A CLASSICAL DICTIONARY, ETC., ETC. (continued 18)

Flāmĭnia lex, agraria, by Caius Flaminius the tribune, A.U.C. 525. It required that the lands of Picenum, from which the Gauls Senones had been expelled, should be divided among the Roman people.

Flaminia via, a celebrated road which led from Rome to Ariminum and Aquileia. It received its name from Flaminius, who built it, and was killed at the battle of Thrasymenus against Annibal.――A gate of Rome opening to the same road, now del popolo.

Caius Flāmĭnius, a Roman consul of a turbulent disposition, who was drawn into a battle near the lake of Thrasymenus, by the artifice of Annibal. He was killed in the engagement, with an immense number of Romans, B.C. 217. The conqueror wished to give a burial to his body, but it was not found in the heaps of slain. While tribune of the people he proposed an agrarian law against the advice of his friends, of the senate, and of his own father. Cicero, de Inventione, bk. 2, ch. 17.—Livy, bk. 22, ch. 3, &c.—Polybius.—Florus, bk. 2, ch. 6.—Valerius Maximus, bk. 1, ch. 6.

Titus Quinctius Flāmĭnius, or Flaminīnus, a celebrated Roman raised to the consulship, A.U.C. 556. He was trained in the art of war against Annibal, and he showed himself capable in every respect to discharge with honour the great office with which he was entrusted. He was sent at the head of the Roman troops against Philip king of Macedonia, and in his expedition he met with uncommon success. The Greeks gradually declared themselves his firmest supporters, and he totally defeated Philip on the confines of Epirus, and made all Locris, Phocis, and Thessaly tributary to the Roman power. He granted peace to the conquered monarch, and proclaimed all Greece free and independent at the Isthmian games. This celebrated action procured the name of patrons of Greece to the Romans, and insensibly paved their way to universal dominion. Flaminius behaved among them with the greatest policy, and by his ready compliance with their national customs and prejudices he gained uncommon popularity, and received the name of father and deliverer of Greece. He was afterwards sent ambassador to king Prusias, who had given refuge to Annibal, and there his prudence and artifice hastened out of the world a man who had long been the terror of the Romans. Flaminius was found dead in his bed, after a life spent in the greatest glory, in which he had imitated with success the virtues of his model Scipio. Plutarch, Parallel Lives.—Florus.――Lucius, the brother of the preceding, signalized himself in the wars of Greece. He was expelled from the senate for killing a Gaul, by Cato, his brother’s colleague in the censorship, an action which was highly resented by Titus. Plutarch, Flaminius.――Calp. Flamma, a tribune, who at the head of 300 men saved the Roman army in Sicily, B.C. 258, by engaging the Carthaginians and cutting them to pieces.

Flanaticus sinus, a bay of the Flanates, in Liburnia on the Adriatic, now the gulf of Carnero. Pliny, bk. 3, chs. 19 & 21.

Flāvia lex, agraria, by Lucius Flavius, A.U.C. 693, for the distribution of a certain quantity of lands among Pompey’s soldiers and the commons.

Flāviānum, a town of Etruria, on the Tiber, called also Flavinium. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 696.—Silius Italicus, bk. 8, li. 492.

Flāvinia, a town of Latium, which assisted Turnus against Æneas. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 696.

Flavius, a senator who conspired with Piso against Nero, &c. Tacitus.――A tribune of the people deposed by Julius Cæsar.――A Roman who informed Gracchus of the violent measures of the senate against him.――A brother of Vespasian, &c.――A tribune who wounded one of Annibal’s elephants in an engagement.――A schoolmaster at Rome in the age of Horace. Bk. 1, satire 6, li. 72.――One of the names of the emperor Domitian. Juvenal, satire 4, li. 37.

Flevus, the right branch of the Rhine, which formed a large lake on its falling into the sea called Flevo, now Zuider-Zee. It was afterwards called Helium, now Ulie, when its breadth became more contracted, and a fort erected there obtained the name of Flevum Frisiorum. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 2, ch. 6; bk. 4, li. 72.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 15.—Mela, bk. 3, ch. 2.

Flōra, the goddess of flowers and gardens among the Romans, the same as the Chloris of the Greeks. Some suppose that she was originally a common courtesan, who left to the Romans the immense riches which she had acquired by prostitution and lasciviousness, in remembrance of which a yearly festival was instituted in her honour. She was worshipped even among the Sabines, long before the foundation of Rome, and likewise among the Phoceans, who built Marseilles long before the existence of the capital of Italy. Tatius was the first who raised her a temple in the city of Rome. It is said that she married Zephyrus, and that she received from him the privilege of presiding over flowers, and of enjoying perpetual youth. See: Floralia. She was represented as crowned with flowers, and holding in her hand the horn of plenty. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 5, li. 195, &c. Varro, de Re Rustica, bk. 1.—Lactantius, bk. 1, ch. 20.――A celebrated courtesan passionately loved by Pompey the Great. She was so beautiful, that when the temple of Castor and Pollux at Rome was adorned with paintings, her picture was drawn and placed amongst the rest.――Another courtesan, &c. Juvenal, satire 2, li. 49.

Florālia, games in honour of Flora at Rome. They were instituted about the age of Romulus, but they were not celebrated with regularity and proper attention till the year ♦A.U.C. 580. They were observed yearly, and exhibited a scene of the most unbounded licentiousness. It is reported that Cato wished once to be present at the celebration, and that when he saw that the deference for his presence interrupted the feast, he retired, not choosing to be the spectator of the prostitution of naked women in a public theatre. This behaviour so captivated the degenerate Romans, that the venerable senator was treated with the most uncommon applause as he retired. Valerius Maximus, bk. 2, ch. 10.—Varro, de Lingua Latina, bk. 1.—Paterculus, ch. 1.—Pliny, bk. 18, ch. 29.

Flōrentia, a town of Italy on the Arnus, now Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 1, ch. 79.—Florus, bk. 3, ch. 21.—Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 5.

Floriānus, a man who wore the imperial purple at Rome only for two months, A.D. 276.

Flōrus Lucius Annæus Julius, a Latin historian of the same family which produced Seneca and Lucan, A.D. 116. He wrote an abridgment of Roman annals in four books, composed in a florid and poetical style, and rather a panegyric on many of the great actions of the Romans than a faithful and correct recital of their history. He also wrote poetry, and entered the lists against the emperor Adrian, who satirically reproached him with frequenting taverns and places of dissipation. The best editions of Florus are Duker’s, 2 vols., 8vo, Leiden, 1722 & 1744; and that of J. Frid. Fischer, 8vo, Lipscomb, 1760.――Julius, a friend of Horace, who accompanied Claudius Nero in his military expeditions. The poet has addressed two epistles to him.

Fluōnia, a surname of Juno Lucina, who under that appellation was invoked by the Roman matrons to stop excessive discharges of blood. Festus, Lexicon of Festus.

Folia, a woman of Ariminum, famous for her knowledge of poisonous herbs and for her petulance. Horace, epode 5, li. 42.

Fons solis, a fountain in the province of Cyrene, cool at mid-day, and warm at the rising and setting of the sun. Herodotus, bk. 4, ch. 181.

Fontānus, a poet mentioned by Ovid, ex Ponto, bk. 4, poem 16.

Fontēia, a vestal virgin. Cicero.

Fontēius Capito, an intimate friend of Horace. Bk. 1, satire 5, li. 32.――A Roman who raised commotions in Germany after the death of Nero. Tacitus, Histories, bk. 1, ch. 7.――A man who conducted Cleopatra into Syria by order of Antony. Plutarch, Antonius.

Formiæ, a maritime town of Campania at the south-east of Caieta. It was anciently the abode of the Læstrygones, and it became known for its excellent wines, and was called Mamurrarum urbs, from a family of consequence and opulence who lived there. Livy, bk. 8, ch. 14; bk. 38, ch. 36.—Horace, bk. 1, ode 20, li. 11; bk. 3, ode 17; bk. 1, satire 5, li. 37.—Pliny, bk. 36, ch. 6.

Formiānum, a villa of Cicero near Formiæ, near which the orator was assassinated. Cicero, Letters to his Friends, bk. 11, ltr. 27; bk. 16, ltr. 10.—Tacitus, Annals, bk. 16, ch. 10.

Formio, now Risano, a river of Istria, the ancient boundary of Italy eastward, afterwards extended to the Arsia. Pliny, bk. 3, chs. 18 & 19.

Fornax, a goddess at Rome, who presided over the baking of bread. Her festivals, called Fornacalia, were first instituted by Numa. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 2, li. 525.

Foro Appii, a people of Italy, whose capital was called Forum Appii. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 5.

Fortūna, a powerful deity among the ancients, daughter of Oceanus according to Homer, or one of the Parcæ according to Pindar. She was the goddess of fortune, and from her hand were derived riches and poverty, pleasures and misfortunes, blessings and pains. She was worshipped in different parts of Greece, and in Achaia her statue held the horn of plenty in one hand, and had a winged Cupid at its feet. In Bœotia she had a statue which represented her as holding Plutus the god of riches in her arms, to intimate that fortune is the source whence wealth and honours flow. Bupalus was the first who made a statue of Fortune for the people of Smyrna, and he represented her with the polar star upon her head, and the horn of plenty in her hand. The Romans paid particular attention to the goddess of Fortune, and had no less than eight different temples erected to her honour in their city. Tullus Hostilius was the first who built her a temple, and from that circumstance it is easily known when her worship was first introduced among the Romans. Her most famous temple in Italy was at Antium, in Latium, where presents and offerings were regularly sent from every part of the country. Fortune has been called Pherepolis the protectress of cities, and Acrea from the temple of Corinth on an eminence, ἀκρος. She was called Prænestine at Præneste in Italy, where she had also a temple. Besides, she was worshipped among the Romans under different names, such as Female fortune, Virile fortune, Equestrian, Evil, Peaceful, Virgin, &c. On the 1st of April, which was consecrated to Venus among the Romans, the Italian widows and marriageable virgins assembled in the temple of Virile fortune, and after burning incense and stripping themselves of their garments, they entreated the goddess to hide from the eyes of their husbands whatever defects there might be on their bodies. The goddess of fortune is represented on ancient monuments with a horn of plenty, and sometimes two in her hands. She is blindfolded, and generally holds a wheel in her hands as an emblem of her inconstancy. Sometimes she appears with wings, and treads upon the prow of a ship, and holds a rudder in her hands. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, bk. 4.—Ovid, Fasti, bk. 6, li. 569.—Plutarch, de Fortuna Romanorum & Caius Marcius Coriolanus.—Cicero, de Divinatione, bk. 2.—Livy, bk. 10.—Augustine, City of God, bk. 4.—Florus, bk. 1.—Valerius Maximus, bk. 1, ch. 5.—Lucan, bk. 2, &c.

Fortūnātæ insulæ, islands at the west of Mauritania in the Atlantic sea. They are supposed to be the Canary isles of the moderns, thought to be only two in number, at a little distance one from the other, and 10,000 stadia from the shores of Libya. They were represented as the seats of the blessed, where the souls of the virtuous were placed after death. The air was wholesome and temperate, and the earth produced an immense number of various fruits without the labours of men. When they had been described to Sertorius in the most enchanting colours, that celebrated general expressed a wish to retire thither, and to remove himself from the noise of the world, and the dangers of war. Strabo, bk. 1.—Plutarch, Sertorius.—Horace, bk. 4, ode 8, li. 27; epode 16.—Pliny, bk. 6, chs. 31 & 32.

Fŏrŭli, a town of the Sabines, built on a stony place. Strabo, bk. 5.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 714.

Forum appii, a town of Latium on the Appia Via. Cicero, bk. 1, Letters to Atticus, ltr. 10.—Horace, bk. 1, satire 3, li. 3.――Augustum, a place at Rome. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 5, li. 552.――Allieni, a town of Italy, now Ferrara. Tacitus, Histories, bk. 3, ch. 6.――Aurelia, a town of Etruria, now Montalto. Cicero, Against Catiline, bk. 1, ch. 9.――Claudii, another in Etruria, now Oriolo.――Cornelii, another, now Imola, in the Pope’s dominions. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 16.—Cicero, Letters to his Friends, bk. 12, ltr. 5.――Domitii, a town of Gaul, now Frontignan, in Languedoc.――Voconii, a town of Gaul, now Gonsaron, between Antibes and Marseilles. Cicero, Letters to his Friends, bk. 10, ltr. 17.――Lepidi, a town of ancient Gaul, south of the Po.――Popilii, another at the south of Ravenna, on the Adriatic.――Flaminii, a town of Umbria, now San Giavane. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 14.――Gallorum, a town of Gaul Togata, now Castel Franco, in the Bolognese. Cicero, Letters to his Friends, bk. 10, ltr. 30.――Also a town of Venice called Forojuliensis urbs, now Friuli. Cicero, Letters to his Friends, bk. 12, ltr. 26.――Julium, a town of Gaul Narbonensis, now Frejus, in Provence. Cicero, Letters to his Friends, bk. 10, ltr. 17.—Strabo, bk. 4.――Lebnorum, a town of Insubria. Polybius.――Sempronii, a town of Umbria, &c. Many other places bore the name of Forum wherever there was a public market, or rather where the pretor held his court of justice (forum vel conventus), and thence they were called sometimes conventus as well as fora, into which provinces were generally divided under the administration of a separate governor. Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 2, ch. 20; bk. 4, ch. 48; bk. 5, ch. 11; Against Vatinius, ch. 5; Letters to his Friends, bk. 3, ltrs. 6 & 8; Letters to Atticus, bk. 5, ltr. 21.

Fosi, a people of Germany near the Elbe, considered as the Saxons of Ptolemy. Tacitus, Germania, ch. 36.

Fossa, the straits of Bonifacio between Corsica and Sardinia, called also Taphros. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 6.――Drusi, or Drusiana, a canal eight miles in length, opened by Drusus from the Rhine to the Issel, below the separation of the Waal. Suetonius, Claudius, ch. 1.—Tacitus, Histories, bk. 5, ch. 23.――Mariana, a canal cut by Marius from the Rhone to Marseilles during the Cimbrian war, and now called Galejon. Sometimes the word is used in the plural, Fossæ, as if more than one canal had been formed by Marius. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 4.—Strabo, bk. 4.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 5.

Fossæ Philistinæ, one of the mouths of the Po. Tacitus, Histories, bk. 3, ch. 9.

Franci, a people of Germany and Gaul, whose country was called Francia. Claudian.

Fraus, a divinity worshipped among the Romans, daughter of Orcus and Night. She presided over treachery, &c.

Frĕgella, a famous town of the Volsci, in Italy, on the Liris, destroyed for revolting from the Romans, Silius Italicus, bk. 5, li. 452.—Livy, bk. 8, ch. 22; bk. 27, ch. 10, &c.—Cicero, Letters to his Friends, bk. 13, ltr. 76.

Fregēnæ, a town of Etruria. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 5.

Frentāni, a people of Italy, near Apulia, who received their name from the river Frento, now Fortore, which runs through the eastern part of their country, and falls into the Adriatic opposite the islands of Diomede. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 11.—Livy, bk. 9, ch. 45.—Silius Italicus, bk. 8, li. 520.

Fretum (the sea), is sometimes applied by eminence to the Sicilian sea, or the straits of Messina. Cæsar, Civil War, bk. 1, ch. 29.—Florus, bk. 1, ch. 26.—Cicero, bk. 2, Letters to Atticus, ltr. 1.

Frigĭdus, a river of Tuscany.

Frisii, a people of Germany near the Rhine, now the Frisons of Friesland. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 1, ch. 60; Histories, bk. 4, chs. 15 & 72; Germania, ch. 36.

Sextus Julius Frontīnus, a celebrated geometrician, who made himself known by the books which he wrote on aqueducts and stratagems dedicated to Trajan. He ordered at his death that no monument should be raised to his memory, saying memoria nostri durabit, si vitam meruimus. The best edition of Frontinus is that of Oudendorp, 8vo, Leiden, 1779.

Fronto, a preceptor of Marcus Antoninus, by whom he was greatly esteemed.――Julius, a learned Roman, who was so partial to the company of poets, that he lent them his house and gardens, which continually re-echoed the compositions of his numerous visitors. Juvenal, satire 1, li. 12.

Frŭsĭno, a small town of the Volsci on one of the branches of the Liris. Juvenal, satire 3, li. 223.—Livy, bk. 10, ch. 1.—Silius Italicus, bk. 8, li. 399.—Cicero, Letters to Atticus, bk. 11, ltrs. 4 & 13.

Fūcĭnus, a lake of Italy in the country of the Marsi, at the north of the Liris, attempted to be drained by Julius Cæsar and afterwards by Claudius, by whom 30,000 men were employed for 11 years to perforate a mountain to convey the water into the Liris, but with no permanent success. The lake, surrounded by a ridge of high mountains, is now called Celano, and is supposed to be 47 miles in circumference, and not more than 12 feet deep on an average. Pliny, bk. 36, ch. 15.—Tacitus, Annals, bk. 12, ch. 56.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 759.

Fufĭdius, a wretched usurer, &c. Horace, bk. 1, satire 2.

Fufius Geminus, a man greatly promoted by the interest of Livia, &c. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 5, chs. 1 & 2.

Fugalia, festivals at Rome to celebrate the flight of the Tarquins.

Fulgĭnātes (singular, Fulginas), a people of Umbria, whose chief town was Fulginum, now Foligno. Silius Italicus, bk. 8, li. 462.—Pliny, bk. 1, ch. 4; bk. 3, ch. 14.

Q. Fulgīnus, a brave officer in Cæsar’s legions, &c. Cæsar, Civil War.

Fulgōra, a goddess at Rome who presided over lightning. She was addressed to save her votaries from the effects of violent storms of thunder. Augustine, City of God, bk. 6, ch. 10.

Fullinum and Fulginum, a small town of Umbria.

Fulvia lex, was proposed but rejected A.U.C. 628, by Flaccus Fulvius. It tended to make all the people of Italy citizens of Rome.

Fulvia, a bold and ambitious woman who married the tribune Clodius, and afterwards Curio, and at last Marcus Antony. She took a part in all the intrigues of her husband’s triumvirate, and showed herself cruel as well as revengeful. When Cicero’s head had been cut off by order of Antony, Fulvia ordered it to be brought to her, and with all the insolence of barbarity, she bored the orator’s tongue with her golden bodkin. Antony divorced her to marry Cleopatra, upon which she attempted to avenge her wrongs, by persuading Augustus to take up arms against her husband. When this scheme did not succeed, she raised a faction against Augustus, in which she engaged Lucius Antonius her brother-in-law, and when all her attempts proved fruitless, she retired into the east, where her husband received her with great coldness and indifference. This unkindness totally broke her heart, and she soon after died, about 40 years before the christian era. Plutarch, Cicero & Antonius.――A woman who discovered to Cicero the designs of Catiline upon his life. Plutarch, Cicero.

Fulvius, a Roman senator, intimate with Augustus. He disclosed the emperor’s secrets to his wife, who made it public to all the Roman matrons, for which he received so severe a reprimand from Augustus, that he and his wife hanged themselves in despair.――A friend of Caius Gracchus, who was killed in a sedition with his son. His body was thrown into the river, and his widow was forbidden to put on mourning for his death. Plutarch, Gracchus.――Flaccus Censor, a Roman who plundered a marble temple of Juno, to finish the building of one which he had erected to Fortune. He was always unhappy after this sacrilege. Livy, bk. 25, ch. 2.――Servius Nobilior, a Roman consul who went to Africa after the defeat of Regulus. After he had acquired much glory against the Carthaginians, he was shipwrecked at his return with 200 Roman ships. His grandson Marcus was sent to Spain, where he greatly signalized himself. He was afterwards rewarded with the consulship.

Fundānus, a lake near Fundi in Italy, which discharges itself into the Mediterranean. Tacitus, Histories, bk. 3, ch. 96.

Fundi, a town of Italy near Caieta, on the Appian road, at the bottom of a small deep bay called Lacus Fundanus. Horace, bk. 1, satire 5, li. 34.—Livy, bk. 8, chs. 14 & 19; bk. 38, ch. 36.—Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 5.—Cicero, De Lege Agraria contra Rullum, bk. 2, ch. 25.—Tacitus, Annals, bk. 4, ch. 59.—Strabo, bk. 5.

Fŭriæ, the three daughters of Nox and Acheron, or of Pluto and Proserpine, according to some. See: Eumenides.

Fŭrii, a family which migrated from Medullia in Latium, and came to settle at Rome under Romulus, and was admitted among the patricians. Camillus was of this family, and it was he who first raised it to distinction. Plutarch, Camillus.

Fŭria lex, de Testamentis, by C. Furius the tribune. It forbade any person to leave as a legacy more than 1000 asses, except to the relations of the master who manumitted, with a few more exceptions. Cicero, bk. 1, Against Verres, ch. 42.—Livy, bk. 35.

Furīna, the goddess of robbers, worshipped at Rome. Some say that she is the same as the Furies. Her festivals were called Furinalia. Cicero, de Natura Deorum, bk. 3, ch. 8.—Varro, de Lingua Latina, bk. 5, ch. 3.

Furius, a military tribune with Camillus. He was sent against the Tuscans by his colleague.――A Roman slave who obtained his freedom, and applied himself with unremitted attention to cultivate a small portion of land which he had purchased. The uncommon fruits which he reaped from his labours rendered his neighbours jealous of his prosperity. He was accused before a Roman tribunal of witchcraft, but honourably acquitted.――Marcus Bibaculus, a Latin poet of Cremona, who wrote annals in Iambic verse, and was universally celebrated for the wit and humour of his expressions. It is said that Virgil imitated his poetry, and even borrowed some of his lines. Horace, however, has not failed to ridicule his verses. Quintilian, bk. 8, ch. 6, &c.—Horace, bk. 2, satire 5, li. 40.

Furnius, a man accused of adultery with Claudia Pulchra, and condemned, &c. Tacitus, Histories, bk. 4, li. 52.――A friend of Horace, who was consul, and distinguished himself by his elegant historical writings. Bk. 1, satire 10, li. 36.

Aristotle Fuscus, a friend of Horace, as conspicuous for the integrity and propriety of his manners, as for his learning and abilities. The poet addressed his 22nd Ode, bk. 1 & bk. 1, ltr. 10, to him.――Cornelius, a pretor sent by Domitian against the Daci, where he perished. Juvenal, satire 4, li. 112.

Fusia lex, de Comitiis, A.U.C. 527, forbade any business to be transacted at the public assemblies on certain days, though among the fasti.――Another, A.U.C. 690, which ordained that the votes in a public assembly should be given separately.――Caninia, another by Camillus and C. Caninius Galbus, A.U.C. 751, to check the manumission of slaves.

Fusius, a Roman orator. Cicero, bk. 2, On Oratory, ch. 22.――A Roman, killed in Gaul, while he presided there over one of the provinces. Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 7, ch. 3.――A Roman actor, whom Horace ridicules, bk. 2, satire 3, li. 60. He intoxicated himself; and when on the stage he fell asleep whilst he personated Ilione, where he ought to have been roused and moved by the cries of a ghost; but in vain.

G

Gabales, a people of Aquitain. Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 19.

Gabaza, a country of Asia, near Sogdiana. Curtius, bk. 8, ch. 4.

Gabellus, now La Secchia, a river falling in a northern direction into the Po, opposite the Mincius. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 16.

Gabēne and Gabiēne, a country of Persia. Diodorus, bk. 19.

Gabia and Gabina. See: Gabina.

Găbiēnus, a friend of Augustus, beheaded by order of Sextus Pompey. It is maintained that he spoke after death.

Găbii, a city of the Volsci, built by the kings of Alba, but now no longer in existence. It was taken by the artifice of Sextus the son of Tarquin, who gained the confidence of the inhabitants by deserting to them, and pretending that his father had ill-treated him. Romulus and Remus were educated there, as it was the custom at that time to send there the young nobility, and Juno was the chief deity of the place. The inhabitants had a peculiar mode of tucking up their dress, whence Gabinus cinctus. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 773; bk. 7, lis. 612 & 682.—Livy, bk. 5, ch. 46; bk. 6, ch. 29; bk. 8, ch. 9; bk. 10, ch. 7.—Ovid, Fasti, bk. 2, li. 709.—Plutarch, Romulus.

Găbīna, the name of Juno, worshipped at Gabii. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 682.

Găbīnia lex, de Comitiis, by Aulus Gabinius the tribune, A.U.C. 614. It required that in the public assemblies for electing magistrates, the votes should be given by tablets, and not vivâ voce.――Another, for convening daily the senate, from the calends of February to those of March.――Another, de Comitiis, which made it a capital punishment to convene any clandestine assembly, agreeable to the old law of the 12 tables.――Another, de Militiâ, by Aulus Gabinius the tribune, A.U.C. 685. It granted Pompey the power of carrying on the war against the pirates, during three years, and of obliging all kings, governors, and states to supply him with all the necessaries he wanted, over all the Mediterranean sea, and in the maritime provinces, as far as 400 stadia from the sea.――Another, de Usurâ, by Aulus Gabinius the tribune, A.U.C. 685. It ordained that no action should be granted for the recovery of any money borrowed upon small interest, to be lent upon larger. This was a usual practice at Rome, which obtained the name of versuram facere.――Another, against fornication.

Gabiniānus, a rhetorician in the reign of Vespasian.

Găbīnius, a Roman historian.――Aulus, a Roman consul, who made war in Judæa, and re-established tranquillity there. He suffered himself to be bribed, and replaced Ptolemy Auletes on the throne of Egypt. He was accused, at his return, of receiving bribes. Cicero, at the request of Pompey, ably defended him. He was banished, and died about 40 years before Christ, at Salona.――A lieutenant of Antony.――A consul, who behaved with uncommon rudeness to Cicero.

Gades (ium), Gadis (is), and Gadīra, a small island in the Atlantic, on the Spanish coast, 25 miles from the columns of Hercules. It was some time called Tartessus and Erythia, according to Pliny, and is now known by the name of Cadiz. Geryon, whom Hercules killed, fixed his residence there. Hercules, surnamed Gaditanus, had there a celebrated temple, in which all his labours were engraved with excellent workmanship. The inhabitants were called Gaditani, and their women were known for their agility of body, and their incontinency. Horace, bk. 2, ode 2, li. 11.—Statius, bk. 3, Sylvæ, poem 1, li. 183.—Livy, bk. 21, ch. 21; bk. 24, ch. 49; bk. 26, ch. 43.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 23.—Strabo, bk. 3.—Cicero, for Cornelius Balbus.—Justin, bk. 44, ch. 4.—Pausanias, bk. 1, ch. 35.—Ptolemy, bk. 2, ch. 4.—Paterculus, bk. 1, ch. 2.

Gādītānus, a surname of Hercules, from Gades. See: Gades.

Gæsātæ, a people on the Rhone, who assisted the Senones in taking and plundering Rome under Brennus. Strabo, bk. 5.

Gætūlia, a country of Libya, near the Garamantes, which formed part of king Masinissa’s kingdom. The country was the favourite retreat of wild beasts, and is now called Bildulgerid. Sallust, Jugurthine War.—Silius Italicus, bk. 3, li. 287.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 4.

Gætūlĭcus, Cnæus Lentulus, an officer in the age of Tiberius, &c. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 4, ch. 42.――A poet who wrote some epigrams in which he displayed great genius, and more wit, though he often indulged in indelicate expressions.

Gala, father of Masinissa, was king of Numidia.

Galăbrii, a nation near Thrace.

Galactophăgi, a people of Asiatic Scythia. Homer, Iliad, bk. 3.

Galæsus. See: Galesus.

Galanthis, a servant-maid of Alcmena, whose sagacity eased the labours of her mistress. When Juno resolved to retard the birth of Hercules, and hasten the labours of the wife of Sthenelus, she solicited the aid of Lucina; who immediately repaired to the house of Alcmena, and in the form of an old woman, sat near the door with her legs crossed, and her fingers joined. In this posture she uttered some magical words, which served to prolong the labours of Alcmena, and render her state the more miserable. Alcmena had already passed some days in the most excruciating torments, when Galanthis began to suspect the jealousy of Juno; and concluded that the old woman, who continued at the door always in the same unchanged posture, was the instrument of the anger of the goddess. With such suspicions Galanthis ran out of the house, and with a countenance expressive of joy, she informed the old woman that her mistress had just brought forth. Lucina, at the words, rose from her posture, and that instant Alcmena was safely delivered. The uncommon laugh which Galanthis raised upon this, made Lucina suspect that she had been deceived. She seized Galanthis by the hair, and threw her on the ground; and while she attempted to resist, she was changed into a weasel, and condemned to bring forth her young, in the most agonizing pains, by the mouth, by which she had uttered falsehood. This transformation alludes to a vulgar notion among the ancients, who believed this of the weasel, because she carries her young in her mouth, and continually shifts from place to place. The Bœotians paid great veneration to the weasel, which, as they supposed, facilitated the labours of Alcmena. Ælian, De Natura Animalium, bk. 2.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 9, fable 6.

Galăta, a town of Syria.――An island near Sicily.――A town of Sicily.――A mountain of Phocis.

Gălătæ, the inhabitants of Galatia. See: Galatia.

Gălătæa and Galathæa, a sea-nymph, daughter of Nereus and Doris. She was passionately loved by the Cyclops Polyphemus, whom she treated with coolness and disdain; while Acis, a shepherd of Sicily, enjoyed her unbounded affection. The happiness of these two lovers was disturbed by the jealousy of the Cyclops, who crushed his rival to pieces with a piece of a broken rock, while he sat in the bosom of Galatæa. Galatæa was inconsolable for the loss of Acis, and as she could not restore him to life, she changed him into a fountain. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 13, li. 789.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 9, li. 103.――The daughter of a Celtic king, from whom the Gauls were called Galatæ. Ammianus, bk. 15.――A country girl, &c. Virgil, Eclogues, poem 3.

Gălătia, or Gallogræcia, a country of Asia Minor, between Phrygia, the Euxine, Cappadocia, and Bithynia. It received its name from the Gauls, who migrated there under Brennus, some time after the sacking of Rome. Strabo, bk. 12.—Justin, bk. 37, ch. 4.—Livy, bk. 38, chs. 12, 40.—Lucan, bk. 7, li. 540.—Cicero, bk. 6, Letters to Atticus, ltr. 5.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 32.—Ptolemy, bk. 5, ch. 4.――The name of ancient Gaul among the Greeks.

Galaxia, a festival, in which they boiled a mixture of barley, pulse, and milk, called Γαλαξια by the Greeks.

Galba, a surname of the first of the Sulpicii, from the smallness of his stature. The word signifies a small worm, or according to some, it implies, in the language of Gaul, fatness, for which the founder of the Sulpician family was remarkable.――A king among the Gauls, who made war against Julius Cæsar. Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 2, ch. 4.――A brother of the emperor Galba, who killed himself, &c.――A mean buffoon, in the age of Tiberius. Juvenal, satire 5, li. 4.――Servius, a lawyer at Rome, who defended the cause of adulterers with great warmth, as being one of the fraternity. Horace ridicules him, bk. 1, satire 2, li. 46.――Servius Sulpicius, a Roman who rose gradually to the greatest offices of the state, and exercised his power in the provinces with equity and unremitted diligence. He dedicated the greatest part of his time to solitary pursuits, chiefly to avoid the suspicions of Nero. His disapprobation of the emperor’s oppressive command in the provinces, was the cause of new disturbances. Nero ordered him to be put to death, but he escaped from the hands of the executioner, and was publicly saluted emperor. When he was seated on the throne, he suffered himself to be governed by favourites, who exposed to sale the goods of the citizens to gratify their avarice. Exemptions were sold at a high price, and the crime of murder was blotted out, and impunity purchased with a large sum of money. Such irregularities in the emperor’s ministers greatly displeased the people; and when Galba refused to pay the soldiers the money which he had promised them when he was raised to the throne, they assassinated him in the 73rd year of his age, and in the eighth of his reign, and proclaimed Otho emperor in his room, January 16th, A.D. 69. The virtues which had shone so bright in Galba, when a private man, totally disappeared when he ascended the throne; and he who showed himself the most impartial judge, forgot the duties of an emperor, and of a father of his people. Suetonius & Plutarch, Lives.—Tacitus.――A learned man, grandfather to the emperor of the same name. Suetonius, Galba, ch. 4.――Sergius, a celebrated orator before the age of Cicero. He showed his sons to the Roman people, and implored their protection by which means he saved himself from the punishment which either his guilt or the persuasive eloquence of his adversaries, Marcus Cato and Lucius Scribonius, urged as due to him. Cicero, On Oratory, bk. 1, ch. 53; Rhetorica ad Herennium, bk. 4, ch. 5.

Galēnus Claudius, a celebrated physician in the age of Marcus Antoninus and his successors, born at Pergamus, the son of an architect. He applied himself with unremitted labour to the study of philosophy, mathematics, and chiefly of physic. He visited the most learned seminaries of Greece and Egypt; and at last came to Rome, where he soon rendered himself famous by his profession. Many, astonished at his cures, attributed them to magic, and said that he had received all his knowledge from enchantments. He was very intimate with Marcus Aurelius the emperor, after whose death he returned to Pergamus, where he died, in his 90th year, A.D. 193. He wrote no less than 300 volumes, the greatest part of which were burnt in the temple of Peace at Rome, where they had been deposited. Galenus confessed himself greatly indebted to the writings of Hippocrates for his medical knowledge, and bestowed great encomiums upon him. To the diligence, application, and experiments of these two celebrated physicians, the moderns are indebted for many useful discoveries; yet often their opinions are ill-grounded, their conclusions hasty, and their reasoning false. What remains of the works of Galen has been published, without a Latin translation, in 5 vols., folio, Basil. 1538. Galen was likewise edited, together with Hippocrates, by Charterius, 13 vols., folio, Paris, 1679, but very incorrect.

Galeolæ, certain prophets in Sicily. Cicero.

Galeria, one of the Roman tribes.――The wife of Vitellius. Cæsar.—Tacitus, Histories, bk. 2, ch. 60.――Faustina, the wife of the emperor Antoninus Pius.

Gălērius, a native of Dacia, made emperor of Rome by Diocletian. See: Maximianus.

Gălēsus, now Galeso, a river of Calabria, flowing into the bay of Tarentum. The poets have celebrated it for the shady groves in its neighbourhood, and the fine sheep which feed on its fertile banks, and whose fleeces were said to be rendered soft when they bathed in the stream. Martial, bk. 2, ltr. 43; bk. 4, ltr. 28.—Virgil, Georgics, bk. 4, li. 126.—Horace, bk. 2, ode 6, li. 10.――A rich person of Latium, killed as he attempted to make a reconciliation between the Trojans and Rutulians, when Ascanius had killed the favourite stag of Tyrrheus; which was the prelude to all the enmities between the hostile nations. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 335.

Galilæa, a celebrated country of Syria, often mentioned in Scripture.

Galinthiadia, a festival at Thebes, in honour of Galinthias, a daughter of Prœtus. It was celebrated before the festival of Hercules, by whose orders it was first instituted.

Galli, a nation of Europe, naturally fierce, and inclined to war. They were very superstitious, and in their sacrifices they often immolated human victims. In some places they had large statues made with twigs, which they filled with men, and reduced to ashes. They believed themselves descended from Pluto; and from that circumstance they always reckoned their time not by the days, as other nations, but by the nights. Their obsequies were splendid, and not only the most precious things, but even slaves and oxen, were burnt on the funeral pile. Children, among them, never appeared in the presence of their fathers, before they were able to bear arms in the defence of their country. Cæsar, Gallic War.—Strabo, bk. 4.—Tacitus. See: Gallia.――The priests of Cybele, who received that name from the river Gallus, in Phrygia, where they celebrated the festivals. They mutilated themselves, before they were admitted to the priesthood, in imitation of Atys the favourite of Cybele. See: Atys. The chief among them was called Archigallus, who in his dress resembled a woman, and carried suspended to his neck a large collar, with two representations of the head of Atys. See: Corybantes, Dactyli, &c. Diodorus, bk. 4.—Ovid, Fasti, bk. 4, li. 36.—Lucan, bk. 1, li. 466.—Lucian, de Deâ Syriâ.

Gallia, a large country of Europe, called Galatia by the Greeks. The inhabitants were called Galli, Celtiberi, and Celtoscythæ, by themselves Celtæ, by the Greeks Galatæ. Ancient Gaul was divided into four different parts by the Romans, called Gallia Belgica, Narbonensis, Aquitania, and Celtica. Gallia Belgia was the largest province, bounded by Germany, Gallia Narbonensis, and the German ocean; and contained the modern country of Alsace, Lorraine, Picardy with part of the Low Countries, and of Champagne, and of the isle of France. Gallia Narbonensis, which contained the provinces now called Languedoc, Provence, Dauphinè, Savoy, was bounded by the Alps and Pyrenean mountains, by Aquitania, Belgium, and the Mediterranean. Aquitania Gallia, now called the provinces of Poitou, Santonge, Guienne, Berry, Perigord, Quercy, Limosin, Gascony, Auvergne, &c., was situate between the Garumna, the Pyrenean mountains, and the ocean. Gallia Celtica, or Lugdunensis, was bounded by Belgium, Gallia Narbonensis, the Alps, and the ocean. It contained the country at present known by the name of Lyonnais, Touraine, Franche Comté, Senenois, Switzerland, and part of Normandy. Besides these great divisions, there is often mention made of Gallia Cisalpina, or Citerior; Transalpina, or Ulterior, which refers to that part of Italy which was conquered by some of the Gauls who crossed the Alps. By Gallia Cisalpina, the Romans understood that part of Gaul which lies in Italy; and by Transalpina, that which lies beyond the Alps, in regard only to the inhabitants of Rome. Gallia Cispadana, and Transpadana, is applied to a part of Italy, conquered by some of the Gauls, and then it means the country on this side of the Po, or beyond the Po, with respect to Rome. By Gallia Togata, the Romans understood Cisalpine Gaul, where the Roman gowns, togæ, were usually worn, as the inhabitants had been admitted to the rank of citizenship at Rome. Gallia Narbonensis was called Braccata, on account of the peculiar covering of the inhabitants for their thighs. The epithet of Comata is applied to Gallia Celtica, because the people suffered their hair to grow to an uncommon length. The inhabitants were great warriors; and their valour overcame the Roman armies, took the city of Rome, and invaded Greece, in different ages. They spread themselves over the greatest part of the world. They were very superstitious in their religious ceremonies, and revered the sacerdotal order as if they had been gods. See: Druidæ. They long maintained a bloody war against the Romans; and Cæsar resided 10 years in their country before he could totally subdue them. Cæsar, Gallic War.—Pausanias, bk. 7, ch. 6.—Strabo, bk. 5, &c.

Gallicānus mons, a mountain of Campania.

Gallĭcus ager, was applied to the country between Picenum and Ariminum, whence the Galli Senones were banished, and which was divided among the Roman citizens. Livy, bk. 23, ch. 14; bk. 39, ch. 44.—Cicero, Against Catiline, bk. 2.—Cæsar, Civil War, bk. 1, ch. 29.――Sinus, a part of the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaul, now called the gulf of Lyons.

Galliēnus Publius Lucinius, a son of the emperor Valerian. He reigned conjointly with his father for seven years, and ascended the throne as sole emperor, A.D. 260. In his youth he showed his activity and military character, in an expedition against the Germans and Sarmatæ; but when he came to the purple, he delivered himself up to pleasure and indolence. His time was spent in the greatest debauchery; and he indulged himself in the grossest and most lascivious manner, and his palace displayed a scene, at once of effeminacy and shame, voluptuousness and immorality. He often appeared with his hair powdered with golden dust; and enjoyed tranquillity at home, while his provinces abroad were torn by civil quarrels and seditions. He heard of the loss of a rich province, and of the execution of a malefactor, with the same indifference; and when he was apprised that Egypt had revolted, he only observed, that he could live without the produce of Egypt. He was of a disposition naturally inclined to raillery and the ridicule of others. When his wife had been deceived by a jeweller, Gallienus ordered the malefactor to be placed in the circus, in expectation of being exposed to the ferocity of a lion. While the wretch trembled at the expectation of instant death, the executioner, by order of the emperor, let loose a capon upon him. An uncommon laugh was raised upon this, and the emperor observed, that he who had deceived others should expect to be deceived himself. In the midst of these ridiculous diversions, Gallienus was alarmed by the revolt of two of his officers, who had assumed the imperial purple. This intelligence roused him from his lethargy; he marched against his antagonists, and put all the rebels to the sword, without showing the least favour either to rank, sex, or age. These cruelties irritated the people and the army; emperors were elected, and no less than 30 tyrants aspired to the imperial purple. Gallienus resolved boldly to oppose his adversaries; but in the midst of his preparations he was assassinated at Milan by some of his officers, in the 50th year of his age, A.D. 268.

Gallinaria sylva, a wood near Cumæ in Italy, famous as being the retreat of robbers. Juvenal, satire 3, li. 307.

Gallipŏlis, a fortified town of the Salentines, on the Ionian sea.

Gallogræcia, a country of Asia Minor, near Bithynia and Cappadocia. It was inhabited by a colony of Gauls, who assumed the name of Gallogræci, because a number of Greeks had accompanied them in their emigration. Strabo, bk. 2.

Caius Gallōnius, a Roman knight appointed over Gades, &c.

P. Gallōnius, a luxurious Roman, who, as was observed, never dined well, because he was never hungry. Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, bk. 2, chs. 8 & 28.

Gallus. See: Alectryon.――A general of Otho, &c. Plutarch.――A lieutenant of Sylla.――An officer of Marcus Antony, &c.――Caius, a friend of the great Africanus, famous for his knowledge of astronomy, and his exact calculation of eclipses. Cicero, de Senectute.――Ælius, the third governor of Egypt in the age of Augustus.――Cornelius, a Roman knight, who rendered himself famous by his poetical, as well as military talents. He was passionately fond of the slave Lycoris, or Cytheris, and celebrated her beauty in his poetry. She proved ungrateful, and forsook him to follow Marcus Antony, which gave occasion to Virgil to write his tenth eclogue. Gallus, as well as the other poets of his age, was in the favour of Augustus, by whom he was appointed over Egypt. He became forgetful of the favours he received; he pillaged the province, and even conspired against his benefactor, according to some accounts, for which he was banished by the emperor. This disgrace operated so powerfully upon him, that he killed himself in despair, A.D. 26. Some few fragments remain of his poetry, and it seems that he particularly excelled in elegiac compositions. It is said that Virgil wrote a eulogium on his poetical friend, and inserted it at the end of his Georgics; but that he totally suppressed it, for fear of offending his imperial patron, of whose favours Gallus had shown himself so undeserving, and instead of that he substituted the beautiful episode about Aristæus and Eurydice. This eulogium, according to some, was suppressed at the particular desire of Augustus. Quintilian, bk. 10, ch. 8.—Virgil, Eclogues, poems 6 & 10.—Ovid, Ars Amatoria, bk. 3, poem 15, li. 29.――Vibius Gallus, a celebrated orator of Gaul in the age of Augustus, of whose orations Seneca has preserved some fragments.――A Roman who assassinated Decius the emperor, and raised himself to the throne. He showed himself indolent and cruel, and beheld with the greatest indifference the revolt of his provinces, and the invasion of his empire, by the barbarians. He was at last assassinated by his soldiers, A.D. 253.――Flavius Claudius Constantinus, a brother of the emperor Julian, raised to the imperial throne under the title of Cæsar, by Constantius his relation. He conspired against his benefactor, and was publicly condemned to be beheaded, A.D. 354.――A small river of Phrygia, whose waters were said to be very efficacious, if drunk in moderation, in curing madness. Pliny, bk. 32, ch. 2.—Ovid, Fasti, bk. 4, li. 361.

Gamaxus, an Indian prince, brought in chains before Alexander for revolting.

Gamelia, a surname of Juno, as Gamelius was of Jupiter, on account of their presiding over marriages.――A festival privately observed at three different times. The first was the celebration of a marriage, the second was in commemoration of a birthday, and the third was an anniversary of the death of a person. As it was observed generally on the 1st of January, marriages on that day were considered as of a good omen, and the month was called Gemelion among the Athenians. Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, bk. 2, ch. 31.

Gandarītæ, an Indian nation.

Gangama, a place near the Palus Mæotis.

Gangrărĭdæ, a people near the mouths of the Ganges. They were so powerful that Alexander did not dare to attack them. Some attributed this to the weariness and indolence of his troops. They were placed by Valer. Flaccus among the deserts of Scythia. Justin, bk. 12, ch. 8.—Curtius, bk. 9, ch. 2.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 27.—Flaccus, bk. 6, li. 67.

Ganges, a large river of India, falling into the Indian ocean, said by Lucan to be the boundary of Alexander’s victories in the east. It inundates the adjacent country in the summer. Like other rivers, it was held in the greatest veneration by the inhabitants, and this superstition is said to exist still in some particular instances. The Ganges is now discovered to rise in the mountains of Thibet, and to run upwards of 2000 miles before it reaches the sea, receiving in its course the tribute of several rivers, 11 of which are superior to the Thames, and often equal to the great body of the waters of the Rhine. Lucan, bk. 3, li. 230.—Strabo, bk. 5.—Pliny, bk. 6, ch. 87.—Curtius, bk. 8, ch. 9.—Mela, bk. 3, ch. 7.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 9, li. 31.

Gannascus, an ally of Rome, put to death by Corbulo the Roman general, &c. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 11, ch. 18.

Găny̆mēde, a goddess, better known by the name of Hebe. She was worshipped under this name in a temple at Phlius in Peloponnesus. Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 13.

Găny̆mēdes, a beautiful youth of Phrygia, son of Tros, and brother to Ilus and Assaracus. According to Lucan, he was son of Dardanus. He was taken up to heaven by Jupiter as he was hunting, or rather tending his father’s flocks on mount Ida, and he became the cup-bearer of the gods in the place of Hebe. Some say that he was carried away by an eagle, to satisfy the shameful and unnatural desires of Jupiter. He is generally represented sitting on the back of a flying eagle in the air. Pausanias, bk. 5, ch. 24.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 28, li. 231.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 5, li. 252.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 10, li. 155.—Horace, bk. 4, ode 4.

Garætĭcum, a town of Africa.

Gărămantes (singular, Garamas), a people in the interior parts of Africa, now called the deserts of Zara. They lived in common, and acknowledged as their own only such children as resembled them, and scarce clothed themselves, on account of the warmth of their climate. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 4, li. 198; bk. 6, li. 795.—Lucan, bk. 4, li. 334.—Strabo, bk. 2.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 8.—Silius Italicus, bk. 1, li. 142; bk. 11, li. 181.

Gărămantis, a nymph who became mother of Iarbas, Phileus, and Pilumnus by Jupiter. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 4, li. 198.

Gărămas, a king of Libya, whose daughter was mother of Ammon by Jupiter.

Gărătas, a river of Arcadia, near Tegea, on the banks of which Pan had a temple. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 44.

Gareătæ, a people of Arcadia. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 45.

Gareathyra, a town of Cappadocia. Strabo, bk. 12.

Gargānus, now St. Angelo, a lofty mountain of Apulia, which advances in the form of a promontory into the Adriatic sea. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 11, li. 257.—Lucan, bk. 5, li. 880.

Gargăphia, a valley near Platæa, with a fountain of the same name, where Actæon was torn to pieces by his dogs. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 3, li. 156.

Gargăris, a king of the Curetes, who first found the manner of collecting honey. He had a son by his daughter, whom he attempted in vain to destroy. He made him his successor. Justin, bk. 44, ch. 44.

Gargărus (plural, a, orum), a town and mountain of Troas, near mount Ida, famous for its fertility. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 1, li. 103.—Macrobius, bk. 5, ch. 20.—Strabo, bk. 13.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 30.

Gargettus, a village of Attica, the birthplace of Epicurus. Cicero, Letters to his Friends, bk. 15, ltr. 16.

Gargĭlius Martialis, an historian.――A celebrated hunter. Horace, bk. 1, ltr. 6, li. 57.

Gargittius, a dog which kept Geryon’s flocks. He was killed by Hercules.

Garĭtes, a people of Aquitain, in Gaul.

Garumna, a river of Gaul, now called Garonne, rising in the Pyrenean mountains, and separating Gallia Celtica from Aquitania. It falls into the bay of Biscay, and has, by the persevering labours of ♦Louis XIV., a communication with the Mediterranean by the canal of Languedoc, carried upwards of 100 miles through hills, and over valleys. Mela, bk. 3, ch. 2.

Gastron, a general of Lacedæmon, &c. Polybius, bk. 2.

Gatheæ, a town of Arcadia. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 34.

Gatheatas, a river of Arcadia. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 34.

Gaugramēla, a village near Arbela, beyond the Tigris, where Alexander obtained his third victory over Darius. Curtius, bk. 4, ch. 9.—Strabo, bks. 2 & 16.

Gaulus and Gauleon, an island in the Mediterranean sea, opposite Libya. It produces no venomous creatures. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 8.

Gaurus, a mountain of Campania, famous for its wines. Lucan, bk. 2, li. 667.—Silius Italicus, bk. 12, li. 160.—Statius, bk. 3, Sylvæ, poem 5, li. 99.

Gaus and Gaos, a man who followed the interest of Artaxerxes, from whom he revolted, and by whom he was put to death. Diodorus, bk. 15.

Gaza, a famous town of Palestine, once well fortified, as being the frontier place on the confines of Egypt. Alexander took it after a siege of two months. Diodorus, bk. 17.

Gebenna, a town and mountain of Gaul. Lucan, bk. 1, li. 435.

Gēdrōsia, a barren province of Persia near India. Strabo, bk. 2.

Gegănii, a family of Alba, part of which migrated to Rome, under Romulus. One of the daughters, called Gegania, was the first of the vestals created by Numa. Plutarch, Numa.

Gĕla, a town on the southern parts of Sicily, about 10 miles from the sea, according to Ptolemy, which received its name from a small river in the neighbourhood, called Gelas. It was built by a Rhodian and Cretan colony, 713 years before the christian era. After it had continued in existence 404 years, Phintias tyrant of Agrigentum carried the inhabitants to Phintias, a town in the neighbourhood, which he had founded, and he employed the stones of Gela to beautify his own city. Phintias was also called Gela. The inhabitants were called Gelenses, Geloi, and Gelani. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 702.—Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 46.

Gelānor, a king of Argos, who succeeded his father, and was deprived of his kingdom by Danaus the Egyptian. Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 16. See: Danaus.

Gellia Cornelia lex, de Civitate, by Lucius Gellius and Cnæus Cornelius Lentulus, A.U.C. 682. It enacted that all those who had been presented with the privilege of citizens of Rome by Pompey should remain in the possession of that liberty.

Gellias, a native of Agrigentum, famous for his munificence and his hospitality. Diodorus, bk. 13.—Valerius Maximus, bk. 4, ch. 8.

Gellius, a censor, &c. Plutarch, Pompey.――A consul who defeated a party of Germans, in the interest of Spartacus. Plutarch.

Aulus Gellius, a Roman grammarian in the age of Marcus Antonius, about 130 A.D. He published a work which he called Noctes Atticæ, because he composed it at Athens during the long nights of the winter. It is a collection of incongruous matter, which contains many fragments from the ancient writers, and often serves to explain antique monuments. It was originally composed for the improvement of his children, and abounds with many grammatical remarks. The best editions of Aulus Gellius are that of Gronovius, 4to, Leiden, 1706, and that of Conrad, 2 vols., 8vo, Lipscomb, 1762.

Gelo and Gelon, a son of Dinomenes, who made himself absolute at Syracuse, 491 years before the christian era. He conquered the Carthaginians at Himera, and made his oppression popular by his great equity and moderation. He reigned seven years, and his death was universally lamented at Syracuse. He was called the father of his people, and the patron of liberty, and honoured as a demigod. His brother Hiero succeeded him. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 42.—Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 153, &c.—Diodorus, bk. 11.――A man who attempted to poison Pyrrhus.――A governor of Bœotia.――A son of Hiero the younger. Pausanias, bk. 6, ch. 9.――A general of Phocis, destroyed with his troops by the Thessalians. Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 1.

Geloi, the inhabitants of Gela. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 701.

Gĕlōnes and Gĕlōni, a people of Scythia, inured from their youth to labour and fatigue. They painted themselves to appear more terrible in battle. They were descended from Gelonus, a son of Hercules. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 2, li. 15; Æneid, bk. 8, li. 725,—Mela, bk. 1, ch. 1.—Claudian, Against Rufinus, bk. 1, li. 315.

Gelos, a port of Caira. Mela, bk. 1, ch. 16.

Gemĭni, a sign of the zodiac which represents Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Leda.

Gemĭnius, a Roman, who acquainted Marcus Antony with the situation of his affairs at Rome, &c.――An inveterate enemy of Marius. He seized the person of Marius, and carried him to Minturnæ. Plutarch, Caius Marius.――A friend of Pompey, from whom he received a favourite mistress called Flora. Plutarch.

Gemĭnus, an astronomer and mathematician of Rhodes, B.C. 77.

Gemoniæ, a place at Rome where the carcases of criminals were thrown. Suetonius, Tiberius, chs. 53 & 61.—Tacitus, Histories, bk. 3, ch. 74.

Genābum, a town of Gaul, now Orleans, on the Loire. Cæsar, Civil War, bk. 7, ch. 3.—Lucan, bk. 1, li. 440.

Genauni, a people of Vindelicia. Horace, bk. 4, ode 14, li. 10.

Gēnēva, an ancient, populous, and well-fortified city in the country of the Allobroges on the lake Lemanus, now of Geneva.

Genīsus, a man of Cyzicus, killed by the Argonauts, &c. Flaccus, bk. 3, li. 45.

Genius, a spirit or dæmon, which, according to the ancients, presided over the birth and life of every man. See: Dæmon.

Gensĕric, a famous Vandal prince, who passed from Spain to Africa, where he took Carthage. He laid the foundation of the Vandal kingdom in Africa, and in the course of his military expeditions invaded Italy, and sacked Rome in July, 455.

Gentius, a king of Illyricum, who imprisoned the Roman ambassadors at the request of Perseus king of Macedonia. This offence was highly resented by the Romans, and Gentius was conquered by Anicius, and led in triumph with his family, B.C. 169. Livy, bk. 43, ch. 19, &c.

Genua, now Genoa, a celebrated town of Liguria, which Annibal destroyed. It was rebuilt by the Romans. Livy, bk. 21, ch. 32; bk. 28, ch. 46; bk. 30, ch. 1.

Genūcius, a tribune of the people.――A consul.

Genŭsus, now Semno, a river of Macedonia, falling into the Adriatic above Apollonia. Lucan, bk. 5, li. 462.

Genutia lex, de magistratibus, by Lucius Genutius the tribune, A.U.C. 411. It ordained that no person should exercise the same magistracy within 10 years, or be invested with two offices in one year.

Georgĭca, a poem of Virgil in four books. The first treats of ploughing the ground; the second of sowing it; the third speaks of the management of cattle, &c.; and in the fourth, the poet gives an account of bees, and of the manner of keeping them among the Romans. The word is derived from γεα terra, and ἐργον opus, because it particularly treats or husbandry. The work is dedicated to Mæcenas, the great patron of poetry in the age of Virgil. The author was seven years in writing and polishing it, and in that composition he showed how much he excelled all other writers. He imitated Hesiod, who wrote a poem nearly on the same subject, called Works and Days.

Georgius Pisida. See: Pisida.

Gephȳra, one of the cities of the Seleucidæ in Syria. Strabo, bk. 9.

Gephȳræi, a people of Phœnicia, who passed with Cadmus into Bœotia, and from thence into Attica. Herodotus, bk. 5, ch. 57.

Geræstus, a port of Eubœa. Livy, bk. 31, ch. 45.

Gerānia, a mountain between Megara and Corinth.

Geranthræ, a town of Laconia. Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 2.

Geresticus, a harbour of Teios in Ionia. Livy, bk. 37, ch. 27.

Gergithum, a town near Cumæ in Æolia Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 30.

Gergōvia, a town of Gaul. Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 7, ch. 9.

Gerion, an ancient augur.

Germānia, an extensive country of Europe, at the east of Gaul. Its inhabitants were warlike, fierce, and uncivilized, and always proved a watchful enemy against the Romans. Cæsar first entered their country, but he rather checked their fury than conquered them. His example was followed by his imperial successors or their generals, who sometimes entered the country to chastise the insolence of the inhabitants. The ancient Germans were very superstitious, and, in many instances, their religion was the same as that of their neighbours the Gauls; whence some have concluded that these two nations were of the same origin. They paid uncommon respect to their women, who, as they believed, were endowed with something more than human. They built no temples to their gods, and paid great attention to the heroes and warriors whom the country had produced. Their rude institutions gradually gave rise to the laws and manners which still prevail in the countries of Europe, which their arms invaded or conquered. Tacitus, in whose age even letters were unknown among them, observed their customs with nicety, and has delineated them with the genius of an historian and the reflection of a philosopher. Tacitus, Germania.—Mela, bk. 1, ch. 3; bk. 3, ch. 3.—Cæsar, Gallic War.—Strabo, bk. 4.

Germānĭcus Cæsar, a son of Drusus and Antonia the niece of Augustus. He was adopted by his uncle Tiberius, and raised to the most important offices of the state. When his grandfather Augustus died, he was employed in a war in Germany, and the affection of the soldiers unanimously saluted him emperor. He refused the unseasonable honour, and appeased the tumult which his indifference occasioned. He continued his wars in Germany, and defeated the celebrated Arminius, and was rewarded with a triumph at his return to Rome. Tiberius declared him emperor of the east, and sent him to appease the seditions of the Armenians. But the success of Germanicus in the east was soon looked upon with an envious eye by Tiberius, and his death was meditated. He was secretly poisoned at Daphne near Antioch by Piso, A.D. 19, in the 34th year of his age. The news of his death was received with the greatest grief and the most bitter lamentations, and Tiberius seemed to be the only one who rejoiced in the fall of Germanicus. He had married Agrippina, by whom he had nine children, one of whom, Caligula, disgraced the name of his illustrious father. Germanicus has been commended not only for his military accomplishments, but also for his learning, humanity, and extensive benevolence. In the midst of war, he devoted some moments to study, and he favoured the world with two Greek comedies, some epigrams, and a translation of Aratus in Latin verse. Suetonius.――This name was common in the age of the emperors, not only to those who had obtained victories over the Germans, but even to those who had entered the borders of their country at the head of an army. Domitian applied the name of Germanicus, which he himself had vainly assumed, to the month of September, in honour of himself. Suetonius, Domitian, ch. 13.—Martial, bk. 9, ltr. 2, li. 4.

Germanii, a people of Persia. Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 125.

Geronthræ, a town of Laconia, where a yearly festival, called Geronthræa, was observed in honour of Mars. The god had there a temple with a grove, into which no woman was permitted to enter during the time of the solemnity. Pausanias, Laconia.

♦Gerrhæ, a people of Scythia, in whose country the Borysthenes rises. The kings of Scythia were generally buried in their territories. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 71.

Gersus and Gerrhus, a river of Scythia. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 56.

Gēryon and Gēryŏnes, a celebrated monster, born from the union of Chrysaor with Callirhoe, and represented by the poets as having three bodies and three heads. He lived in the island of Gades, where he kept numerous flocks, which were guarded by a two-headed dog, called Orthos, and by Eurythion. Hercules, by order of Eurystheus, went to Gades and destroyed Geryon, Orthos, and Eurythion, and carried away all his flocks and herds to Tirynthus. Hesiod, Theogony, li. 187.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 661; bk. 8, li. 202.—Silius Italicus, bk. 1, li. 277.—Apollodorus, bk. 2.—Lucretius, bk. 5, li. 28.

Gessătæ, a people of Gallia Togata. Plutarch, Marcellus.

Gessoriăcum, a town of Gaul, now Boulogne, in Picardy.

Gessos, a river of Ionia.

Geta, a man who raised seditions at Rome in Nero’s reign, &c. Tacitus, Histories, bk. 2, ch. 72.――Septimius, a son of the emperor Severus, brother to Caracalla. In the eighth year of his age he was moved with compassion at the fate of some of the partisans of Niger and Albinus, who had been ordered to be executed; and his father, struck with his humanity, retracted his sentence. After his father’s death he reigned at Rome, conjointly with his brother; but Caracalla, who envied his virtues, and was jealous of his popularity, ordered him to be poisoned; and when this could not be effected, he murdered him in the arms of his mother Julia, who, in the attempt of defending the fatal blows from his body, received a wound in her arm from the hand of her son, the 28th of March, A.D. 212. Geta had not reached the 23rd year of his age, and the Romans had reason to lament the death of so virtuous a prince, whilst they groaned under the cruelties and oppression of Caracalla.

Getæ (singular, Getes), a people of European Scythia, near the Daci. Ovid, who was banished in their country, describes them as a savage and warlike nation. The word Geticus is frequently used for Thracian. Ovid, ex Ponto; Tristia, poem 5, li. 111.—Strabo, bk. 7.—Statius, bk. 2, Sylvæ, poem 2, li. 61; bk. 3, poem 1, li. 17.—Lucan, bk. 2, li. 54; bk. 3, li. 95.

Getulia. See: Gætulia.

Gĭgantes, the sons of Cœlus and Terra, who, according to Hesiod, sprang from the blood of the wound which Cœlus received from his son Saturn; whilst Hyginus calls them sons of Tartarus and Terra. They are represented as men of uncommon stature, and with strength proportioned to their gigantic size. Some of them, as Cottus, Briareus, and Gyges, had 50 heads and 100 arms, and serpents instead of legs. They were of a terrible aspect; their hair hung loose about their shoulders, and their beards were suffered to grow untouched. Pallene and its neighbourhood was the place of their residence. The defeat of the Titans, with whom they are often ignorantly confounded, and to whom they were nearly related, incensed them against Jupiter, and they all conspired to dethrone him. The god was alarmed, and called all the deities to assist him against a powerful enemy who made use of rocks, oaks, and burning woods for their weapons, and who had already heaped mount Ossa upon Pelion, to scale with more facility the walls of heaven. At the sight of such dreadful adversaries, the gods fled with the greatest consternation into Egypt, where they assumed the shape of different animals to screen themselves from their pursuers. Jupiter, however, remembered that they were not invincible, provided he called a mortal to his assistance; and by the advice of Pallas, he armed his son Hercules in his cause. With the aid of this celebrated hero, the giants were soon put to flight and defeated. Some were crushed to pieces under mountains, or buried in the sea, and others were flayed alive, or beaten to death with clubs. See: Enceladus, Aloides, Porphyrion, Typhon, Otus, Titanes, &c. The existence of giants has been supported by all the writers of antiquity, and received as an undeniable truth. Homer tells us that Tityus, when extended on the ground, covered nine acres; and that Polyphemus ate two of the companions of Ulysses at once, and walked along the shores of Sicily, leaning on a staff which might have served for the mast of a ship. The Grecian heroes, during the Trojan war, and Turnus in Italy, attacked their enemies by throwing stones, which four men of the succeeding ages would have been unable to move. Plutarch also mentions, in support of the gigantic stature, that Sertorius opened the grave of Antæus in Africa, and found a skeleton which measured six cubits in length. Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 6.—Pausanias, bk. 1, ch. 2, &c.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 1, li. 151.—Plutarch, Sertorius.—Hyginus, fable 28, &c.—Homer, Odyssey, bks. 7 & 10.—Virgil, Georgics, bk. 1, li. 280; Æneid, bk. 6, li. 580.

Gigartum, a town of Phœnicia.

Gigis, one of the female attendants of Parysatis, who was privy to the poisoning of Statira. Plutarch, Artaxerxes.

Gildo, a governor of Africa in the reign of Arcadius. He died A.D. 398.

Gillo, an infamous adulterer in Juvenal’s age. Juvenal, satire 1, li. 40.

Gindanes, a people of Libya, who fed on the leaves of the lotus. Herodotus, bk. 4, ch. 176.

Gindes, a river of Albania, flowing into the Cyrus.――Another of Mesopotamia. Tibullus, bk. 4, poem 1, li. 141.

Ginge. See: Gigis.

Gingūnum, a mountain of Umbria.

Gippius, a Roman who pretended to sleep, that his wife might indulge her adulterous propensities, &c.

Gisco, son of Himilcon the Carthaginian general, was banished from his country by the influence of his enemies. He was afterwards recalled, and empowered by the Carthaginians to punish in what manner he pleased those who had occasioned his banishment. He was satisfied to see them prostrate on the ground and to place his foot on their neck, showing that independence and forgiveness are two of the most brilliant virtues of a great mind. He was made a general soon after, in Sicily, against the Corinthians, about 309 years before the christian era; and by his success and intrepidity he obliged the enemies of his country to sue for peace.

Glădiătōrii ludi, combats originally exhibited on the grave of deceased persons at Rome. They were first introduced at Rome by the Bruti, upon the death of their father, A.U.C. 488. It was supposed that the ghosts of the dead were rendered propitious by human blood; therefore at funerals, it was usual to murder slaves in cool blood. In succeeding ages, it was reckoned less cruel to oblige them to kill one another like men, than to slaughter them like brutes, therefore the barbarity was covered by the specious show of pleasure and voluntary combat. Originally captives, criminals, or disobedient slaves were trained up for combat; but when the diversion became more frequent, and was exhibited on the smallest occasion, to procure esteem and popularity, many of the Roman citizens enlisted themselves among the gladiators, and Nero, at one show, exhibited no less than 400 senators and 600 knights. The people were treated with these combats not only by the great and opulent, but the very priests had their Ludi pontificales, and Ludi sacerdotales. It is supposed that there were no more than three pair of gladiators exhibited by the Bruti. Their numbers, however, increased with the luxury and power of the city; and the gladiators became so formidable, that Spartacus, one of their body, had courage to take up arms, and the success to defeat the Roman armies, only with a train of his fellow-sufferers. The more prudent of the Romans were sensible of the dangers which threatened the state by keeping such a number of desperate men in arms, and therefore many salutary laws were proposed to limit their number, as well as to settle the time in which the show could be exhibited with safety and convenience. Under the emperors, not only senators and knights, but even women engaged among the gladiators, and seemed to forget the inferiority of their sex. When there were to be any shows, hand-bills were circulated to give notice to the people, and to mention the place, number, time, and every circumstance requisite to be known. When they were first brought upon the arena, they walked round the place with great pomp and solemnity, and after that they were matched in equal pairs with great nicety. They first had a skirmish with wooden files, called rudes or arma lusoria. After this the effective weapons, such as swords, daggers, &c., called arma decretoria, were given them, and the signal for the engagement was given by the sound of a trumpet. As they had all previously sworn to fight till death, or suffer death in the most excruciating torments, the fight was bloody and obstinate, and when one signified his submission by surrendering his arms, the victor was not permitted to grant him his life without the leave and approbation of the multitude. This was done by clenching the fingers of both hands between each other, and holding the thumbs upright close together, or by bending back their thumbs. The first of these was called pollicem premere, and signified the wish of the people to spare the life of the conquered. The other sign, called pollicem vertere, signified their disapprobation, and ordered the victor to put his antagonist to death. The victor was generally rewarded with a palm, and other expressive marks of the people’s favour. He was most commonly presented with a pileus and rudis. When one of the combatants received a remarkable wound, the people exclaimed habet, and expressed their exultation by shouts. The combats of gladiators were sometimes different either in weapons or dress, whence they were generally distinguished into the following orders: The secutores were armed with a sword and buckler, to keep off the net of their antagonists, the retiarii. These last endeavoured to throw their net over the head of their antagonist, and in that manner to entangle him, and prevent him from striking. If this did not succeed, they betook themselves to flight. Their dress was a short coat, with a hat tied under the chin with a broad ribbon. They wore a trident in their left hand. The Thraces, originally Thracians, were armed with a falchion, and small round shield. The myrmillones, called also Galli, from their Gallic dress, ♦were much the same as the secutores. They were, like them, armed with a sword, and on the top of the head-piece they wore the figure of a fish embossed, called μορμυρος, whence their name. The Hoplomachi were completely armed from head to foot, as their name implies. The Samnites, armed after the manner of the Samnites, wore a large shield broad at the top, and growing more narrow at the bottom, more conveniently to defend the upper parts of the body. The Essedarii generally fought from the essedum, or chariot used by the ancient Gauls and Britons. The andabatæ, ἀναβαται, fought on horseback, with a helmet that covered and defended their faces and eyes. Hence andabatarum more pugnare, is to fight blindfolded. The meridiani engaged in the afternoon. The postulatitii were men of great skill and experience, and such as were generally produced by the emperors. The fiscales were maintained out of the emperor’s treasury, fiscus. The dimachæri fought with two swords in their hands, whence their name. After these cruel exhibitions had been continued for the amusement of the Roman populace, they were abolished by Constantine the Great, near 600 years after their first institution. They were, however, revived under the reign of Constantius and his two successors, but Honorius for ever put an end to these cruel barbarities.

Glanis, a river of Cumæ,――of Iberia,――of Italy. Silius Italicus, bk. 8, li. 454.

Glanum, a town of Gaul, now St. Remi, in Provence.

Glaphy̆re and Glaphy̆ra, a daughter of Archelaus the high priest of Bellona in Cappadocia, celebrated for her beauty and intrigues. She obtained the kingdom of Cappadocia for her two sons from Marcus Antony, whom she corrupted by defiling the bed of her husband. This amour of Antony with Glaphyra highly displeased his wife Fulvia, who wished Augustus to avenge his infidelity by receiving from her the same favours which Glaphyra received from Antony.――Her granddaughter bore the same name. She was a daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia, and married Alexander, a son of Herod, by whom she had two sons. After the death of Alexander, she married her brother-in-law Archelaus.

Glaphy̆rus, an infamous adulterer. Juvenal, satire 6, li. 77.

Glauce, the wife of Actæus, daughter of Cychræus. Apollodorus.――A daughter of Cretheus, mother of Telamon.――One of the Nereides.――A daughter of Creon, who married Jason. See: Creusa.――One of the Danaides. Apollodorus.

Glaucia, a surname of the Servilian family. Cicero, Orator, ch. 3.

Glaucippe, one of the Danaides. Apollodorus.

Glaucippus, a Greek who wrote a treatise concerning the sacred rites observed at Athens.

Glaucon, a writer of dialogues at Athens. Diogenes Laërtius, Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers.

Glauconŏme, one of the Nereides.

Glaucōpis, a surname of Minerva, from the blueness of her eyes. Homer.—Hesiod.

Glaucus, a son of Hippolchus the son of Bellerophon. He assisted Priam in the Trojan war, and had the simplicity to exchange his golden suit of armour with Diomedes for an iron one, whence came the proverb of Glauci et Diomedis permutatio, to express a foolish purchase. He behaved with much courage, and was killed by Ajax. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 483.—Martial, bk. 9, ltr. 96.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 6.――A fisherman of Anthedon in Bœotia, son of Neptune and Nais, or, according to others, of Polybius the son of Mercury. As he was fishing, he observed that all the fishes which he laid on the grass received fresh vigour as they touched the ground, and immediately escaped from him by leaping into the sea. He attributed the cause of it to the grass, and by tasting it, he found himself suddenly moved with a desire of living in the sea. Upon this he leaped into the water, and was made a sea deity by Oceanus and Tethys, at the request of the gods. After this transformation he became enamoured of the Nereid Scylla, whose ingratitude was severely punished by Circe. See: Scylla. He is represented like the other sea deities, with a long beard, dishevelled hair, and shaggy eyebrows, and with the tail of a fish. He received the gift of prophecy from Apollo, and according to some accounts he was the interpreter of Nereus. He assisted the Argonauts in their expedition, and foretold them that Hercules and the two sons of Leda would one day receive immortal honours. The fable of his metamorphosis has been explained by some authors, who observe that he was an excellent diver, who was devoured by fishes as he was swimming in the sea. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 13, li. 905, &c.—Hyginus, fable 199.—Athenæus, bk. 7.—Apollonius, bk. 1.—Diodorus, bk. 4.—Aristotle, Constitution of Delos.—Pausanias, bk. 9, ch. 22.――A son of Sisyphus king of Corinth, by Merope the daughter of Atlas, born at Potnia, a village of Bœotia. He prevented his mares from having any commerce with the stallions, in the expectation that they would become swifter in running, upon which Venus inspired the mares with such fury, that they tore his body to pieces as he returned from the games which Adrastus had celebrated in honour of his father. He was buried at Potnia. Hyginus, fable 250.—Virgil, Georgics, bk. 3, li. 367.—Apollodorus, bks. 1 & 2.――A son of Minos II. and Pasiphae, who was smothered in a cask of honey. His father, ignorant of his fate, consulted the oracle to know where he was, and received for answer, that the soothsayer who best described him an ox, which was of three different colours among his flocks, would best give him intelligence of his son’s situation. Polyidus was found superior to all the other soothsayers, and was commanded by the king to find the young prince. When he had found him, Minos confined him with the dead body, and told him that he never would restore him his liberty if he did not restore his son to life. Polyidus was struck with the king’s severity, but while he stood in astonishment, a serpent suddenly came towards the body and touched it. Polyidus killed the serpent, and immediately a second came, who seeing the other without motion or signs of life, disappeared, and soon after returned with a certain herb in his mouth. This herb he laid on the body of the dead serpent, which was immediately restored to life. Polyidus, who had attentively considered what passed, seized the herb, and with it he rubbed the body of the dead prince, who was instantly raised to life. Minos received Glaucus with gratitude, but he refused to restore Polyidus to liberty, before he taught his son the art of divination and prophecy. He consented with great reluctance, and when he was at last permitted to return to Argolis his native country, he desired his pupil to spit in his mouth. Glaucus willingly consented, and from that moment he forgot all the knowledge of divination and healing which he had received from the instructions of Polyidus. Hyginus ascribes the recovery of Glaucus to Æsculapius. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 3.—Hyginus, fables 136 & 251, &c.――A son of Epytus, who succeeded his father on the throne of Messenia, about 10 centuries before the Augustan age. He introduced the worship of Jupiter among the Dorians, and was the first who offered sacrifices to Machaon the son of Æsculapius. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 3.――A son of Antenor, killed by Agamemnon. Dictys Cretensis, bk. 4.――An Argonaut, the only one of the crew who was not wounded in a battle against the Tyrrhenians. Athenæus, bk. 7, ch. 12.――A son of Imbrasus, killed by Turnus. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 12, li. 343.――A son of Hippolytus, whose descendants reigned in Ionia.――An athlete of Eubœa. Pausanias, bk. 6, ch. 9.――A son of Priam. Apollodorus, bk. 3.――A physician of Cleopatra. Plutarch, Antonius.――A warrior in the age of Phocion. Plutarch, Phocion.――A physician exposed on a cross, because Hephæstion died while under his care. Plutarch, Alexander.――An artist of Chios. Pausanias.――A Spartan. Pausanias.――A grove of Bœotia. Pausanias.――A bay of Caria, now the gulf of Macri. Pausanias.――An historian of Rhegium in Italy.――A bay and river of Libya,――of Peloponnesus,――of Colchis, falling into the Phasis.

Glautias, a king of Illyricum, who educated Pyrrhus.

Glicon, a physician of Pansa, accused of having poisoned the wound of his patron, &c. Suetonius, Augustus, ch. 11.

Glissas, a town of Bœotia, with a small river in the neighbourhood. Pausanias, bk. 9, ch. 19.

Glycĕra, a beautiful woman, celebrated by Horace, bk. 1, odes 19, 30.――A courtesan of Sicyon, so skilful in making garlands, that some attributed to her the invention of them.――A famous courtesan, whom Harpalus brought from Athens to Babylon.

Gly̆cĕrium, a harlot of Thespis, who presented her countrymen with the painting of Cupid, which Praxiteles had given her.――The mistress of Pamphilus in Terence’s Andria.

Gly̆con, a man remarkable for his strength. Horace, bk. 1, ltr. 1, li. 30.――A physician who attended Pansa, and was accused of poisoning his patron’s wound. Suetonius, Augustus, ch. 11.

Glympes, a town on the borders of the Lacedæmonians and Messenians. Polybius, bk. 4.

Gnatia, a town of Apulia, about 30 miles from Brundusium, badly supplied with water. Horace, bk. 1, satire 5.

Gnidus. See: Cnidus.

Gnossis and Gnossia, an epithet given to Ariadne, because she lived, or was born, at Gnossus. The crown which she received from Bacchus, and which was made a constellation, is called Gnossia Stella. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 1, li. 222.

Gnossus, a famous city of Crete, the residence of king Minos. The name of Gnossia tellus is often applied to the whole island. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 23.—Strabo, bk. 10.—Homer, Odyssey.

Gobanitio, a chief of the Averni, uncle to Vercingetorix. Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 7, ch. 4.

Gobar, a governor of Mesopotamia, who checked the course of the Euphrates, that it might not run rapidly through Babylon. Pliny, bk. 6, ch. 26.

Gobares, a Persian governor, who surrendered to Alexander, &c. Curtius, bk. 5, ch. 31.

Gobryas, a Persian, one of the seven noblemen who conspired against the usurper Smerdis. See: Darius. Herodotus, bk. 3, ch. 70.

Golgi (ōrum), a place of Cyprus, sacred to Venus Golgia and to Cupid. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 5.

Gomphi, a town of Thessaly, near the springs of the Peneus, at the foot of mount Pindus.

Gonātas, one of the Antigoni.

Goniădes, nymphs in the neighbourhood of the river Cytherus. Strabo, bk. 8.

Gonippus and Panormus, two youths of Andania, who disturbed the Lacedæmonians when celebrating the festivals of Pollux. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 27.

Gonni and Gonocondylos, a town of Thessaly at the entrance into Tempe. Livy, bk. 36, ch. 10; bk. 42, ch. 54.—Strabo, bk. 4.

Gonoessa, a town of Troas. Seneca, Troades.

Gonussa, a town of Sicyon. Pausanias.

Gordiæi, mountains in Armenia, where the Tigris rises, supposed to be the Ararat of scripture.

Gordiānus Marcus Antonius Africanus, a son of Metius Marcellus, descended from Trajan by his mother’s side. In the greatest affluence, he cultivated learning, and was an example of piety and virtue. He applied himself to the study of poetry, and composed a poem in 30 books upon the virtues of Titus, Antoninus, and Marcus Aurelius. He was such an advocate for good breeding and politeness, that he never sat down in the presence of his father-in-law Annius Severus, who paid him daily visits, before he was promoted to the pretorship. He was some time after elected consul, and went to take the government of Africa in the capacity of proconsul. After he had attained his 80th year in the greatest splendour and domestic tranquillity, he was roused from his peaceful occupations by the tyrannical reign of the Maximini, and he was proclaimed emperor by the rebellious troops of his province. He long declined to accept the imperial purple, but the threats of immediate death gained his compliance. Maximinus marched against him with the greatest indignation; and Gordian sent his son, with whom he shared the imperial dignity, to oppose the enemy. Young Gordian was killed; and the father, worn out with age, and grown desperate on account of his misfortunes, strangled himself at Carthage, before he had been six weeks at the head of the empire, A.D. 236. He was universally lamented by the army and people.――Marcus Antoninus Africanus, son of Gordianus, was instructed by Serenus Sammoticus, who left him his library, which consisted of 62,000 volumes. His enlightened understanding, and his peaceful disposition, recommended him to the favour of the emperor Heliogabalus. He was made prefect of Rome, and afterwards consul, by the emperor Alexander Severus. He passed into Africa, in the character of lieutenant to his father, who had obtained that province; and seven years after he was elected emperor, in conjunction with him. He marched against the partisans of Maximinus, his antagonist in Mauritania, and was killed in a bloody battle on the 25th of June, A.D. 236, after a reign of about six weeks. He was of an amiable disposition, but he has been justly blamed by his biographers on account of his lascivious propensities, which reduced him to the weakness and infirmities of old age, though he was but in his 46th year at the time of his death.――Marcus Antoninus Pius, grandson to the first Gordian, was but 12 years old when he was honoured with the title of Cæsar. He was proclaimed emperor in the 16th year of his age, and his election was attended with universal marks of approbation. In the 18th year of his age, he married Furia Sabina Tranquilina daughter of Misitheus, a man celebrated for his ♦eloquence and public virtues. Misitheus was entrusted with the most important offices of the state by his son-in-law, and his administration proved how deserving he was of the confidence and affection of his imperial master. He corrected the various abuses which prevailed in the state, and restored the ancient discipline among the soldiers. By his prudence and political sagacity, all the chief towns in the empire were stored with provisions, which could maintain the emperor and a large army during 15 days upon any emergency. Gordian was not less active than his father-in-law; and when Sapor the king of Persia had invaded the Roman provinces in the east, he boldly marched to meet him, and in his way defeated a large body of Goths, in Mœsia. He conquered Sapor, and took many flourishing cities in the east from his adversary. In this success the senate decreed him a triumph, and saluted Misitheus as the guardian of the republic. Gordian was assassinated in the east, A.D. 244, by the means of Philip, who had succeeded to the virtuous Misitheus, and who usurped the sovereign power by murdering a warlike and amiable prince. The senate, sensible of his merit, honoured him with a most splendid funeral on the confines of Persia, and ordered that the descendants of the Gordians should ever be free, at Rome, from all the heavy taxes and burdens of the state. During the reign of Gordianus, there was an uncommon eclipse of the sun, in which the stars appeared in the middle of the day.

Gordium, a town of Phrygia. Justin, bk. 11, ch. 7.—Livy, bk. 38, ch. 18.—Curtius, bk. 3, ch. 1.

Gordius, a Phrygian, who, though originally a peasant, was raised to the throne. During a sedition, the Phrygians consulted the oracle, and were told that all their troubles would cease as soon as they chose for their king the first man they met going to the temple of Jupiter, mounted on a chariot. Gordius was the object of their choice, and he immediately consecrated his chariot in the temple of Jupiter. The knot which tied the yoke to the draught tree, was made in such an artful manner that the ends of the cord could not be perceived. From this circumstance a report was soon spread, that the empire of Asia was promised by the oracle to him that could untie the Gordian knot. Alexander, in his conquest of Asia, passed by Gordium; and as he wished to leave nothing undone which might inspire his soldiers with courage, and make his enemies believe that he was born to conquer Asia, he cut the knot with his sword; and from that circumstance asserted that the oracle was really fulfilled, and that his claims to universal empire were fully justified. Justin, bk. 11, ch. 7.—Curtius, bk. 3, ch. 1.—Arrian, bk. 1.――A tyrant of Corinth. Aristotle.

Gorgāsus, a man who received divine honours at Pheræ in Messenia. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 30.

Gorge, a daughter of Œneus king of Calydon, by Althæa daughter of Thestius. She married Andremon, by whom she had Oxilus, who headed the Heraclidæ when they made an attempt upon Peloponnesus. Her tomb was seen at Amphissa in Locris. Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 38.—Apollodorus, bks. 1 & 2.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 8, li. 542.――One of the Danaides. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 1.

Gorgias, a celebrated sophist and orator, son of Carmantides surnamed Leontinus, because born at Leontium in Sicily. He was sent by his countrymen to solicit the assistance of the Athenians against the Syracusans, and was successful in his embassy. He lived to his 108th year, and died B.C. 400. Only two fragments of his compositions are extant. Pausanias, bk. 6, ch. 17.—Cicero, Orator, ch. 22, &c.; De Senectute, ch. 15; Brutus, ch. 15.—Quintilian, bks. 3 & 12.――An officer of Antiochus Epiphanes.――An Athenian, who wrote an account of all the prostitutes of Athens. Athenæus.――A Macedonian, forced to war with Amyntas, &c. Curtius, bk. 7, ch. 1.

Gorgo, the wife of Leonidas king of Sparta, &c.――The name of the ship which carried Perseus, after he had conquered Medusa.

Gorgŏnes, three celebrated sisters, daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, whose names were Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, all immortal except Medusa. According to the mythologists, their hairs were entwined with serpents, their hands were of brass, their wings of the colour of gold, their body was covered with impenetrable scales, and their teeth were as long as the tusks of a wild boar, and they turned to stones all those on whom they fixed their eyes. Medusa alone had serpents in her hair, according to Ovid, and this proceeded from the resentment of Minerva, in whose temple Medusa had gratified the passion of Neptune, who was enamoured of the beautiful colour of her locks, which the goddess changed into serpents. Æschylus says that they had only one tooth and one eye between them, of which they had the use each in her turn; and accordingly it was at the time that they were exchanging the eye, that Perseus attacked them, and cut off Medusa’s head. According to some authors, Perseus, when he went to the conquest of the Gorgons, was armed with an instrument like a scythe by Mercury, and provided with a looking-glass by Minerva, besides winged shoes, and a helmet of Pluto, which rendered all objects clearly visible and open to the view, while the person who wore it remained totally invisible. With weapons like these, Perseus obtained an easy victory; and after his conquest, returned his arms to the different deities whose favours and assistance he had so recently experienced. The head of Medusa remained in his hands; and after he had finished all his laborious expeditions, he gave it to Minerva, who placed it on her ægis, with which she turned into stones all such as fixed their eyes upon it. It is said, that after the conquest of the Gorgons, Perseus took his flight in the air towards Æthiopia; and that the drops of blood which fell to the ground from Medusa’s head were changed into serpents, which have ever since infested the sandy deserts of Libya. The horse Pegasus also arose from the blood of Medusa, as well as Chrysaor with his golden sword. The residence of the Gorgons was beyond the ocean towards the west, according to Hesiod. Æschylus makes them inhabit the eastern parts of Scythia; and Ovid, as the most received opinion, supports that they lived in the inland parts of Libya, near the lake of Triton, or the gardens of the Hesperides. Diodorus and others explain the fable of the Gorgons, by supposing that they were a warlike race of women near the Amazons, whom Perseus, with the help of a large army, totally destroyed. Hesiod, Theogony & Shield of Heracles.—Apollonius, bk. 4.—Apollodorus, bk. 2, chs. 1 & 4, &c.—Homer, Iliad, bks. 5 & 11.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, &c.—Diodorus, bks. 1 & 4.—Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 20, &c.—Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound, act 4.—Pindar, Pythian, odes 7 & 12; Olympian, poem 3.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 4, li. 618, &c.—Palæphatus, on the Daughters of Phorcys.

Gorgŏnia, a surname of Pallas, because Perseus, armed with her shield, had conquered the Gorgon, who had polluted her temple with Neptune.

Gorgŏnius, a man ridiculed by Horace for his ill smell. Horace, bk. 1, satire 2, li. 27.

Gorgŏphŏne, a daughter of Perseus and Andromeda, who married Perieres king of Messenia, by whom she had Aphareus and Leucippus. After the death of Perieres, she married Œbalus, who made her mother of Icarus and Tyndarus. She is the first whom the mythologists mention as having had a second husband. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 2.—Apollodorus, bk. 1, chs. 2 & 3.――One of the Danaides. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 1.

Gorgŏphŏnus, a son of Electryon and Anaxo. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 4.

Gorgŏphŏra, a surname of Minerva, from her ægis, on which was the head of the Gorgon Medusa. Cicero.

Gorgus, the son of Aristomenes the Messenian. He was married, when young, to a virgin, by his father, who had experienced the greatest kindnesses from her humanity, and had been enabled to conquer seven Cretans who had attempted his life, &c. Pausanias, bk. 4, ch. 19.――A son of Theron tyrant of Agrigentum.――A man whose knowledge of metals proved very serviceable to Alexander, &c.

Gorgythion, a son of Priam, killed by Teucer. Homer, Iliad, bk. 8.

Gortuæ, a people of Eubœa, who fought with the Medes at the battle of Arbela. Curtius, bk. 4, ch. 12.

Gortyn, Gortys, and Gortȳna, an inland town of Crete. It was on the inhabitants of this place that Annibal, to save his money, practised an artifice recorded in Cornelius Nepos, Hannibal, ch. 9.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 12.—Lucan, bk. 6, li. 214; bk. 7, li. 214.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 11, li. 773.

Gortȳnia, a town of Arcadia in Peloponnesus. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 28.

Gotthi, a celebrated nation of Germany, called also Gothones, Gutones, Gythones, and Guttones. They were warriors by profession, as well as all their savage neighbours. They extended their power over all parts of the world, and chiefly directed their arms against the Roman empire. Their first attempt against Rome was on the provinces of Greece, whence they were driven by Constantine. They plundered Rome, under Alaric, one of their most celebrated kings, A.D. 410. From becoming the enemies of the Romans, the Goths gradually became their mercenaries; and as they were powerful and united, they soon dictated to their imperial masters, and introduced disorder, anarchy, and revolutions in the west of Europe. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 2, ch. 2, &c.