9.—Flaccus.—Apollonius.—Orpheus.――The chief town of the island of Cyzicum, built where the island is joined by the bridges to the continent. It has two excellent harbours, called Panormus and Chytus. The former is naturally large and beautiful, and the other owes all its conveniences to the hand of art. The town is situate partly on a mountain, and partly in a plain. The Argonauts built a temple to Cybele in the neighbourhood. It derives its name from Cyzicus, who was killed there by Jason. The Athenians defeated near this place their enemies of Lacedæmon, assisted by Pharnabazus, B.C. 410. Florus, bk. 3, ch. 5, &c.—Strabo.—Apollonius, bk. 1.—Propertius, bk. 3, poem 22.—Flaccus, bk. 2, li. 636.

D

Daæ, Dahæ, or Dai, now the Dahistan, a people of Scythia, who dwelt on the borders of the Caspian sea. Silius Italicus, bk. 13, li. 764.—Lucan, bk. 7, li. 420.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 1, li. 728.

Daci and Dacæ, a warlike nation of Germany, beyond the Danube, whose country, called Dacia, was conquered by the Romans under Trajan, after a war of 15 years, A.D. 103. The emperor joined the country to Mœsia, by erecting a magnificent bridge across the Danube, considered as the best of his works, which, however, the envy of his successor Adrian demolished. Dacia now forms the modern countries of Walachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia. Lucan, bk. 2, li. 53.

Dacĭcus, a surname assumed by Domitian on his pretended victory over the Dacians. Juvenal, satire 6, li. 204.

Dacty̆li, a name given to the priests of Cybele, which some derive from δακτυλος, finger, because they were 10, the same number as the fingers of the hands. Pausanias, bk. 1, ch. 8.

Dadicæ, a people of Asiatic Scythia. Herodotus, bk. 3, ch. 91.

Dædăla, a mountain and city of Lycia, where Dædalus was buried according to Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 27.――A name given to Circe, from her being cunning (δαιδαλος), and like Dædalus, addicted to deceit and artifice. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 282.――Two festivals in Bœotia. One of these was observed at Alalcomenos by the Platæans, in a large grove, where they exposed in the open air pieces of boiled flesh, and carefully observed whither the crows that came to prey upon them directed their flight. All the trees upon which any of these birds alighted were immediately cut down, and with them statues were made called Dædala, in honour of Dædalus.――The other festival was of a more solemn kind. It was celebrated every 60 years by all the cities of Bœotia, as a compensation for the intermission of the smaller festivals, for that number of years, during the exile of the Platæans. Fourteen of the statues, called Dædala, were distributed by lot among the Platæans, Lebadæans, Coroneans, Orchomenians, Thespians, Thebans, Tanagræans, and Chæroneans, because they had effected a reconciliation among the Platæans and had caused them to be recalled from exile, about the time that Thebes was restored by Cassander the son of Antipater. During this festival, a woman in the habit of a bride-maid accompanied a statue, which was dressed in female garments, on the banks of the Eurotas. This procession was attended to the top of mount Cithæron, by many of the Bœotians, who had places assigned them by lot. Here an altar of square pieces of wood cemented together like stones, was erected, and upon it were thrown large quantities of combustible materials. Afterwards a bull was sacrificed to Jupiter, and an ox or heifer to Juno, by every one of the cities of Bœotia, and by the most opulent that attended. The poorest citizens offered small cattle; and all these oblations, together with the Dædala, were thrown in the common heap and set on fire, and totally reduced to ashes. They originated in this: When Juno, after a quarrel with Jupiter, had retired to Eubœa, and refused to return to his bed, the god, anxious for her return, went to consult Cithæron king of Platæa, to find some effectual measure to break her obstinacy. Cithæron advised him to dress a statue in woman’s apparel, and carry it in a chariot, and publicly to report that it was Platæa the daughter of Asopus, whom he was going to marry. The advice was followed, and Juno, informed of her husband’s future marriage, repaired in haste to meet the chariot, and was easily united to him, when she discovered the artful measures he made use of to effect a reconciliation. Pausanias & Plutarch.

Dædălion, a son of Lucifer, brother to Ceyx and father of Philonis. He was so afflicted at the death of Philonis, whom Diana had put to death, that he threw himself down from the top of mount Parnassus, and was changed into a falcon by Apollo. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 11, li. 295.

Dædălus, an Athenian, son of Eupalamus, descended from Erechtheus king of Athens. He was the most ingenious artist of his age, and to him we are indebted for the invention of the wedge, the axe, the wimble, the level, and many other mechanical instruments, and the sails of ships. He made statues, which moved of themselves, and seemed to be endowed with life. Talus, his sister’s son, promised to be as great as himself, by the ingenuity of his inventions; and therefore, from envy, he threw him down from a window and killed him. After the murder of this youth, Dædalus, with his son Icarus, fled from Athens to Crete, where Minos king of the country gave him a cordial reception. Dædalus made a famous labyrinth for Minos, and assisted Pasiphae the queen to gratify her unnatural passion for a bull. For this action, Dædalus incurred the displeasure of Minos, who ordered him to be confined in the labyrinth which he had constructed. Here he made himself wings with feathers and wax, and carefully fitted them to his body, and to that of his son, who was the companion of his confinement. They took their flight in the air from Crete; but the heat of the sun melted the wax on the wings of Icarus, whose flight was too high, and he fell into that part of the ocean, which from him has been called the Icarian sea. The father, by a proper management of his wings, alighted at Cumæ, where he built a temple to Apollo, and thence directed his course to Sicily, where he was kindly received by Cocalus, who reigned over part of the country. He left many monuments of his ingenuity in Sicily, which still existed in the age of Diodorus Siculus. He was despatched by Cocalus, who was afraid of the power of Minos, who had declared war against him, because he had given an asylum to Dædalus. The flight of Dædalus from Crete, with wings, is explained, by observing that he was the inventor of sails, which in his age might pass at a distance for wings. Pausanias, bks. 1, 7 & 9.—Diodorus, bk. 4.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 8, fable 3; Heroides, poem 4; De Ars Amatoria, bk. 2; Tristia, bk. 3, poem 4.—Hyginus, fable 40.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 14.—Apollodorus, bk. 3, ch. 1, &c.—Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 170.――There were two statuaries of the same name, one of Sicyon son of Patroclus, the other a native of Bithynia. Pausanias, bk. 7, ch. 14.—Arrian.

Dæmon, a kind of spirit which, as the ancients supposed, presided over the actions of mankind, gave them their private counsels, and carefully watched over their most secret intentions. Some of the ancient philosophers maintained that every man had two of these Dæmons; the one bad and the other good. These Dæmons had the power of changing themselves into whatever they pleased, and of assuming whatever shapes were most subservient to their intentions. At the moment of death, the Dæmon delivered up to judgment the person with whose care he had been entrusted; and according to the evidence he delivered, sentence was passed over the body. The Dæmon of Socrates is famous in history. That great philosopher asserted that the genius informed him when any of his friends was going to engage in some unfortunate enterprise, and stopped him from the commission of all crimes and impiety. These Genii or Dæmons, though at first reckoned only as the subordinate ministers of the superior deities, received divine honour in length of time, and we find altars and statues erected to a Genio loci, Genio Augusti, Junonibus, &c. Cicero, Tusculanæ Disputationes, bk. 1.—Plutarch, de Genio Socratis.

Dahæ. See: Daæ.

Dai, a nation of Persia, all shepherds. Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 125.

Daicles, a victor at Olympia, B.C. 753.

Daĭdis, a solemnity observed by the Greeks. It lasted three days. The first was in commemoration of Latona’s labour; the second in memory of Apollo’s birth; and the third in honour of the marriage of Podalirius, and the mother of Alexander. Torches were always carried at the celebration; whence the name.

Daimăchus, a master of horse at Syracuse, &c. Polyænus, bk. 1.

Daimĕnes, a general of the Achæans. Pausanias, bk. 7, ch. 6.――An officer exposed on a cross, by Dionysius of Syracuse. Diodorus, bk. 14.

Daĭphron, a son of Ægyptus, killed by his wife, &c. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 1.

Daīra, one of the Oceanides, mother of Eleusis by Mercury. Pausanias, bk. 1, ch. 38.

Daldia, a town of Lydia.

Dalmatius, one of the Cæsars in the age of Constantine, who died A.D. 337.

Dalmătia, a part of Illyricum, at the east of the Adriatic, near Liburnia on the west, whose inhabitants, called Dalmatæ, were conquered by Metellus, B.C. 118. They chiefly lived upon plunder, and from their rebellious spirit were troublesome to the Roman empire. They wore a peculiar garment called Dalmatica, afterwards introduced at Rome. Horace, bk. 2, ode 1, li. 16.—Lampridus, Commodus, ch. 8.—Strabo, bk. 7.—Ptolemy, bk. 2.

Dalmium, the chief town of Dalmatia. Strabo, bk. 7.

Damagetus, a man of Rhodes, who inquired of the oracle what wife he ought to marry? and received for answer the daughter of the bravest of the Greeks. He applied to Aristomenes, and obtained his daughter in marriage, B.C. 670. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 24.

Damălis, a courtesan at Rome in the age of Horace, bk. 1, ode 36, li. 13.

Damas, a Syracusan in the interest of Agathocles. Diodorus, bk. 19.

Damascēna, a part of Syria near mount Libanus.

Damascius, a stoic of Damascus, who wrote a philosophical history, the life of Isidorus, and four books on extraordinary events, in the age of Justinian. His works, which are now lost, were greatly esteemed according to Photius.

Damascus, a rich and ancient city of Damascene in Syria, where Demetrius Nicanor was defeated by Alexander Zebina. It is the modern Damas, or Sham, inhabited by about 80,000 souls. Lucan, bk. 3, li. 215.—Justin, bk. 36, ch. 2.—Mela, bk. 1, ch. 11.

Damasia, a town called also Augusta, now ♦Augsburg, in Swabia, on the Leck.

Damasichthon, a king of Thebes. Pausanias, bk. 9, ch. 5.

Damasippus, a captain in Philip’s army.――A senator who accompanied Juba when he entered Utica in triumph. Cæsar, Civil War, bk. 2.――A great enemy of Sylla. Paterculus, bk. 2, ch. 22.――An orator. Juvenal, satire 3, li. 185.――A merchant of old seals and vessels, who, after losing his all in unfortunate schemes in commerce, assumed the name and habit of a stoic philosopher. Horace, bk. 2, satire 3.――One of Niobe’s sons.

Damasistrătus, a king of Platæa, who buried Laius. Apollodorus, bk. 3, ch. 5.

Damasithynus, a son of Candaules general in the army of Xerxes. Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 98.――A king of Calyndæ, sunk in his ship by Artemisia. Herodotus, bk. 8, ch. 87.

Damastes, a man of Sigæum, disciple of Hellanicus about the age of Herodotus, &c. Dionysius of Halicarnassus.――A famous robber. See: Procrustes.

Damastor, a Trojan chief, killed by Patroclus at the siege of Troy. Homer, Iliad, bk. 16, li. 416.

Damia, a surname of Cybele.――A woman to whom the Epidaurians raised a statue. Herodotus, bk. 5, ch. 82.

Damias, a statuary of Clitor, in Arcadia, in the age of Lysander. Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 9.

Damippus, a Spartan taken by Marcellus as he sailed out of the port of Syracuse. He discovered to the enemy that a certain part of the city was negligently guarded, and in consequence of this discovery Syracuse was taken. Polyænus.

Damis, a man who disputed with Aristodemus the right of reigning over the Messenians. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 10.

Damnii, a people at the north of Britain.

Damnonii, a people of Britain, now supposed Devonshire.

Damnōrix, a celebrated Gaul in the interest of Julius Cæsar, &c.

Damo, a daughter of Pythagoras, who, by order of her father, devoted her life to perpetual celibacy, and induced others to follow her example. Pythagoras at his death entrusted her with all the secrets of his philosophy, and gave her the unlimited care of his compositions, under the promise that she never would part with them. She faithfully obeyed his injunctions; and though in the extremest poverty, she refused to obtain money by the violation of her father’s commands. Diogenes Laërtius, Pythagoras.

Damŏcles, one of the flatterers of Dionysius the elder, of Sicily. He admired the tyrant’s wealth, and pronounced him the happiest man on earth. Dionysius prevailed upon him to undertake for a while the charge of royalty, and be convinced of the happiness which a sovereign enjoyed. Damocles ascended the throne, and while he gazed upon the wealth and splendour that surrounded him, he perceived a sword hanging over his head by a horse hair. This so terrified him that all his imaginary felicity vanished at once, and he begged Dionysius to remove him from a situation which exposed his life to such fears and dangers. Cicero, Tusculanæ Disputationes, bk. 5, ch. 21.

Damocrătes, a hero, &c. Plutarch, Aristotle.

Damocrĭta, a Spartan matron, wife of Alcippus, who severely punished her enemies who had banished her husband, &c. Plutarch, Parallela minora.

Damocrĭtus, a timid general of the Achæans, &c. Pausanias, bk. 7, ch. 13.――A Greek writer, who composed two treatises, one upon the art of drawing an army in battle array, and the other concerning the Jews.――A man who wrote a poetical treatise upon medicine.

Damon, a victor at Olympia, Olympiad 102. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 27.――A poet and musician of Athens, intimate with Pericles, and distinguished for his knowledge of government and fondness of discipline. He was banished for his intrigues about 430 years before Christ. Cornelius Nepos, bk. 15, ch. 2.—Plutarch, Pericles.――A Pythagorean philosopher, very intimate with Pythias. When he had been condemned to death by Dionysius, he obtained from the tyrant leave to go and settle his domestic affairs, on promise of returning at a stated hour to the place of execution. Pythias pledged himself to undergo the punishment which was to be inflicted on Damon, should he not return in time, and he consequently delivered himself into the hands of the tyrant. Damon returned at the appointed moment, and Dionysius was so struck with the fidelity of those two friends, that he remitted the punishment, and entreated them to permit him to share their friendship, and enjoy their confidence. Valerius Maximus, bk. 4, ch. 7.――A man of Cheronæa, who killed a Roman officer, and was murdered by his fellow-citizens. Plutarch, Cimon.――A Cyrenean, who wrote a history of philosophy. Diogenes Laërtius.

Damophantus, a general of Elis in the age of Philopœmen. Plutarch, Philopœmen.

Damophĭla, a poetess of Lesbos, wife of Pamphilus. She was intimate with Sappho, and not only wrote hymns in honour of Diana and of the gods, but opened a school where the younger persons of her sex were taught the various powers of music and poetry. Philostratus.

Damophĭlus, an historian. Diodorus.――A Rhodian general against the fleet of Demetrius. Diodorus, bk. 20.

Damŏphon, a sculptor of Messenia. Pausanias, bk. 7, ch. 23.

Damostrătus, a philosopher who wrote a treatise concerning fishes. Ælian, Varia Historia, bk. 13, ch. 21.

Damoxĕnus, a comic writer of Athens. Athenæus, bk. 3.――A boxer of Syracuse, banished for killing his adversary. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 40.

Damyrias, a river of Sicily. Plutarch, Timoleon.

Dana, a large town of Cappadocia.

Danăce, the name of the piece of money which Charon required to convey the dead over the Styx. Suidas.

Dănae, the daughter of Acrisius king of Argos by Eurydice. She was confined in a brazen tower by her father, who had been told by an oracle that his daughter’s son would put him to death. His endeavours to prevent Danae from becoming a mother proved fruitless; and Jupiter, who was enamoured of her, introduced himself to her bed, by changing himself into a golden shower. From his embraces Danae had a son, with whom she was exposed on the sea by her father. The wind drove the bark which carried her to the coasts of the island of Seriphus, where she was saved by some fishermen, and carried to Polydectes king of the place, whose brother called Dictys educated the child called Perseus, and tenderly treated the mother. Polydectes fell in love with her; but as he was afraid of her son, he sent him to conquer the Gorgons, pretending that he wished Medusa’s head to adorn the nuptials which he was going to celebrate with Hippodamia the daughter of Œnomaus. When Perseus had victoriously finished his expedition, he retired to Argos with Danae, to the house of Acrisius, whom he inadvertently killed. Some suppose that it was Prœtus the brother of Acrisius who introduced himself to Danae in the brazen tower; and instead of a golden shower, it was maintained that the keepers of Danae were bribed by the gold of her seducer. Virgil mentions that Danae came to Italy with some fugitives of Argos, and that she founded a city called Ardea. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 4, li. 611; Ars Amatoria, bk. 3, li. 415; Amores, bk. 2, poem 19, li. 27.—Horace, bk. 3, ode 16.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 14, li. 319.—Apollodorus, bk. 2, chs. 2 & 4.—Statius, Thebiad, bk. 1, li. 255.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 410.――A daughter of Leontium, mistress to Sophron governor of Ephesus.――A daughter of Danaus, to whom Neptune offered violence.

Dănai, a name given to the people of Argos, and promiscuously to all the Greeks, from Danaus their king. Virgil, & Ovid, passim.

Dănaĭdes, the 50 daughters of Danaus king of Argos. When their uncle Ægyptus came from Egypt with his 50 sons, they were promised in marriage to their cousins; but before the celebration of their nuptials, Danaus, who had been informed by an oracle that he was to be killed by the hands of one of his sons-in-law, made his daughters solemnly promise that they would destroy their husbands. They were provided with daggers by their father, and all, except Hypermnestra, stained their hands with the blood of their cousins, the first night of their nuptials; and as a pledge of their obedience to their father’s injunctions, they presented him each with the head of the murdered sons of Ægyptus. Hypermnestra was summoned to appear before her father, and answer for her disobedience in suffering her husband Lynceus to escape, but the unanimous voice of the people declared her innocent, and in consequence of her honourable acquittal, she dedicated a temple to the goddess of Persuasion. The sisters were purified of this murder by Mercury and Minerva, by order of Jupiter; but according to the more received opinion, they were condemned to severe punishment in hell, and were compelled to fill with water a vessel full of holes, so that the water ran out as soon as poured into it, and therefore their labour was infinite, and their punishment eternal. The names of the Danaides and their husbands were as follows, according to Apollodorus: Amymone married Enceladus; Automate, Busiris; Agave, Lycus; Scea, Dayphron; Hippodamia, Ister; Rhodia, Chalcedon; Calyce, another Lynceus; Gorgophone, Proteus; Cleopatra, Agenor; Asteria, Chætus; Glauce, Aleis; Hippodamia, Diacorytes; Hippomedusa, Alcmenon; Gorge, Hippothous; Iphimedusa, Euchenor; Rhode, Hippolytus; Pirene, Agaptolemus; Cercestis, Dorion; Pharte, Eurydamas; Mnestra, Ægius; Evippe, Arigius; Anaxibia, Archelaus; Nelo, Melachus; Clite, Clitus; Stenele, Stenelus; Chrysippe, Chrysippus; Autonoe, Eurylochus; Theano, Phantes; Electra, Peristhenes; Eurydice, Dryas; Glaucippe, Potamon; Autholea, Cisseus; Cleodora, Lixus; Evippe, Imbrus; Erata, Bromius; Stygne, Polyctor; Bryce, Chthonius; Actea, Periphas; Podarce, Œneus; Dioxippe, Ægyptus; Adyte, Menalces; Ocypete, Lampus; Pilarge, Idmon; Hippodice, Idas; Adiante, Diaphron; Callidia, Pandion; Œme, Arbelus; Celena, Hixbius; Hyperia, Hippocoristes. The heads of the sons of Ægyptus were buried at Argos; but their bodies were left at Lerna, where the murder had been committed. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 1.—Horace, bk. 3, ode 11.—Strabo, bk. 8.—Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 16.—Hyginus, fable 168, &c.

Danăla, a castle of Galatia.

Danapris, now the Nieper, a name given in the middle ages to the Borysthenes, as Danaster the Neister, was applied to the Tyras.

Dănaus, a son of Belus and Anchinoe, who, after his father’s death, reigned conjointly with his brother Ægyptus on the throne of Egypt. Some time after, a difference arose between the brothers, and Danaus set sail with his 50 daughters in quest of a settlement. He visited Rhodes, where he consecrated a statue to Minerva, and arrived safe on the coast of Peloponnesus, where he was hospitably received by Gelanor king of Argos. Gelanor had lately ascended the throne, and the first years of his reign were marked with dissensions with his subjects. Danaus took advantage of Gelanor’s unpopularity, and obliged him to abdicate the crown. In Gelanor, the race of the Inaehidæ was extinguished, and the Belides began to reign at Argos in Danaus. Some authors say that Gelanor voluntarily resigned the crown to Danaus, on account of the wrath of Neptune, who had dried up all the waters of Argolis, to punish the impiety of Inachus. The success of Danaus invited the 50 sons of Ægyptus to embark for Greece. They were kindly received by their uncle, who, either apprehensive of their number, or terrified by an oracle which threatened his ruin by one of his sons-in-law, caused his daughters, to whom they were promised in marriage, to murder them the first night of their nuptials. His fatal orders were executed, but Hypermnestra alone spared the life of Lynceus. See: Danaides. Danaus at first persecuted Lynceus with unremitted fury, but he was afterwards reconciled to him, and he acknowledged him for his son-in-law and successor, after a reign of 50 years. He died about 1425 years before the christian era, and after death he was honoured with a splendid monument in the town of Argos, which still existed in the age of Pausanias. According to Æschylus, Danaus left Egypt, not to be present at the marriage of his daughters with the sons of his brother, a connection which he deemed unlawful and impious. The ship in which Danaus came to Greece was called Armais, and was the first that had ever appeared there. It is said that the use of pumps was first introduced into Greece by Danaus. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 1.—Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 19.—Hyginus, fable 168, &c.—Herodotus, bk. 2, ch. 91, &c.; bk. 7, ch. 94.

Dandări and Dandarĭdæ, certain inhabitants near mount Caucasus. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 12, ch. 18.

Dandon, a man of Illyricum, who, as Pliny, bk. 7, ch. 48, reports, lived 500 years.

Dānŭbius, a celebrated river, the greatest in Europe, which rises, according to Herodotus, near the town of Pyrene, in the country of the Celtæ, and after flowing through the greatest part of Europe, falls into the Euxine sea. The Greeks called it Ister; but the Romans distinguished it by the appellation of the Danube, from its source till the middle of its course; and from thence to its mouths they called it Ister, like the Greeks. It falls into the Euxine through seven mouths, or six according to others. Herodotus mentions five, and modern travellers discover only two. The Danube was generally supposed to be the northern boundary of the Roman empire in Europe; and therefore, several castles were erected on its banks, to check the incursions of the barbarians. It was worshipped as a deity by the Scythians. According to modern geography, the Danube rises in Suabia, and after receiving about 40 navigable rivers, finishes a course of 1600 miles, by emptying itself into the Black sea. Dionysius Periegetes.—Herodotus, bk. 2, ch. 33; bk. 4, ch. 48, &c.—Strabo, bk. 4.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 12.—Ammianus, bk. 23.

Daŏchus, an officer of Philip, &c. Plutarch, Demosthenes.

Daphnæ, a town in Egypt on one of the mouths of the Nile, 16 miles from Pelusium. Herodotus, bk. 2, ch. 30.

Daphnæus, a general of Syracuse, against Carthage. Polyænus, bk. 5.

Daphne, a daughter of the river Peneus or of the Ladon by the goddess Terra, of whom Apollo became enamoured. This passion had been raised by Cupid, with whom Apollo, proud of his late conquest over the serpent Python, had disputed the power of his darts. Daphne heard with horror the addresses of the god, and endeavoured to remove herself from his importunities by flight. Apollo pursued her; and Daphne, fearful of being caught, intreated the assistance of the gods, who changed her into a laurel. Apollo crowned his head with the leaves of the laurel, and for ever ordered that that tree should be sacred to his divinity. Some say that Daphne was admired by Leucippus, son of Œnomaus king of Pisa, who, to be in her company, disguised his sex, and attended her in the woods, in the habit of a huntress. Leucippus gained Daphne’s esteem and love; but Apollo, who was his powerful rival, discovered his sex, and Leucippus was killed by the companions of Diana. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 1, li. 452, &c.—Parthenius, Narrationes Amatoriæ, ch. 15.—Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 20.――A daughter of Tiresias priestess in the temple of Delphi, supposed by some to be the same as Manto. She was consecrated to the service of Apollo by the Epigoni, or, according to others, by the goddess Tellus. She was called Sibyl, on account of the wildness of her looks and expressions when she delivered oracles. Her oracles were generally in verse, and Homer, according to some accounts, has introduced much of her poetry in his compositions. Diodorus, bk. 4.—Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 5.――A famous grove near Antioch, consecrated to voluptuousness and luxury.

Daphnēphŏria, a festival in honour of Apollo, celebrated every ninth year by the Bœotians. It was then usual to adorn an olive bough with garlands of laurel and other flowers, and place on the top a brazen globe, on which were suspended smaller ones. In the middle were placed a number of crowns, and a globe of inferior size, and the bottom was adorned with a saffron-coloured garment. The globe on the top represented the sun, or Apollo; that in the middle was an emblem of the moon, and the others of the stars. The crowns, which were 65 in number, represented the sun’s annual revolutions. This bough was carried in solemn procession by a beautiful youth of an illustrious family, and whose parents were both living. The youth was dressed in rich garments which reached to the ground, his hair hung loose and dishevelled, his head was covered with a golden crown, and he wore on his feet shoes called Iphicratidæ, from Iphicrates, an Athenian who first invented them. He was called δαφνηφορος, laurel-bearer, and at that time he executed the office of priest of Apollo. He was preceded by one of his nearest relations, bearing a rod adorned with garlands, and behind him followed a train of virgins, with branches in their hands. In this order the procession advanced as far as the temple of Apollo, surnamed Ismenius, where supplicatory hymns were sung to the god. This festival owed its origin to the following circumstance: When an oracle advised the Ætolians, who inhabited Arne and the adjacent country, to abandon their ancient possessions, and go in quest of a settlement, they invaded the Theban territories, which at that time were pillaged by an army of Pelasgians. As the celebration of Apollo’s festivals was near, both nations, who religiously observed it, laid aside all hostilities, and according to custom, cut down laurel boughs from mount Helicon and in the neighbourhood of the river Melas, and walked in procession in honour of the divinity. The day that this solemnity was observed, Polemates the general of the ♦Bœotian army saw a youth in a dream that presented him with a complete suit of armour, and commanded the Bœotians to offer solemn prayers to Apollo, and walk in procession with laurel boughs in their hands every ninth year. Three days after this dream, the Bœotian general made a sally, and cut off the greatest part of the besiegers, who were compelled by this blow to relinquish their enterprise. Polemates immediately instituted a novennial festival to the god who seemed to be the patron of the Bœotians. Pausanias, Bœotia, &c.

Daphnis, a shepherd of Sicily, son of Mercury by a Sicilian nymph. He was educated by the nymphs, Pan taught him to sing and play upon the pipe, and the muses inspired him with the love of poetry. It was supposed that he was the first who wrote pastoral poetry, in which his successor Theocritus so happily excelled. He was extremely fond of hunting; and at his death five of his dogs, from their attachment to him, refused all aliments, and pined away. From the celebrity of this shepherd, the name of Daphnis has been appropriated by the poets, ancient and modern, to express a person fond of rural employments, and the peaceful innocence which accompanies the tending of flocks. Ælian, Varia Historia, bk. 10, ch. 18.—Diodorus, bk. 4.――There was another shepherd on mount Ida of the same name changed into a rock, according to Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 4, li. 275.――A servant of Nicocrates tyrant of Cyrene, &c. Polyænus, bk. 8.――A grammarian. Suetonius, Lives of the Grammarians.――A son of Paris and Œnone.

Daphnus, a river of Locris, into which the body of Hesiod was thrown after his murder. Plutarch, de Convivium Septem Sapientium.――A physician who preferred a supper to a dinner, because he supposed that the moon assisted digestion. Athenæus, bk. 7.

Darăba, a town of Arabia.

Darantasia, a town of Belgic Gaul, called also Forum Claudii, and now Motier.

Daraps, a king of the Gangaridæ, &c. Flaccus, bk. 6, li. 67.

Dardăni, the inhabitants of Dardania.――Also a people of Mœsia, very inimical to the neighbouring power of Macedonia. Livy, bk. 26, ch. 25; bk. 27, ch. 33; bk. 31, ch. 28; bk. 40, ch. 57.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 1.

Dardănia, a town or country of Troas, from which the Trojans were called Dardani and Dardanidæ. There is also a country of the same name near Illyricum. This appellation is also applied to Samothrace. Virgil & Ovid, passim.—Strabo, bk. 7.

Dardănĭdes, a name given to Æneas, as descended from Dardanus. The word, in the plural number, is applied to the Trojan women. Virgil, Æneid.

Dardanium, a promontory of Troas, called from the small town of Dardanus, about seven miles from Abydos. The two castles built on each side of the strait by the emperor Mahomet IV., A.D. 1659, gave the name of Dardanelles to the place. Strabo, bk. 13.

Dardănus, a son of Jupiter and Electra, who killed his brother Jasius to obtain the kingdom of Etruria after the death of his reputed father Corytus, and fled to Samothrace, and thence to Asia Minor, where he married Batia the daughter of Teucer, king of Teucria. After the death of his father-in-law he ascended the throne, and reigned 62 years. He built the city of Dardania, and was reckoned the founder of the kingdom of Troy. He was succeeded by Erichthonius. According to some, Corybas his nephew accompanied him to Teucria, where he introduced the worship of Cybele. Dardanus taught his subjects to worship Minerva; and he gave them two statues of the goddess, one of which is well known by the name of Palladium. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 5, li. 167.—Pausanias, bk. 7, ch. 4.—Hyginus, fables 155 & 275.—Apollodorus, bk. 3.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 20.――A Trojan killed by Achilles. Homer, Iliad, bk. 20, li. 460.

Dardării, a nation near the Palus Mæotis. Plutarch, Lucullus.

Dares, a Phrygian who lived during the Trojan war, in which he was engaged, and of which he wrote the history in Greek. This history was extant in the age of Ælian; the Latin translation, now extant, is universally believed to be spurious, though it is attributed by some to Cornelius Nepos. The best edition is that of Smids cum not. var. 4to & 8vo, Amsterdam, 1702.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 5, lis. 10 & 27.――One of the companions of Æneas, descended from Amycus, and celebrated as a pugilist at the funeral games in honour of Hector, where he killed Butes. He was killed by Turnus in Italy. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 5, li. 369; bk. 12, li. 363.

Darētis, a country of Macedonia.

Darīa, a town of Mesopotamia.

Dariaves, the name of Darius in Persian. Strabo, bk. 16.

Dariobrigum, a town of Gaul, now Vennes in Britany.

Darītæ, a people of Persia. Herodotus, bk. 3, ch. 92.

Darīus, a noble satrap of Persia, son of Hystaspes, who conspired with six other noblemen to destroy Smerdis, who usurped the crown of Persia after the death of Cambyses. On the murder of the usurper, the seven conspirators universally agreed, that he whose horse neighed first should be appointed king. In consequence of this resolution the groom of Darius previously led his master’s horse to a mare at a place near which the seven noblemen were to pass. On the morrow before sunrise, when they proceeded all together, the horse, recollecting the mare, suddenly neighed; and at the same time a clap of thunder was heard, as if in approbation of the choice. The noblemen dismounted from their horses, and saluted Darius king; and a resolution was made among them, that the king’s wives and concubines should be taken from no other family but that of the conspirators, and that they should for ever enjoy the unlimited privilege of being admitted into the king’s presence without previous introduction. Darius was 29 years old when he ascended the throne, and he soon distinguished himself by his activity and military accomplishments. He besieged Babylon, which he took after a siege of 20 months, by the artifices of Zopyrus. From thence he marched against the Scythians, and in his way conquered Thrace. This expedition was unsuccessful; and, after several losses and disasters in the wilds of Scythia, the king retired with shame, and soon after turned his arms against the Indians, whom he subdued. The burning of Sardis, which was a Grecian colony, incensed the Athenians, and a war was kindled between Greece and Persia. Darius was so exasperated against the Greeks, that a servant every evening, by his order, repeated these words: “Remember, O king, to punish the Athenians.” Mardonius, the king’s son-in-law, was entrusted with the care of the war, but his army was destroyed by the Thracians; and Darius, more animated by his loss, sent a more considerable force, under the command of Datis and Artaphernes. They were conquered at the celebrated battle of Marathon, by 10,000 Athenians; and the Persians lost in that expedition no less than 206,000 men. Darius was not disheartened by this severe blow, but he resolved to carry on the war in person, and immediately ordered a still larger army to be levied. He died in the midst of his preparations, B.C. 485, after a reign of 36 years, in the 65th year of his age. Herodotus, bks. 1, 2, &c.—Diodorus, bk. 1.—Justin, bk. 1, ch. 9.—Plutarch, Aristotle.—Cornelius Nepos, Miltiades.――The second king of Persia, of that name, was also called Ochus or Nothus, because he was the illegitimate son of Artaxerxes by a concubine. Soon after the murder of Xerxes he ascended the throne of Persia, and married Parysatis his sister, a cruel and ambitious woman, by whom he had Artaxerxes Memnon, Amestris, and Cyrus the younger. He carried on many wars with success, under the conduct of his generals and of his son Cyrus. He died B.C. 404, after a reign of 19 years, and was succeeded by his son Artaxerxes, who asked him on his death-bed, what had been the guide of his conduct in the management of the empire, that he might imitate him? “The dictates of justice and of religion,” replied the expiring monarch. Justin, bk. 5, ch. 11.—Diodorus, bk. 12.――The third of that name was the last king of Persia, surnamed Codomanus. He was son of Arsanes and Sysigambis, and descended from Darius Nothus. The eunuch Bagoas raised him to the throne, though not nearly allied to the royal family, in hopes that he would be subservient to his will; but he prepared to poison him, when he saw him despise his advice, and aim at independence. Darius discovered his perfidy, and made him drink the poison which he had prepared against his life. The peace of Darius was early disturbed, and Alexander invaded Persia to avenge the injuries which the Greeks had suffered from the predecessors of Darius. The king of Persia met his adversary in person, at the head of 600,000 men. This army was remarkable more for its opulence and luxury than for the military courage of its soldiers; and Athenæus mentions that the camp of Darius was crowded with 277 cooks, 29 waiters, 87 cup-bearers, 40 servants to perfume the king, and 66 to prepare garlands and flowers to deck the dishes and meat which appeared on the royal table. With these forces Darius met Alexander. A battle was fought near the Granicus, in which the Persians were easily defeated. Another was soon after fought near Issus; and Alexander left 110,000 of the enemy dead on the field of battle, and took among the prisoners of war, the mother, wife, and children of Darius. The darkness of the night favoured the retreat of Darius, and he saved himself by flying in disguise, on the horse of his armour-bearer. These losses weakened, but discouraged not Darius. He assembled another more powerful army, and the last decisive battle was fought at Arbela. The victory was long doubtful; but the intrepidity of Alexander, and the superior valour of the Macedonians, prevailed over the effeminate Persians; and Darius, sensible of his disgrace and ruin, fled towards Media. His misfortunes were now completed. Bessus the governor of Bactriana took away his life, in hopes of succeeding him on the throne; and Darius was found by the Macedonians in his chariot, covered with wounds, and almost expiring, B.C. 331. He asked for water, and exclaimed, when he received it from the hand of a Macedonian, “It is the greatest of my misfortunes that I cannot reward thy humanity. Beg Alexander to accept my warmest thanks for the tenderness with which he has treated my wretched family, whilst I am doomed to perish by the hand of a man whom I have loaded with kindness.” These words of the dying monarch were reported to Alexander, who covered the dead body with his own mantle, and honoured it with a most magnificent funeral. The traitor Bessus met with a due punishment from the conquerer, who continued his kindness to the unfortunate family of Darius. Darius has been accused of imprudence, for the imperious and arrogant manner in which he wrote his letters to Alexander, in the midst of his misfortunes. In him the empire of Persia was extinguished 228 years after it had been first founded by Cyrus the Great. Diodorus, bk. 17.—Plutarch, Alexander.—Justin, bks. 10, 11, &c.—Curtius.――A son of Xerxes, who married Artaynta, and was killed by Artabanus. Herodotus, bk. 9, ch. 108.—Diodorus, bk. 11.――A son of Artaxerxes, declared successor to the throne, as being the eldest prince. He conspired against his father’s life, and was capitally punished. Plutarch, Artaxerxes.

Dascon, a man who founded Camarina. Thucydides, bk. 6, ch. 5.

Dascylitis, a province of Persia. Thucydides, bk. 1, ch. 129.

Dascy̆lus, the father of Gyges. Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 8.

Dasea, a town of Arcadia. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 27.

Dasius, a chief of Salapia, who favoured Annibal. Livy, bk. 26, ch. 38.

Dassarĕtæ, Dassarītæ, Dassarēni, or Dassariti, a people of Illyricum, or Macedonia. Plutarch, Titus Flamininus.

Datămes, son of Camissares, governor of Caria and general of the armies of Artaxerxes. The influence of his enemies at court obliged him to fly for safety, after he had greatly signalized himself by his military exploits. He took up arms in his own defence, and the king made war against him. He was treacherously killed by Mithridates, who had invited him under pretence of entering into the most inviolable connection and friendship, 362 B.C. Cornelius Nepos, Datames.

Dataphernes, one of the friends of Bessus. After the murder of Darius, he betrayed Bessus into Alexander’s hands. He also revolted from the conqueror, and was delivered up by the Dahæ. Curtius, bk. 7, chs. 5 & 8.

Datis, a general of Darius I., sent with an army of 200,000 foot and 10,000 horse, against the Greeks, in conjunction with Artaphernes. He was defeated at the celebrated battle of Marathon by Miltiades, and some time after put to death by the Spartans. Cornelius Nepos, Miltiades.

Datos, or Daton, a town of Thrace, on a small eminence, near the Strymon. There is in the neighbourhood a fruitful plain, from which Proserpine, according to some, was carried away by Pluto. That city was so rich, that the ancients generally made use of the word Datos to express abundance. When the king of Macedonia conquered it he called it Philippi, after his own name. Appian, Civil Wars.

Davara, a hill near mount Taurus, in Asia Minor.

Daulis, a nymph, from whom the city of Daulis in Phocis, anciently called Anacris, received its name. It was there that Philomela and Procne made Tereus eat the flesh of his son, and hence the nightingale, into which Philomela was changed, is often called Daulias avis. Ovid, ltr. 15, li. 154.—Strabo, bk. 9.—Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 4.—Ptolemy, bk. 3, ch. 15.—Livy, bk. 32, ch. 18.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 3.

Dauni, a people on the eastern part of Italy, conquered by Daunus, from whom they received their name.

Daunia, a name given to the northern parts of Apulia, on the coast of the Adriatic. It receives its name from Daunus, who settled there, and is now called Capitanata. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 8, li. 146.—Silius Italicus, bk. 9, li. 500; bk. 12, li. 429.—Horace, bk. 4, ode 6, li. 27.――Juturna, the sister of Turnus, was called Daunia, after she had been made a goddess by Jupiter. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 12, lis. 139 & 785.

Daunus, a son of Pilumnus and Danae. He came from Illyricum into Apulia, where he reigned over part of the country, which from him was called Daunia, and he was still on the throne when Diomedes came to Italy. Ptolemy, bk. 3, ch. 1.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 4.—Strabo, bk. 5.――A river of Apulia, now Carapelle. Horace, bk. 3, ode 30.

Daurĭfer and Daurises, a brave general of Darius, treacherously killed by the Carians. Herodotus, bk. 5, ch. 116, &c.

Davus, a comic character in the Andria of Terence. Horace, bk. 1, satire 10, li. 40.

Debæ, a nation of Arabia. Diodorus, bk. 3.

Decapŏlis, a district of Judæa, from its 10 cities. Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 18.

Decebălus, a warlike king of the Daci, who made a successful war against Domitian. He was conquered by Trajan, Domitian’s successor, and he obtained peace. His active spirit again kindled rebellion, and the Roman emperor marched against him, and defeated him. He destroyed himself, and his head was brought to Rome, and Dacia became a Roman province, A.D. 103. Dio Cassius, bk. 68.

Deceleum (or ea), now Biala Castro, a small village of Attica, north of Athens; which, when in the hands of the Spartans, proved a very galling garrison to the Athenians. The Peloponnesian war has occasionally been called Decelean, because for some time hostilities were carried on in its neighbourhood. Cornelius Nepos, bk. 7, ch. 4.

Decĕlus, a man who informed Castor and Pollux that their sister, whom Theseus had carried away, was concealed at Aphidnæ. Herodotus, bk. 9, ch. 73.

Decemvĭri, 10 magistrates of absolute authority among the Romans. The privileges of the patricians raised dissatisfaction among the plebeians; who, though freed from the power of the Tarquins, still saw that the administration of justice depended upon the will and caprice of their superiors, without any written statute to direct them, and convince them that they were governed with equity and impartiality. The tribunes complained to the senate, and demanded that a code of laws might be framed for the use and benefit of the Roman people. This petition was complied with, and three ambassadors were sent to Athens, and to all the other Grecian states, to collect the laws of Solon, and of the other celebrated legislators of Greece. Upon the return of the commissioners, it was universally agreed that 10 new magistrates, called decemviri, should be elected from the senate, to put the project into execution. Their power was absolute; all other offices ceased after their election, and they presided over the city with regal authority. They were invested with the badges of the consul, in the enjoyment of which they succeeded by turns, and only one was preceded by the fasces, and had the power of assembling the senate and confirming decrees. The first decemvirs were Appius Claudius, Titus Genutius, Publius Sextus, Spurius Veturius, Caius Julius, Aulus Manlius, Servius Sulpitius Pluriatius, Titus Romulus, Spurius Posthumius, A.U.C. 303. Under them, the laws which had been exposed to public view, that every citizen might speak his sentiments, were publicly approved of as constitutional, and ratified by the priests and augurs in the most solemn and religious manner. These laws were 10 in number, and were engraved on tables of brass; two were afterwards added, and they were called the laws of the 12 tables, leges duodecim tabularum, and leges decemvirales. The decemviral power, which was beheld by all ranks of people with the greatest satisfaction, was continued; but in the third year after their creation, the decemvirs became odious, on account of their tyranny; and the attempt of Appius Claudius to ravish Virginia, was followed by the total abolition of the office. The people were so exasperated against them, that they demanded them from the senate, to burn them alive. Consuls were again appointed, and tranquillity re-established in the state.――There were other officers in Rome, called decemvirs, who were originally appointed, in the absence of the pretor, to administer justice. Their appointment became afterwards necessary, and they generally assisted at sales called subhastationes, because a spear, hasta, was fixed at the door of the place where the goods were exposed to sale. They were called decemviri litibus judicandis. The officers whom Tarquin appointed to guard the Sibylline books, were also called decemviri. They were originally two in number, called duumviri, till the year of Rome 388, when their number was increased to 10, five of which were chosen from the plebeians, and five from the patricians. Sylla increased their number to 15, called quindecemvirs.

Decetia, a town of Gaul. Cæsar.

Decia lex, was enacted by Marcus Decius the tribune, A.U.C. 442, to empower the people to appoint two proper persons to fit and repair the fleets.

Lucius Decidius Saxa, a Celtiberian in Cæsar’s camp. Cæsar, Civil War, bk. 1.

Decineus, a celebrated soothsayer. Strabo, bk. 16.

Decius Mus, a celebrated Roman consul, who, after many glorious exploits, devoted himself to the gods’ manes for the safety of his country, in a battle against the Latins, 338 years B.C. His son Decius imitated his example, and devoted himself in like manner in his fourth consulship, when fighting against the Gauls and Samnites, B.C. 296. His grandson also did the same in the wars against Pyrrhus and the Tarentines, B.C. 280. This action of devoting oneself was of infinite service to the state. The soldiers were animated by the example, and induced to follow with intrepidity a commander who, arrayed in an unusual dress, and addressing himself to the gods with solemn invocation, rushed into the thickest part of the enemy to meet his fate. Livy, bks. 8, 9, &c.—Valerius Maximus, bk. 5, ch. 6.—Polybius, bk. 2.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 824.――Brutus, conducted Cæsar to the senate-house the day that he was murdered.—Cnæus Metius Q. Trajanus, a native of Pannonia, sent by the emperor Philip to appease a sedition in Mœsia. Instead of obeying his master’s command, he assumed the imperial purple, and soon after marched against him, and at his death became the only emperor. He signalized himself against the Persians; and when he marched against the Goths, he pushed his horse in a deep marsh, from which he could not extricate himself, and he perished with all his army by the darts of the barbarians, A.D. 251, after a reign of two years. This monarch enjoyed the character of a brave man and of a great disciplinarian; and by his justice and exemplary life merited the title of Optimus, which a servile senate had lavished upon him.

Decurio, a subaltern officer in the Roman armies. He commanded a decuria, which consisted of 10 men, and was the third part of a turma, or the thirtieth part of a legio of horse, which was composed of 300 men. The badge of the centurions was a vine rod or sapling, and each had a deputy called optio. There were certain magistrates in the provinces called decuriones municipales, who formed a body to represent the Roman senate in free and corporate towns. They consisted of 10, whence the name; and their duty extended to watch over the interest of their fellow-citizens, and to increase the revenues of the commonwealth. Their court was called curia decurionum, and minor senatus; and their decrees, called decreta decurionum, were marked with two D. D. at the top. They generally styled themselves civitatum patres curiales, and honorati municipiorum senatores. They were elected with the same ceremonies as the Roman senators; they were to be at least 25 years of age, and to be possessed of a certain sum of money. The election happened on the calends of March.

Decumates agri, lands in Germany which paid the tenth part of their value to the Romans. Tacitus, Germania, ch. 29.

Deditamĕnes, a friend of Alexander, made governor of Babylonia. Curtius, bk. 8, ch. 3.

Degis, a brother of Decebalus king of the Daci. He came as ambassador to the court of Domitian. Martial, bk. 5, ltr. 3.

Dējănīra, a daughter of Œneus king of Ætolia. Her beauty procured her many admirers, and her father promised to give her in marriage to him only who proved to be the strongest of all his competitors. Hercules obtained the prize, and married Dejanira, by whom he had three children, the most known of whom is Hyllus. As Dejanira was once travelling with her husband, they were stopped by the swollen streams of the Evenus, and the centaur Nessus offered Hercules to convey her safe to the opposite shore. The hero consented; but no sooner had Nessus gained the bank, than he attempted to offer violence to Dejanira, and to carry her away in the sight of her husband. Hercules, upon this, aimed from the other shore a poisoned arrow at the seducer, and mortally wounded him. Nessus, as he expired, wished to avenge his death upon his murderer; and he gave Dejanira his tunic, which was covered with blood, poisoned and infected by the arrow, observing that it had the power of reclaiming a husband from unlawful loves. Dejanira accepted the present; and when Hercules proved faithless to her bed, she sent him the centaur’s tunic, which instantly caused his death. See: Hercules. Dejanira was so disconsolate at the death of her husband, which she had ignorantly occasioned, that she destroyed herself. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bks. 8 & 9.—Diodorus, bk. 4.—Seneca, Hercules.—Hyginus, fable 34.

Deicoon, a Trojan prince, son of Pergasus, intimate with Æneas. He was killed by Agamemnon. Homer, Iliad, bk. 4, li. 534.――A son of Hercules and Megara. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 7.

Dēĭdămīa, a daughter of Lycomedes king of Scyros. She bore a son called Pyrrhus, or Neoptolemus, to Achilles, who was disguised at her father’s court in woman’s clothes, under the name of Pyrrha. Propertius, bk. 2, poem 9.—Apollodorus, bk. 3, ch. 13.――A daughter of Pyrrhus, killed by the Epirots. Polyænus.――A daughter of Adrastus king of Argos, called also Hippodamia.

Deilēon, a companion of Hercules in his expedition against the Amazons. Flaccus, bk. 5, li. 115.

Deilŏchus, a son of Hercules.

Deimăchus, a son of Neleus and Chloris, was killed, with all his brothers, except Nestor, by Hercules. Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 9.――The father of Enarette. Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 7.

Deiŏces, a son of Phraortes, by whose means the Medes delivered themselves from the yoke of the Assyrians. He presided as judge among his countrymen, and his great popularity and love of equity raised him to the throne, and he made himself absolute, B.C. 700. He was succeeded by his son Phraortes, after a reign of 53 years. He built Ecbatana according to Herodotus, and surrounded it with seven different walls, in the middle of which was the royal palace. Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 96, &c.—Polyænus.

Deiŏchus, a Greek captain killed by Paris in the Trojan war. Homer, Iliad, bk. 15, li. 341.

Dēīŏne, the mother of Miletus by Apollo. Miletus is often called Deionides, on account of his mother. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 9, li. 442.

Dēīŏneus, a king of Phocis, who married Diomede daughter of Xuthus, by whom he had Dia. He gave his daughter Dia in marriage to Ixion, who promised to make a present to his father-in-law. Deioneus accordingly visited the house of Ixion, and was thrown into a large hole filled with burning coal, by his son-in-law. Hyginus, fables 48 & 241.—Apollodorus, bk. 1, chs. 7 & 9; bk. 2, ch. 4.

Dēĭŏpēia, a nymph, the fairest of all the 14 nymphs that attended upon Juno. The goddess promised her in marriage to Æolus the god of the winds, if he would destroy the fleet of Æneas, which was sailing for Italy. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 1, li. 76.――One of the attendant nymphs of Cyrene. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 4, li. 343.

Deiotărus, a governor of Galatia, made king of that province by the Roman people. In the civil wars of Pompey and Cæsar, Deiotarus followed the interest of the former. After the battle of Pharsalia, Cæsar severely reprimanded Deiotarus for his attachment to Pompey, deprived him of part of his kingdom, and left him only the bare title of royalty. When he was accused by his grandson of attempts upon Cæsar’s life, Cicero ably defended him in the Roman senate. He joined Brutus with a large army, and faithfully supported the republican cause. His wife was barren; but fearing that her husband might die without issue, she presented him with a beautiful slave, and tenderly educated, as her own, the children of this union. Deiotarus died in an advanced old age. Strabo, bk. 12.—Lucan, bk. 5, li. 55.

Deĭphĭla. See: Deipyle.

Dēĭphŏbe, a sibyl of Cumæ, daughter of Glaucus. It is supposed that she led Æneas to the infernal regions. See: Sibyllæ. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 36.

Dēĭphŏbus, a son of Priam and Hecuba, who, after the death of his brother Paris, married Helen. His wife unworthily betrayed him, and introduced into his chamber her old husband Menelaus, to whom she wished to reconcile herself. He was shamefully mutilated and killed by Menelaus. He had highly distinguished himself during the war, especially in his two combats with Merion, and in that in which he slew Ascalaphus son of Mars. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 495.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 13.――A son of Hippolytus, who purified Hercules after the murder of Iphitus. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 6.

Deĭphon, a brother of Triptolemus, son of Celeus and Metanira. When Ceres travelled over the world, she stopped at his father’s court, and undertook to nurse him and bring him up. To reward the hospitality of Celeus, the goddess began to make his son immortal; and every evening she placed him on burning coals to purify him from whatever mortal particles he still possessed. The uncommon growth of Deiphon astonished Metanira, who wished to see what Ceres did to make him so vigorous. She was frightened to see her son on burning coals, and the shrieks that she uttered disturbed the mysterious operations of the goddess, and Deiphon perished in the flames. Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 5.――The husband of Hyrnetho, daughter of Temenus king of Argos. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 7.

Dēiphontes, a general of Temenus, who took Epidauria, &c. Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 12.――A general of the Dorians, &c. Polyænus.

Dēipy̆le, a daughter of Adrastus, who married Tydeus, by whom she had Diomedes. Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 8.

Dēipy̆lus, a son of Sthenelus, in the Trojan war. Homer, Iliad, bk. 5.

Dēipy̆rus, a Grecian chief during the Trojan war. Homer, Iliad, bk. 8.

Deldon, a king of Mysia, defeated by Crassus.

Dēlia, a festival celebrated every fifth year in the island of Delos, in honour of Apollo. It was first instituted by Theseus, who, at his return from Crete, placed a statue there, which he had received from Ariadne. At the celebration, they crowned the statue of the goddess with garlands, appointed a choir of music, and exhibited horse-races. They afterwards led a dance, in which they imitated, by their motions, the various windings of the Cretan labyrinth, from which Theseus had extricated himself by Ariadne’s assistance.――There was also another festival of the same name, yearly celebrated by the Athenians in Delos. It was also instituted by Theseus, who, when he was going to Crete, made a vow, that if he returned victorious, he would yearly visit in a solemn manner the temple of Delos. The persons employed in this annual procession were called Deliastæ and Theori. The ship, the same which carried Theseus, and had been carefully preserved by the Athenians, was called Theoria and Delias. When the ship was ready for the voyage, the priest of Apollo solemnly adorned the stern with garlands, and a universal lustration was made all over the city. The Theori were crowned with laurel, and before them proceeded men armed with axes, in commemoration of Theseus, who had cleared the way from Trœzene to Athens, and delivered the country from robbers. When the ship arrived at Delos, they offered solemn sacrifices to the god of the island, and celebrated a festival in his honour. After this they retired to their ship, and sailed back to Athens, where all the people of the city ran in crowds to meet them. Every appearance of festivity prevailed at their approach, and the citizens opened their doors, and prostrated themselves before the Deliastæ, as they walked in procession. During this festival, it was not lawful to put to death any malefactor, and on that account the life of Socrates was prolonged for 30 days. Xenophon, Memorabilia & Symposium.—♦Plato, Phædo.—Seneca, ltr. 70.

Dēlia, a surname of Diana, because she was born in Delos. Virgil, Eclogues, poem 3, li. 67.

Dēliădes, a son of Glaucus, killed by his brother Bellerophon. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 3.――The priestesses in Apollo’s temple. Homer, Hymn to Apollo.

Dēlium, a temple of Apollo.――A town of Bœotia opposite Calchis, famous for a battle fought there, B.C. 424, &c. Livy, bk. 31, ch. 45; bk. 35, ch. 51.

Dēlius, a surname of Apollo, because he was born in Delos.――Quintus, an officer of Antony, who, when he was sent to cite Cleopatra before his master, advised her to make her appearance in the most captivating attire. The plan succeeded. He afterwards abandoned his friend, and fled to Augustus, who received him with great kindness. Horace has addressed bk. 2, ode 3 to him. Plutarch, Antonius.

Delmatius Flavius Julius, a nephew of Constantine the Great, honoured with the title of Cæsar, and put in possession of Thrace, Macedonia, and Achaia. His great virtues were unable to save him from a violent death, and he was assassinated by his own soldiers, &c.

Delmĭnium, a town of Dalmatia. Florus, bk. 4, ch. 12.

Dēlos, one of the Cyclades at the north of Naxos, was severally called Lagia, Ortygia, Asteria, Chlamidia, Pelasgia, Pyrpyle, Cynthus, and Cynæthus, and now bears the name of Sailles. It was called Delos from δηλος, because it suddenly made its appearance on the surface of the sea, by the power of Neptune, who, according to the mythologists, permitted Latona to bring forth there, when she was persecuted all over the earth, and could find no safe asylum. See: Apollo. The island is celebrated for the nativity of Apollo and Diana; and the solemnity with which the festivals of these deities were celebrated there, by the inhabitants of the neighbouring islands and of the continent, is well known. One of the altars of Apollo, in the island, was reckoned among the seven wonders of the world. It had been erected by Apollo when only four years old, and made with the horns of goats, killed by Diana on mount Cynthus. It was unlawful to sacrifice any living creature upon that altar, which was religiously kept pure from blood and every pollution. The whole island of Delos was held in such veneration, that the Persians, who had pillaged and profaned all the temples of Greece, never offered violence to the temple of Apollo, but respected it with the most awful reverence. Apollo, whose image was in the shape of a dragon, delivered there oracles during the summer, in a plain manner, without any ambiguity or obscure meaning. No dogs, as Thucydides mentions, were permitted to enter the island. It was unlawful for a man to die, or for a child to be born there; and when the Athenians were ordered to purify the place, they dug up all the dead bodies that had been interred there, and transported them to the neighbouring islands. An edict was also issued, which commanded all persons labouring under any mortal or dangerous disease to be instantly removed to the adjacent island called Rhane. Some mythologists suppose that Asteria, who changed herself into a quail, to avoid the importuning addresses of Jupiter, was metamorphosed into this island, originally called Ortygia ab ὀρτυξ, a quail. The people of Delos are described by Cicero, Academica, bk. 2, chs. 16 & 18; bk. 4, ch. 18, as famous for rearing hens. Strabo, bks. 8 & 10.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 5, li. 329; bk. 6, li. 333.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 12.—Plutarch, de Sollertia Animalium, &c.—Thucydides, bks. 3, 4, &c.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 73.—Ptolemy, bk. 3, ch. 15.—Callimachus, Hymn to Delos.—Claudian, Panegyricus de Consulatu Honorii Augusti, bk. 4.

Delphi, now Castri, a town of Phocis, situate in a valley at the south-west side of mount Parnassus. It was also called Pytho, because the serpent Python was killed there; and it received the name of Delphi, from Delphus the son of Apollo. Some have also called it Parnassia Nape, the valley of Parnassus. It was famous for a temple of Apollo, and for an oracle celebrated in every age and country. The origin of the oracle, though fabulous, is described as something wonderful. A number of goats that were feeding on mount Parnassus came near a place which had a deep and long perforation. The steam which issued from the hole seemed to inspire the goats, and they played and frisked about in such an uncommon manner, that the goat-herd was tempted to lean on the hole, and see what mysteries the place contained. He was immediately seized with a fit of enthusiasm, and his expressions were wild and extravagant, and passed for prophecies. This circumstance was soon known about the country, and many experienced the same enthusiastic inspiration. The place was revered, and a temple was soon after erected in honour of Apollo, and a city built. According to some accounts, Apollo was not the first who gave oracles there; but Terra, Neptune, Themis, and Phœbe were in possession of the place before the son of Latona. The oracles were generally given in verse; but when it had been sarcastically observed that the god and patron of poetry was the most imperfect poet in the world, the priestess delivered her answers in prose. The oracles were always delivered by a priestess called Pythia. See: Pythia. The temple was built and destroyed several times. It was customary for those who consulted the oracle to make rich presents to the god of Delphi; and no monarch distinguished himself more by his donations than Crœsus. This sacred repository of opulence was often the object of plunder, and the people of Phocis seized 10,000 talents from it, and Nero carried away no less than 500 statues of brass, partly of the gods, and partly of the most ♦illustrious heroes. In another age, Constantine the Great removed its most splendid ornaments to his new capital. It was universally believed, and supported, by the ancients, that Delphi was in the middle of the earth; and on that account it was called terræ umbilicus. This, according to mythology, was first found out by two doves, which Jupiter had let loose from the two extremities of the earth, and which met at the place where the temple of Delphi was built. Apollonius, bk. 2, li. 706.—Diodorus, bk. 16.—Plutarch, de Defectu Oraculorum, &c.—Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 6, &c.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 10, li. 168.—Strabo, bk. 9.

Delphĭcus, a surname of Apollo, from the worship paid to his divinity at Delphi.

Delphīnia, festivals at Ægina, in honour of Apollo of Delphi.

Delphīnium, a place in Bœotia, opposite Eubœa.

Delphis, the priestess of Delphi. Martial, bk. 9, ltr. 43.

Delphus, a son of Apollo, who built Delphi, and consecrated it to his father. The name of his mother is differently mentioned. She is called by some Celæno, by others Melæne daughter of Cephis, and by others Thyas daughter of Castalius, the first who was priestess of Bacchus. Hyginus, fable 161.—Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 6.

Delphȳne, a serpent which watched over Jupiter. Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 6.

Delta, a part of Egypt, which received that name from its resemblance to the form of the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. It lies between the Canopian and Pelusian mouths of the Nile, and begins to be formed where the river divides itself into several streams. It has been formed totally by the mud and sand, which are washed down from the upper parts of Egypt by the Nile, according to ancient tradition. Cæsar, Alexandrine War, ch. 27.—Strabo, bks. 15 & 17.—Herodotus, bk. 2, ch. 13, &c.—Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 16.

Demădes, an Athenian, who, from a sailor, became an eloquent orator, and obtained much influence in the state. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Cheronæa by Philip, and ingratiated himself into the favour of that prince, by whom he was greatly esteemed. He was put to death, with his son, on suspicion of treason, B.C. 322. One of his orations is extant. Diodorus, bks. 16 & 17.—Plutarch, Demosthenes.

Demænetus, a rhetorician of Syracuse, enemy to Timoleon. Cornelius Nepos, Timoleon, ch. 5.

Demagŏras, one of Alexander’s flatterers.――An historian, who wrote concerning the foundation of Rome. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, bk. 1.

Demarāta, a daughter of Hiero, &c. Livy, bk. 24, ch. 22.

Demarātus, the son and successor of Ariston on the throne of Sparta, B.C. 526. He was banished by the intrigues of Cleomenes his royal colleague, as being illegitimate. He retired into Asia, and was kindly received by Darius son of Hystaspes king of Persia. When the Persian monarch made preparations to invade Greece, Demaratus, though persecuted by the Lacedæmonians, informed them of the hostilities which hung over their head. Herodotus, bk. 5, ch. 75, &c.; bk. 6, ch. 50, &c.――A rich citizen of Corinth, of the family of the Bacchiadæ. When Cypselus had usurped the sovereign power of Corinth, Demaratus, with all his family, migrated to Italy, and settled at Tarquinii, 658 years before Christ. His son Lucumon was king of Rome, under the name of Tarquinius Priscus. Dionysius of Halicarnassus.――A Corinthian exile at the court of Philip king of Macedonia. Plutarch, Alexander.

Demarchus, a Syracusan put to death by Dionysius.

Demarēta, the wife of Gelon. Diodorus, bk. 15.

Demariste, the mother of Timoleon.

Dēmātria, a Spartan mother, who killed her son because he returned from a battle without glory. Plutarch, Instituta Laconica.

Demetria, a festival in honour of Ceres, called by the Greeks Demeter. It was then customary for the votaries of the goddess to lash themselves with whips made with the bark of trees. The Athenians had a solemnity of the same name, in honour of Demetrius Poliorcetes.

Dēmētrias, a town of Thessaly. The name was common to other places.

Dēmētrius, a son of Antigonus and Stratonice, surnamed Poliorcetes, destroyer of towns. At the age of 22, he was sent by his father against Ptolemy, who had invaded Syria. He was defeated near Gaza, but he soon repaired his loss by a victory over one of the generals of the enemy. He afterwards sailed with a fleet of 250 ships to Athens, and restored the Athenians to liberty, by freeing them from the power of Cassander and Ptolemy, and expelling the garrison, which was stationed there under Demetrius Phalereus. After this successful expedition, he besieged and took Munychia, and defeated Cassander at Thermopylæ. His reception at Athens, after these victories, was attended with the greatest servility; and the Athenians were not ashamed to raise altars to him as to a god, and to consult his oracles. This uncommon success raised the jealousy of the successors of Alexander; and Seleucus, Cassander, and Lysimachus united to destroy Antigonus and his son. Their hostile armies met at Ipsus, B.C. 301. Antigonus was killed in the battle; and Demetrius, after a severe loss, retired to Ephesus. His ill success raised him many enemies; and the Athenians, who lately adored him as a god, refused to admit him into their city. He soon after ravaged the territories of Lysimachus, and reconciled himself to Seleucus, to whom he gave his daughter Stratonice in marriage. Athens now laboured under tyranny; and Demetrius relieved it, and pardoned the inhabitants. The loss of his possessions in Asia recalled him from Greece, and he established himself on the throne of Macedonia, by the murder of Alexander the son of Cassander. Here he was continually at war with the neighbouring states; and the superior power of his adversaries obliged him to leave Macedonia, after he had sat on the throne for seven years. He passed into Asia, and attacked some of the provinces of Lysimachus with various success; but famine and pestilence destroyed the greatest part of his army, and he retired to the court of Seleucus for support and assistance. He met with a kind reception, but hostilities were soon begun; and after he had gained some advantages over his son-in-law, Demetrius was totally forsaken by his troops in the field of battle, and became an easy prey to the enemy. Though he was kept in confinement by his son-in-law, yet he maintained himself like a prince, and passed his time in hunting and in every laborious exercise. His son Antigonus offered Seleucus all his possessions and even his person, to procure his father’s liberty; but all proved unavailing, and Demetrius died in the 54th year of his age, after a confinement of three years, 286 B.C. His remains were given to Antigonus, and honoured with a ♦splendid funeral pomp at Corinth, and thence conveyed to Demetrias. His posterity remained in possession of the Macedonian throne till the age of Perseus, who was conquered by the Romans. Demetrius has rendered himself famous for his fondness of dissipation when among the dissolute, and his love of virtue and military glory in the field of battle. He has been commended as a great warrior, and his ingenious inventions, his warlike engines, and stupendous machines in his war with the Rhodians, justify his claims to that perfect character. He has been blamed for his voluptuous indulgencies; and his biographer observes, that no Grecian prince had more wives and concubines than Poliorcetes. His obedience and reverence to his father have been justly admired; and it has been observed, that Antigonus ordered the ambassadors of a foreign prince particularly to remark the cordiality and friendship which subsisted between him and his son. Plutarch, Parallel Lives.—Diodorus, bk. 17.—Justin, bk. 1, ch. 17, &c.――A prince who succeeded his father Antigonus on the throne of Macedonia. He reigned 11 years, and was succeeded by Antigonus Doson. Justin, bk. 26, ch. 2.—Polybius, bk. 2.――A son of Philip king of Macedonia, given up as a hostage to the Romans. His modesty delivered his father from a heavy accusation laid before the Roman senate. When he returned to Macedonia, he was falsely accused by his brother Perseus, who was jealous of his popularity, and his father too credulously consented to his death, B.C. 180. Livy, bk. 40, ch. 20.—Justin, bk. 32, ch. 2.――A Magnesian.――A servant of Cassius.――A son of Demetrius of Cyrene.――A freedman of Pompey.――A son of Demetrius, surnamed Slender.――A prince surnamed Soter, was son of Seleucus Philopater, the son of Antiochus the Great king of Syria. His father gave him as a hostage to the Romans. After the death of Seleucus, Antiochus Epiphanes, the deceased monarch’s brother, usurped the kingdom of Syria, and was succeeded by his son Antiochus Eupator. This usurpation displeased Demetrius, who was detained at Rome; he procured his liberty on pretence of going to hunt, and fled to Syria, where the troops received him as their lawful sovereign, B.C. 162. He put to death Eupator and Lysias, and established himself on his throne by cruelty and oppression. Alexander Bala the son of Antiochus Epiphanes laid claim to the crown of Syria, and defeated Demetrius in a battle, in the 12th year of his reign. Strabo, bk. 16.—Appian.—Justin, bk. 34, ch. 3.――The Second, surnamed Nicanor, or Conqueror, was son of Soter, to whom he succeeded by the assistance of Ptolemy Philometer, after he had driven out the usurper Alexander Bala, B.C. 146. He married Cleopatra daughter of Ptolemy; who was, before, the wife of the expelled monarch. Demetrius gave himself up to luxury and voluptuousness, and suffered his kingdom to be governed by his favourites. At that time a pretended son of Bala, called Diodorus Tryphon, seized a part of Syria; and Demetrius, to oppose his antagonist, made an alliance with the Jews, and marched into the east, where he was taken by the Parthians. Phraates king of Parthia gave him his daughter Rhodogyne in marriage; and Cleopatra was so incensed at this new connection, that she gave herself up to Antiochus Sidetes her brother-in-law, and married him. Sidetes was killed in a battle against the Parthians, and Demetrius regained the possession of his kingdom. His pride and oppression rendered him odious, and his subjects asked a king of the house of Seleucus, from Ptolemy Physcon king of Egypt; and Demetrius, unable to resist the power of his enemies, fled to Ptolemais, which was then in the hands of his wife Cleopatra. The gates were shut up against his approach by Cleopatra; and he was killed by order of the governor of Tyre, whither he had fled for protection. He was succeeded by Alexander Zebina, whom Ptolemy had raised to the throne, B.C. 127. Justin, bk. 36, &c.—Appian, Syrian Wars.—Josephus.――The Third, surnamed Eucerus, was son of Antiochus Gryphus. After the example of his brother Philip, who had seized Syria, he made himself master of Damascus, B.C. 93, and soon after obtained a victory over his brother. He was taken in a battle against the Parthians, and died in captivity. Josephus, bk. 1.――Phalereus, a disciple of Theophrastus, who gained such an influence over the Athenians, by his eloquence, and the purity of his manners, that he was elected decennial archon, B.C. 317. He so embellished the city, and rendered himself so popular by his munificence, that the Athenians raised 360 brazen statues to his honour. Yet in the midst of all this popularity, his enemies raised a sedition against him, and he was condemned to death, and all his statues thrown down, after obtaining the sovereign power for 10 years. He fled without concern or mortification to the court of Ptolemy Lagus, where he met with kindness and cordiality. The Egyptian monarch consulted him concerning the succession of his children; and Demetrius advised him to raise to the throne the children of Eurydice, in preference to the offspring of Berenice. This counsel so irritated Philadelphus the son of Berenice, that after his father’s death he sent the philosopher into Upper Egypt, and there detained him in strict confinement. Demetrius, tired with his situation, put an end to his life by the bite of an asp, 284 B.C. According to some, Demetrius enjoyed the confidence of Philadelphus, and enriched his library at Alexandria with 200,000 volumes. All the works of Demetrius, on rhetoric, history, and eloquence are lost; and the treatise on rhetoric, falsely attributed to him, is by some supposed to be the composition of Halicarnassus. The last edition of this treatise is that of Glasgow, 8vo, 1743. Diogenes Laërtius, Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers.—Cicero, Brutus & de Officiis, bk. 1.—Plutarch, De Exilio.――A Cynic philosopher, disciple of Apollonius Thyaneus, in the age of Caligula. The emperor wished to gain the philosopher to his interest by a large present; but Demetrius refused it with indignation, and said, “If Caligula wishes to bribe me, let him send me his crown.” Vespasian was displeased with his insolence, and banished him to an island. The Cynic derided the punishment, and bitterly inveighed against the emperor. He died in a great old age; and Seneca observes, that nature had brought him forth, to show mankind that an exalted genius can live securely without being corrupted by the vices of the surrounding world. Seneca.—Philostratus, Apollonius.――One of Alexander’s flatterers.――A native of Byzantium, who wrote on the Greek poets.――An Athenian killed at Mantinea, when fighting against the Thebans. Polyænus.――A writer who published a history of the irruptions of the Gauls into Asia.――A philological writer in the age of Cicero. Cicero, Letters to Atticus, bk. 8, ltr. 11.――A stage player. Juvenal, satire 3, li. 99.――Syrus, a rhetorician at Athens. Cicero, Brutus, ch. 174.――A geographer surnamed the Calatian. Strabo, bk. 1.

Demo, a sibyl of Cumæ.

Demoanassa, the mother of Ægialeus.

Democēdes, a celebrated physician of Crotona, son of Calliphon, and intimate with Polycrates. He was carried as a prisoner from Samos to Darius king of Persia, where he acquired great riches and much reputation by curing the king’s foot, and the breast of Atossa. He was sent to Greece as a spy by the king, and fled away to Crotona, where he married the daughter of the wrestler Milo. Ælian, Varia Historia, bk. 8, ch. 18.—Herodotus, bk. 3, ch. 124, &c.

Dēmŏchăres, an Athenian sent with some of his countrymen with an embassy to Philip king of Macedonia. The monarch gave them audience, and when he asked them what he could do to please the people of Athens, Demochares replied, “Hang yourself.” This imprudence raised the indignation of all the hearers; but Philip mildly dismissed them, and bade them ask their countrymen, which deserved most the appellation of wise and moderate, either they who gave such ill language, or he who received it without any signs of resentment? Seneca, de Irâ, bk. 3.—Ælian, Varia Historia, bks. 3, 7, 8, 12.—Cicero, Brutus, ch. 3; On Oratory, bk. 2.――A poet of Soli, who composed a comedy on Demetrius Poliorcetes. Plutarch, Demetrius.――A statuary, who wished to make a statue to mount Athos. Vitruvius.――A general of Pompey the younger, who died B.C. 36.

Dēmŏcles, a man accused of disaffection towards Dionysius, &c. Polyænus, bk. 5.――A beautiful youth, passionately loved by Demetrius Poliorcetes. He threw himself into a cauldron of boiling water, rather than submit to the unnatural lusts of the tyrant. Plutarch, Demetrius.

Demŏcoon, a natural son of Priam, who came from his residence at Abydos to protect his country against the Greeks. He was, after a glorious defence, killed by Ulysses. Homer, Iliad, bk. 4.

Dēmŏcrătes, an architect of Alexandria.――A wrestler. Ælian, Varia Historia, bk. 4, ch. 15.――An Athenian, who fought on the side of Darius against the Macedonians. Curtius, bk. 6, ch. 5.

Dēmŏcrĭtus, a celebrated philosopher of Abdera, disciple to Leucippus. He travelled over the greatest part of Europe, Asia, and Africa, in quest of knowledge, and returned home in the greatest poverty. There was a law at Abdera, which deprived of the honour of a funeral the man who had reduced himself to indigence; and Democritus, to avoid ignominy, repeated before his countrymen one of his compositions called Diacosmus. It was received with such uncommon applause that he was presented with 500 talents; statues were erected in his honour; and a decree passed that the expenses of his funeral should be paid from the public treasury. He retired to a garden near the city, where he dedicated his time to study and solitude; and according to some authors he put out his eyes, to apply himself more closely to philosophical inquiries. He was accused of insanity, and Hippocrates was ordered to inquire into the nature of his disorder. The physician had a conference with the philosopher, and declared that not Democritus, but his enemies, were insane. He continually laughed at the follies and vanity of mankind, who distract themselves with care, and are at once a prey to hope and anxiety. He told Darius, who was inconsolable for the loss of his wife, that he would raise her from the dead, if he could find three persons who had gone through life without adversity, whose names he might engrave on the queen’s monument. The king’s inquiries to find such persons proved unavailing, and the philosopher in some manner soothed the sorrow of his sovereign. He taught his disciples that the soul died with the body; and therefore, as he gave no credit to the existence of ghosts, some youths, to try his fortitude, dressed themselves in a hideous and deformed habit, and approached his cave in the dead of night, with whatever could create terror and astonishment. The philosopher received them unmoved; and without even looking at them, he desired them to cease making themselves such objects of ridicule and folly. He died in the 109th year of his age, B.C. 361. His father was so rich, that he entertained Xerxes, with all his army, as he was marching against Greece. All the works of Democritus are lost. He was the author of the doctrine of atoms, and first taught that the milky way was occasioned by a confused light from a multitude of stars. He may be considered as the parent of experimental philosophy, in the prosecution of which he showed himself so ardent, that he declared he would prefer the discovery of one of the causes of the works of nature to the diadem of Persia. He made artificial emeralds, and tinged them with various colours; he likewise dissolved stones, and softened ivory. Eusebius, bk. 14, ch. 27.—Diogenes Laërtius, Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers.—Ælian, Varia Historia, bk. 4, ch. 20.—Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum.—Valerius Maximus, bk. 8, ch. 7.—Strabo, bks. 1 & 15.――An Ephesian, who wrote a book on Diana’s temple, &c. Diogenes Laërtius.――A powerful man of Naxos. Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 46.