A CLASSICAL DICTIONARY, ETC., ETC. (continued 23)

Langia, a river of Peloponnesus, falling into the bay of Corinth.

Langobardi, a warlike nation of Germany, along the Sprhe, called improperly Lombards by some. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 2, ch. 45; Germania, ch. 40.

Langrobriga, a town of Lusitania.

Lanŭvium, a town of Latium, about 16 miles from Rome on the Appian road. Juno had there a celebrated temple, which was frequented by the inhabitants of Italy, and particularly by the Romans, whose consuls on first entering upon office offered sacrifices to the goddess. The statue of the goddess was covered with a goat’s skin, and armed with a buckler and spear, and wore shoes which were turned upwards in the form of a cone. Cicero, For Lucius Murena; de Natura Deorum, bk. 1, ch. 29; For Milo, ch. 10.—Livy, bk. 8, ch. 14.—Silius Italicus, bk. 13, li. 364.

Laobōtas, or Lābotas, a Spartan king, of the family of the Agidæ, who succeeded his father Echestratus, B.C. 1023. During his reign war was declared against Argos, by Sparta. He sat on the throne for 37 years, and was succeeded by Doryssus his son. Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 2.

Lāŏcoon, a son of Priam and Hecuba, or, according to others, of Antenor, or of Capys. As being priest of Apollo, he was commissioned by the Trojans to offer a bullock to Neptune to render him propitious. During the sacrifice two enormous serpents issued from the sea, and attacked Laocoon’s two sons, who stood next to the altar. The father immediately attempted to defend his sons, but the serpents, falling upon him, squeezed him in their complicated wreaths, so that he died in the greatest agonies. This punishment was inflicted upon him for his temerity in dissuading the Trojans to bring into the city the fatal wooden horse which the Greeks had consecrated to Minerva, as also for his impiety in hurling a javelin against the sides of the horse as it entered within the walls. Hyginus attributes this to his marriage against the consent of Apollo, or, according to others, for his polluting the temple by his commerce with his wife Antiope before the statue of the god. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 2, lis. 41 & 201.—Hyginus, fable 135.

Laodămas, a son of Alcinous king of the Phæacians, who offered to wrestle with Ulysses, while at his father’s court. Ulysses, mindful of the hospitality of Alcinous, refused the challenge of Laodamas. Homer, Odyssey, bk. 7, li. 170.――A son of Eteocles king of Thebes. Pausanias, bk. 9, ch. 15.

Lāŏdămīa, a daughter of Acastus and Astydamia, who married Protesilaus, the son of Iphiclus king of a part of Thessaly. The departure of her husband for the Trojan war was the source of grief to her, but when she heard that he had fallen by the hand of Hector, her sorrow was increased. To keep alive the memory of her husband whom she had tenderly loved, she ordered a wooden statue to be made and regularly placed in her bed. This was seen by one of her servants, who informed Iphiclus that his daughter’s bed was daily defiled by an unknown stranger. Iphiclus watched his daughter, and when he found that the intelligence was false, he ordered the wooden image to be burned, in hopes of dissipating his daughter’s grief. He did not succeed. Laodamia threw herself into the flames with the image and perished. This circumstance has given occasion to fabulous traditions related by the poets, which mention that Protesilaus was restored to life, and to Laodamia, for three hours, and that when he was obliged to return to the infernal regions, he persuaded his wife to accompany him. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 447.—Ovid, Heroides, poem 13.—Hyginus, fable 104.—Propertius, bk. 1, poem 19.――A daughter of Bellerophon, by Achemone the daughter of king Iobates. She had a son by Jupiter, called Sarpedon. She dedicated herself to the service of Diana, and hunted with her; but her haughtiness proved fatal to her, and she perished by the arrows of the goddess. Homer, Iliad, bks. 6, 12 & 16.――A daughter of Alexander king of Epirus, by Olympia the daughter of Pyrrhus. She was assassinated in the temple of Diana, where she had fled for safety during a sedition. Her murderer, called Milo, soon after turned his dagger against his own breast and killed himself. Justin, bk. 28, ch. 3.

Lāŏdĭce, a daughter of Priam and Hecuba, who became enamoured of Acamas son of Theseus, when he came with Diomedes from the Greeks to Troy with an embassy to demand the restoration of Helen. She obtained an interview and the gratification of her desires at the house of Philebia, the wife of a governor of a small town of Troas, which the Greek ambassador had visited. She had a son by Acamas, whom she called Munitus. She afterwards married Helicaon, son of Antenor and Telephus king of Mysia. Some call her Astyoche. According to the Greek scholiast of Lycophron, Laodice threw herself down from the top of a tower and was killed, when Troy was sacked by the Greeks. Dictys Cretensis, bk. 1.—Pausanias, bk. 13, ch. 26.—Homer, Iliad, bks. 3 & 6.――One of the Oceanides.――A daughter of Cinyras, by whom Elatus had some children. Apollodorus, bk. 3, ch. 14.――A daughter of Agamemnon, called also Electra. Homer, Iliad, bk. 9.――A sister of Mithridates, who married Ariarathes king of Cappadocia, and afterwards her own brother Mithridates. During the secret absence of Mithridates, she prostituted herself to her servants, in hopes that her husband was dead; but when she saw her expectations frustrated, she attempted to poison Mithridates, for which she was put to death.――A queen of Cappadocia, put to death by her subjects for poisoning five of her children.――A sister and wife of Antiochus II. She put to death Berenice, whom her husband had married. See: Antiochus II. She was murdered by order of Ptolemy Evergetes, B.C. 246.――A daughter of Demetrius, shamefully put to death by Ammonius, the tyrannical minister of the vicious Alexander Bala king of Syria.――A daughter of Seleucus.――The mother of Seleucus. Nine months before she brought forth she dreamt that Apollo had introduced himself into her bed, and had presented her with a precious stone, on which was engraved the figure of an anchor, commanding her to deliver it to her son as soon as born. This dream appeared the more wonderful, when in the morning she discovered in her bed a ring answering the same description. Not only the son that she brought forth, called Seleucus, but also all his successors of the house of the Seleucidæ, had the mark of an anchor upon their thigh. Justin. Appian, Syrian Wars mentions this anchor, though in a different manner.

Lāŏdĭcēa, now Ladik, a city of Asia, on the borders of Caria, Phrygia, and Lydia, celebrated for its commerce, and the fine soft and black wool of its sheep. It was originally called Diospolis, and afterwards Rhoas; and received the name of Laodicea, in honour of Laodice the wife of Antiochus. Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 29.—Strabo, bk. 12.—Mela, bk. 1, ch. 12.—Cicero, bk. 5, Letters to Atticus, ltr. 15, For Flaccus.――Another in Media, destroyed by an earthquake in the age of Nero.――Another in Syria, called by way of distinction Laodicea Cabiosa, or ad Libanum.――Another on the borders of Cœlosyria. Strabo.

Lāŏdĭcēne, a province of Syria, which receives its name from Laodicea, its capital.

Laodŏchus, a son of Antenor, whose form Minerva borrowed to advise Pandarus to break the treaty which subsisted between the Greeks and Trojans. Homer, Iliad, bk. 4.――An attendant of Antilochus.――A son of Priam. Apollodorus, bk. 3, ch. 12.――A son of Apollo and Phthia. Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 7.

Laogōnus, a son of Bias, brother to Dardanus, killed by Achilles at the siege of Troy. Homer, Iliad, bk. 20, li. 461.――A priest of Jupiter, killed by Merion in the Trojan war. Homer, Iliad, bk. 16, li. 604.

Laogŏras, a king of the Dryopes, who accustomed his subjects to become robbers. He plundered the temple of Apollo at Delphi, and was killed by Hercules. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Diodorus, bk. 4.

Laogŏre, a daughter of Cinyras and Metharme daughter of Pygmalion. She died in Egypt. Apollodorus, bk. 3, ch. 14.

Lāŏmĕdon, son of Ilus king of Troy, married Strymon, called by some Placia, or Leucippe, by whom he had Podarces, afterwards known by the name of Priam, and Hesione. He built the walls of Troy, and was assisted by Apollo and Neptune, whom Jupiter had banished from heaven, and condemned to be subservient to the will of Laomedon for one year. When the walls were finished, Laomedon refused to reward the labours of the gods, and soon after his territories were laid waste by the god of the sea, and his subjects were visited by a pestilence sent by Apollo. Sacrifices were offered to the offended divinities, but the calamities of the Trojans increased; and nothing could appease the gods, according to the words of the oracle, but annually to expose to a sea monster a Trojan virgin. Whenever the monster appeared, the marriageable maidens were assembled, and the lot decided which of them was doomed to death for the good of her country. When this calamity had continued for five or six years, the lot fell upon Hesione, Laomedon’s daughter. The king was unwilling to part with a daughter whom he loved with uncommon tenderness, but his refusal would irritate more strongly the wrath of the gods. In the midst of his fears and hesitations, Hercules came and offered to deliver the Trojans from this public calamity, if Laomedon promised to reward him with a number of fine horses. The king consented, but when the monster was destroyed, he refused to fulfil his engagements, and Hercules was obliged to besiege Troy and take it by force of arms. Laomedon was put to death after a reign of 29 years, his daughter Hesione was given in marriage to Telamon, one of the conqueror’s attendants, and Podarces was ransomed by the Trojans, and placed upon his father’s throne. According to Hyginus, the wrath of Neptune and Apollo was kindled against Laomedon, because he refused to offer on their altars, as a sacrifice, all the first-born of his cattle, according to a vow which he had made. Homer, Iliad, bk. 21.—Virgil, Æneid, bks. 2 & 9.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 11, fable 6.—Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 5.—Pausanias, bk. 7, ch. 20.—Horace, bk. 3, ode 3.—Hyginus, fable 89.――A demagogue of Messina in Sicily.――A satrap of Phœnicia, &c. Curtius, bk. 10, ch. 10.――An Athenian, &c. Plutarch.――An Orchomenian. Plutarch.

Laŏmĕdonteus, an epithet applied to the Trojans from their king Laomedon. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 4, li. 542; bk. 7, li. 105; bk. 8, li. 18.

Laŏmĕdontiădæ, a patronymic given to the Trojans from Laomedon their king. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 248.

Laonŏme, the wife of Polyphemus, one of the Argonauts.

Laonŏmēne, a daughter of Thespius, by whom Hercules had two sons, Teles and Menippides, and two daughters, Lysidice and Stendedice. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 7.

Laŏthoe, a daughter of Altes, a king of the Leleges, who married Priam and became mother of Lycaon and Polydorus. Homer, Iliad, bk. 21, li. 85.――One of the daughters of Thespius, mother of Antidus by Hercules. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 7.

Laous, a river of Lacedæmon.

Lapăthus, a city of Cyprus.

Laphria, a surname of Diana at Patræ in Achaia, where she had a temple with a statue of gold and ivory, which represented her in the habit of a huntress. The statue was made by Menechmus and Soidas, two artists of celebrity. This name was given the goddess from Laphrius the son of Delphus, who consecrated the statue to her. There was a festival of the goddess there, called also Laphria, of which Pausanias, bk. 7, ch. 18, gives an account.

Laphystium, a mountain in Bœotia, where Jupiter had a temple, whence he was called Laphystius. It was here that Athamas prepared to immolate Phryxus and Helle, whom Jupiter saved by sending them a golden ram; whence the surname, and the homage paid to the god. Pausanias, bk. 9, ch. 34.

Lapideus, a surname of Jupiter among the Romans.

Lăpĭthæ, a people of Thessaly. See: Lapithus.

Lapĭtho, a city of Cyprus.

Lăpĭthus, a son of Apollo by Stilbe. He was brother to Centaurus, and married Orsinome daughter of Euronymus, by whom he had Phorbas and Periphas. The name of Lapithæ was given to the numerous children of Phorbas and Periphas, or rather to the inhabitants of the country, of which they had obtained the sovereignty. The chief of the Lapithæ assembled to celebrate the nuptials of Pirithous, one of their number, and among them were Theseus, Dryas, Hopleus, Mopsus, Phalerus, Exadius, Prolochus, Titaresius, &c. The Centaurs were also invited to partake the common festivity, and the amusements would have been harmless and innocent, had not one of the intoxicated Centaurs offered violence to Hippodamia the wife of Pirithous. The Lapithæ resented the injury, and the Centaurs supported their companions, upon which the quarrel became universal, and ended in blows and slaughter. Many of the Centaurs were slain, and they at last were obliged to retire. Theseus among the Lapithæ showed himself brave and intrepid in supporting the cause of his friends, and Nestor also was not less active in the protection of chastity and innocence. This quarrel arose from the resentment of Mars, whom Pirithous forgot or neglected to invite among the other gods at the celebration of his nuptials, and therefore the divinity punished the insult by sowing dissension among the festive assembly. See: Centauri. Hesiod has described the battle of the Centaurs and Lapithæ, as also Ovid in a more copious manner. The invention of bits and bridles for horses is attributed to the Lapithæ. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 3, li. 115; Æneid, bk. 6, li. 601; bk. 7, li. 305.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 12, li. 530; bk. 14, li. 670.—Hesiod, Shield of Heracles.—Diodorus, bk. 4.—Pindar, bk. 2, Pythian.—Strabo, bk. 9.—Statius, Thebiad, bk. 7, li. 304.

Lapithæum, a town of Arcadia. Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 20.

Lara, or Laranda, one of the Naiads, daughter of the river Almon in Latium, famous for her beauty and her loquacity, which her parents long endeavoured to correct, but in vain. She revealed to Juno the amours of her husband Jupiter with Juturna, for which the god cut off her tongue, and ordered Mercury to conduct her to the infernal regions. The messenger of the gods fell in love with her by the way, and gratified his passion. Lara became mother of two children, to whom the Romans have paid divine honours, according to the opinion of some, under the name of Lares. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 2, li. 599.

Larentia and Laurentia, a courtesan in the first ages of Rome. See: Acca.

Lăres, gods of inferior power at Rome, who presided over houses and families. They were two in number, sons of Mercury by Lara. See: Lara. In process of time their power was extended not only over houses, but also over the country and the sea, and we find Lares Urbani to preside over the cities, Familiares over houses, Rustici over the country, Compitales over cross-roads, Marini over the sea, Viales over the roads, Patellarii, &c. According to the opinion of some, the worship of the gods Lares, who are supposed to be the same as the manes, arises from the ancient custom among the Romans and other nations of burying their dead in their houses, and from their belief that their spirits continually hovered over their houses, for the protection of the inhabitants. The statues of the Lares resembling monkeys, and covered with the skin of a dog, were placed in a niche behind the doors of the houses, or around the hearths. At the feet of the Lares was the figure of a dog barking, to intimate their care and vigilance. Incense was burnt on their altars, and a sow was also offered on particular days. Their festivals were observed at Rome in the month of May, when their statues were crowned with garlands of flowers, and offerings of fruit presented. The word Lares seems to be derived from the Etruscan word Lars, which signifies conductor, or leader. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 5, li. 129.—Juvenal, satire 8, li. 8.—Plutarch, Quæstiones Romanæ.—Varro, de Lingua Latina, bk. 4, ch. 10.—Horace, bk. 3, ode 23.—Plautus, Aulularia & Cistellaria.

Largra, a well-known prostitute in Juvenal’s age. Juvenal, satire 4, li. 25.

Largus, a Latin poet, who wrote a poem on the arrival of Antenor in Italy, where he built the town of Padua. He composed with ease and elegance. Ovid, ex Ponto, bk. 4, ltr. 16, li. 17.

Larīdes, a son of Daucus or Daunus, who assisted Turnus against Æneas, and had his hand cut off with one blow by Pallas the son of Evander. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 10, li. 391.

Lārīna, a virgin of Italy, who accompanied Camilla in her war against Æneas. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 11, li. 655.

Larīnum, or Lārīna, now Larino, a town of the Frentani on the Tifernus, before it falls into the Adriatic. The inhabitants were called Larinates. Silius Italicus, bk. 15, li. 565.—Cicero, For Aulus Cluentius, chs. 63, 64; Letters to Atticus, ltr. 12; bk. 7, ltr. 13.—Livy, bk. 22, ch. 18; bk. 27, ch. 40.—Cæsar, Civil War, bk. 1, ch. 23.

Larissa, a daughter of Pelasgus, who gave her name to some cities in Greece. Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 23.――A city between Palestine and Egypt, where Pompey was murdered and buried, according to some accounts.――A large city on the banks of the Tigris. It had a small pyramid near it, greatly inferior to those of Egypt.――A city of Asia Minor, on the southern confines of Troas. Strabo, bk. 13.――Another in Æolia, 70 stadia from Cyme. It is surnamed Phriconis by Strabo, by way of distinction. Strabo, bk. 13.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 2, li. 640.――Another near Ephesus.――Another on the borders of the Peneus in Thessaly, also called Cremaste from its situation (Pensilis), the most famous of all the cities of that name. It was here that Acrisius was inadvertently killed by his grandson Perseus. Jupiter had there a famous temple, on account of which he is called Larissæus. The same epithet is also applied to Achilles, who reigned there. It is still extant, and bears the same name. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 2, li. 542.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 2, li. 197.—Lucan, bk. 6.—Livy, bk. 31, ch. 46; bk. 42, ch. 56.――A citadel of Argos, built by Danaus.

Larissæus. See: Larissa.

Larissus, a river of Peloponnesus flowing between Elis and Achaia. Strabo, bk. 8.—Livy, bk. 27, ch. 31.—Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 43.

Larius, a large lake of Cisalpine Gaul, through which the Addua runs in its way into the Po, above Cremona. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 2, li. 159.

Larnos, a small desolate island on the coast of Thrace.

Laronia, a shameless courtesan in Juvenal’s age. Juvenal, satire 2, li. 86.

Lars Tolumnius, a king of the Veientes, conquered by the Romans, and put to death, A.U.C. 329. Livy, bk. 4, chs. 17 & 19.

Titus Lartius Flavius, a consul who appeased a sedition raised by the poorer citizens, and was the first dictator ever chosen at Rome, B.C. 498. He made Spurius Cassius his master of horse. Livy, bk. 2, ch. 18.――Spurius, one of the three Romans who alone withstood the fury of Porsenna’s army at the head of a bridge, while the communication was cutting down behind them. His companions were Cocles and Herminius. See: Cocles. Livy, bk. 2, chs. 10 & 18.—Dionysius of Halicarnassus.—Valerius Maximus, bk. 3, ch. 2.――The name of Lartius has been common to many Romans.

Lartolætani, a people of Spain.

Larvæ, a name given to the wicked spirits and apparitions which, according to the notions of the Romans, issued from their graves in the night and came to terrify the world. As the word larva signifies a mask, whose horrid and uncouth appearance often serves to frighten children, that name has been given to the ghosts or spectres which superstition believes to hover around the graves of the dead. Some call them Lemures. Servius, Commentary on the Aeneid of Vergil, bk. 5, li. 64; bk. 6, li. 152.

Larymna, a town of Bœotia, where Bacchus had a temple and a statue.――Another in Caria. Strabo, bks. 9 & 16.—Mela, bk. 1, ch. 16; bk. 2, ch. 3.

Larysium, a mountain of Laconia. Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 22.

Lassia, an ancient name of Andros.

Lassus, or Lasus, a dithyrambic poet, born at Hermione, in Peloponnesus, about 500 years before Christ, and reckoned among the wise men of Greece by some. He is particularly known by the answer he gave to a man who asked him what could best render life pleasant and comfortable? “Experience.” He was acquainted with music. Some fragments of his poetry are to be found in Athenæus. He wrote an ode upon the Centaurs, and a hymn to Ceres, without inserting the letter S in the composition. Athenæus, bk. 10.

Lasthĕnes, a governor of Olynthus, corrupted by Philip king of Macedonia.――A Cretan demagogue, conquered by Metellus the Roman general.――A cruel minister at the court of the Seleucidæ, kings of Syria.

Lasthĕnīa, a woman who disguised herself to come and hear Plato’s lectures. Diogenes Laërtius.

Latăgus, a king of Pontus, who assisted Æetes against the Argonauts, and was killed by Darapes. Flaccus, bk. 5, li. 584.――One of the companions of Æneas, killed by Mezentius. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 10, li. 697.

Laterānus Plautus, a Roman consul elect, A.D. 65. A conspiracy with Piso against the emperor Nero proved fatal to him. He was led to execution, where he refused to confess the associates of the conspiracy, and did not even frown at the executioner who was as guilty as himself; but when a first blow could not sever his head from his body, he looked at the executioner, and shaking his head, he returned it to the hatchet with the greatest composure, and it was cut off. There exists now a celebrated palace at Rome, which derives its name from its ancient possessors the Laterani.

Latĕrium, the villa of Quintus Cicero at Arpinum, near the Liris. Cicero, Letters to Atticus, bk. 10, ltr. 1; bk. 4, ltr. 7; Letters to his Friends, bk. 3, ltr. 1.—Pliny, bk. 15, ch. 15.

Latiālis, a surname of Jupiter, who was worshipped by the inhabitants of Latium upon mount Albanus at stated times. The festivals, which were first instituted by Tarquin the Proud, lasted 15 days. Livy, bk. 21. See: Feriæ Latinæ.

Latīni, the inhabitants of Latium. See: Latium.

Latīnus Latiaris, a celebrated informer, &c. Tacitus.

Latīnus, a son of Faunus by Marica, king of the Aborigines in Italy, who from him were called Latini. He married Amata, by whom he had a son and a daughter. The son died in his infancy, and the daughter, called Lavinia, was secretly promised in marriage by her mother to Turnus king of the Rutuli, one of her most powerful admirers. The gods opposed this union, and the oracles declared that Lavinia must become the wife of a foreign prince. The arrival of Æneas in Italy seemed favourable to this prediction, and Latinus, by offering his daughter to the foreign prince, and making him his friend and ally, seemed to have fulfilled the commands of the oracle. Turnus, however, disapproved of the conduct of Latinus; he claimed Lavinia as his lawful wife, and prepared to support his cause by arms. Æneas took up arms in his own defence, and Latium was the seat of the war. After mutual losses it was agreed that the quarrel should be decided by the two rivals, and Latinus promised his daughter to the conqueror. Æneas obtained the victory and married Lavinia. Latinus soon after died, and was succeeded by his son-in-law. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 9, &c.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 13, &c.; Fasti, bk. 2, &c.—Dionysius of Halicarnassus, bk. 1, ch. 13.—Livy, bk. 1, ch. 1, &c.—Justin, bk. 43, ch. 1.――A son of Sylvius Æneas, surnamed also Sylvius. He was the fifth king of the Latins, and succeeded his father. He was father to Alba his successor. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, bk. 1, ch. 15.—Livy, bk. 2, ch. 3.――A son of Ulysses and Circe also bore this name.

Lătium, a country of Italy near the river Tiber. It was originally very circumscribed, extending only from the Tiber to Circeii, but afterwards it comprehended the territories of the Volsci, Æqui, Hernici, Ausones, Umbri, and Rutuli. The first inhabitants were called Aborigines, and received the name of Latini, from Latinus their king. According to others the word is derived from lateo, to conceal, because Saturn concealed himself there when flying the resentment of his son Jupiter. Laurentum was the capital of the country in the reign of Latinus, Lavinium under Æneas, and Alba under Ascanius. See: Alba. The Latins, though originally known only among their neighbours, soon rose in consequence when Romulus had founded the city of Rome in their country. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 38; bk. 8, li. 322.—Strabo, bk. 5.—Dionysius of Halicarnassus.—Justin, bk. 20, ch. 1.—Plutarch, Romulus.—Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 12.—Tacitus, bk. 4, Annals, ch. 5.

Latius, a surname of Jupiter at Rome. Statius, bk. 5, Sylvæ, poem 2, li. 392.

Latmus, a mountain of Caria near Miletus. It is famous for the residence of Endymion, whom Diana regularly visited in the night, whence he is often called Latmius Heros. See: Endymion. Mela, bk. 1, ch. 17.—Ovid, Tristia, bk. 2, li. 299; Ars Amatoria, bk. 3, li. 83.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 29.—Strabo, bk. 14.—Cicero, bk. 1, Tusculanæ Disputationes, ch. 28.

Latobius, the god of health among the Corinthians.

Latobrigri, a people of Belgic Gaul.

Latōis, a name of Diana, as being the daughter of Latona.――A country house near Ephesus.

Latomiæ. See: ♦Lautumiæ.

Latōna, a daughter of Cœus the Titan and Phœbe, or, according to Homer, of Saturn. She was admired for her beauty, and celebrated for the favours which she granted to Jupiter. Juno, always jealous of her husband’s amours, made Latona the object of her vengeance, and sent the serpent Python to disturb her peace and persecute her. Latona wandered from place to place in the time of her pregnancy, continually alarmed for fear of Python. She was driven from heaven, and Terra, influenced by Juno, refused to give her a place where she might find rest and bring forth. Neptune, moved with compassion, struck with his trident, and made immovable the island of Delos, which before wandered in the Ægean, and appeared sometimes above, and sometimes below, the surface of the sea. Latona, changed into a quail by Jupiter, came to Delos, where she resumed her original shape, and gave birth to Apollo and Diana, leaning against a palm tree or an olive. Her repose was of short duration. Juno discovered the place of her retreat, and obliged her to fly from Delos. She wandered over the greatest part of the world, and in Caria, where her fatigue compelled her to stop, she was insulted and ridiculed by peasants of whom she asked for water, while they were weeding a marsh. Their refusal and insolence provoked her, and she intreated Jupiter to punish their barbarity. They were all changed into frogs. She was exposed to repeated insults by Niobe, who boasted herself greater than the mother of Apollo and Diana, and ridiculed the presents which the piety of her neighbours had offered to Latona. See: Niobe. Her beauty proved fatal to the giant Tityus, whom Apollo and Diana put to death. See: Tityus. At last Latona, though persecuted and exposed to the resentment of Juno, became a powerful deity, and saw her children receive divine honours. Her worship was generally established where her children received adoration, particularly at Argos, Delos, &c., where she had temples. She had an oracle in Egypt, celebrated for the true, decisive answers which it gave. Diodorus, bk. 5.—Herodotus, bk. 2, ch. 155.—Pausanias, bks. 2 & 3.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 21; Hymns to Aphrodite & Artemis.—Hesiod, Theogony.—Apollodorus, bk. 3, chs. 5 & 10.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 6, li. 160.—Hyginus, fable 140.

Latopŏlis, a city of Egypt. Strabo.

Latous, a name ♦given to Apollo, as son of Latona. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 6, fable 9.

Latreus, one of the Centaurs, who, after killing Halesus, was himself slain by Cæneus. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 12, li. 463.

Laudămia, a daughter of Alexander king of Epirus, and Olympias daughter of Pyrrhus, killed in a temple of Diana, by the enraged populace. Justin, bk. 28, ch. 3.――The wife of Protesilaus. See: Laodamia.

Laudice. See: Laodice.

Laverna, the goddess of thieves and dishonest persons at Rome. She did not only preside over robbers, called from her Laverniones, but she protected such as deceived others, or performed their secret machinations in obscurity and silence. Her worship was very popular, and the Romans raised her an altar near one of the gates of the city, which from that circumstance was called the gate of Laverna. She was generally represented by a head without a body. Horace, bk. 1, ltr. 16, li. 60.—Varro, de Lingua Latina, bk. 4.――A place mentioned by Plutarch, &c.

Lavernium, a temple of Laverna, near Formiæ. Cicero, bk. 7, Letters to Atticus, ltr. 8.

Laufella, a wanton woman, &c. Juvenal, satire 6, li. 319.

Laviana, a province of Armenia Minor.

Lăvīnia, a daughter of king Latinus and Amata. She was betrothed to her relation king Turnus, but because the oracle ordered her father to marry her to a foreign prince, she was given to Æneas after the death of Turnus. See: Latinus. At her husband’s death she was left pregnant, and being fearful of the tyranny of Ascanius her son-in-law, she fled into the woods, where she brought forth a son called Æneas Sylvius. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, bk. 1.—Virgil, Æneid, bks. 6 & 7.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 14, li. 507.—Livy, bk. 1, ch. 1.

Lavīnium, or Lavīnum, a town of Italy, built by Æneas, and called by that name in honour of Lavinia, the founder’s wife. It was the capital of Latium during the reign of Æneas. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 1, li. 262.—Strabo, bk. 5.—Dionysius of Halicarnassus, bk. 1.—Livy, bk. 1, ch. 2.—Justin, bk. 43, ch. 2.

Laura, a place near Alexandria in Egypt.

Laureacum, a town at the confluence of the Ens and the Danube, now Lorch.

Laurentālia, certain festivals celebrated at Rome in honour of Laurentia, on the last day of April and the 23rd of December. They were, in process of time, part of the Saturnalia. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 3, li. 57.

Laurentes agri, the country in the neighbourhood of Laurentum. Tibullus, bk. 2, poem 5, li. 41.

Laurentia. See: Acca.

Laurentīni, the inhabitants of Latium. They received this name from the great number of laurels which grew in the country. King Latinus found one of uncommon largeness and beauty, when he was going to build a temple to Apollo, and the tree was consecrated to the god, and preserved with the most religious ceremonies. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 59.

Laurentius, belonging to Laurentum or Latium. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 10, li. 709.

Laurentum, now Paterno, the capital of the kingdom of Latium in the reign of Latinus. It is on the sea coast, east of the Tiber. See: Laurentini. Strabo, bk. 5.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 4.—Livy, bk. 1, ch. 1.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 171.

Laurion, a place of Attica, where were gold mines, from which the Athenians drew considerable revenues, and with which they built their fleets by the advice of Themistocles. These mines failed before the age of Strabo. Thucydides, bk. 2.—Pausanias, bk. 1, ch. 1.—Strabo, bk. 9.

Lauron, a town of Spain, where Pompey’s son was conquered by Cæsar’s army.

Laus, now Laino, a town on the river of the same name, which forms the southern boundary of Lucania. Strabo, bk. 6.

Laus Pompeia, a town of Italy, founded by a colony sent thither by Pompey.

Lausus, a son of Numitor and brother of Ilia. He was put to death by his uncle Amulius, who usurped his father’s throne. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 4, li. 54.――A son of Mezentius king of the Tyrrhenians, killed by Æneas in the war which his father and Turnus made against the Trojans. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 649; bk. 10, li. 426, &c.

Lautium, a city of Latium.

Lautumiæ, or Latomiæ, a prison at Syracuse, cut out of the solid rock by Dionysius, and now converted into a subterraneous garden filled with numerous shrubs, flourishing in luxuriant variety. Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 5, ch. 27.—Livy, bk. 26, ch. 27; bk. 32, ch. 26.

Leades, a son of Astacus, who killed Eteoclus. Apollodorus.

Lēæi, a nation of Pæonia, near Macedonia.

Leæna, an Athenian harlot. See: Læna.

Leander, a youth of Abydos, famous for his amours with Hero. See: Hero.――A Milesian who wrote an historical commentary upon his country.

Leandre, a daughter of Amyclas, who married Arcas. Apollodorus.

Leandrias, a Lacedæmonian refugee of Thebes, who declared, according to an ancient oracle, that Sparta would lose the superiority over Greece when conquered by the Thebans at Leuctra. Diodorus, bk. 15.

Leanira, a daughter of Amyclas. See: Leandre.

Learchus, a son of Athamas and Ino, crushed to death against a wall by his father, in a fit of madness. See: Athamas. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 6, li. 490.

Lebădēa, now Lioadias, a town of Bœotia, near mount Helicon. It received this name from the mother of Aspledon, and became famous for the oracle and cave of Trophonius. No moles could live there, according to Pliny. Strabo, bk. 9.—Pliny, bk. 16, ch. 36.—Pausanias, bk. 9, ch. 59.

Lebĕdus, or Lebĕdos, a town of Ionia, at the north of Colophon, where festivals were yearly observed in honour of Bacchus, and where Trophonius had a cave and a temple. Lysimachus destroyed it, and carried part of the inhabitants to Ephesus. It had been founded by an Athenian colony, under one of the sons of Codrus. Strabo, bk. 14.—Horace, bk. 1, ltr. 11, li. 7.—Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 142.—Cicero, bk. 1, Divination, ch. 33.

Lebēna, a commercial town of Crete, with a temple sacred to Æsculapius. Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 26.

Lĕbinthos and Lebynthos, an island in the Ægean sea, near Patmos. Strabo, bk. 10.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 8, li. 222.

Lechæum, now Pelago, a port of Corinth in the bay of Corinth. Statius, Thebiad, bk. 2, li. 381.—Livy, bk. 32, ch. 23.

Lectum, a promontory, now cape Baba, separating Troas from Æolia. Livy, bk. 37, ch. 37.

Lecythus, a town of Eubœa.

Leda, a daughter of king Thespius and Eurythemis, who married Tyndarus king of Sparta. She was seen bathing in the river Eurotas by Jupiter, when she was some few days advanced in her pregnancy, and the god, struck with her beauty, resolved to deceive her. He persuaded Venus to change herself into an eagle, while he assumed the form of a swan, and, after this metamorphosis, Jupiter, as if fearful of the tyrannical cruelty of the bird of prey, fled through the air into the arms of Leda, who willingly sheltered the trembling swan from the assaults of his superior enemy. The caresses with which the naked Leda received the swan, enabled Jupiter to avail himself of his situation, and nine months after this adventure, the wife of Tyndarus brought forth two eggs, of one of which sprang Pollux and Helena, and of the other Castor and Clytemnestra. The two former were deemed the offspring of Jupiter, and the others claimed Tyndarus for their father. Some mythologists attributed this amour to Nemesis, and not to Leda; and they further mention, that Leda was entrusted with the education of the children which sprang from the eggs brought forth by Nemesis. See: Helena. To reconcile this diversity of opinions, others maintain that Leda received the name of Nemesis after death. Homer and Hesiod make no mention of the metamorphosis of Jupiter into a swan, whence some have imagined that the fable was unknown to these two ancient poets, and probably invented since their age. Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 8; bk. 3, ch. 10.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 6, li. 109.—Hesiod, bk. 17, li. 55.—Hyginus, fable 77.—Isocrates, Helen.—Homer, Odyssey, bk. 11.—Euripides, Helen.――A famous dancer in the age of Juvenal, satire 6, li. 63.

Ledæa, an epithet given to Hermione, &c., as related to Leda. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 328.

Ledus, now Lez, a river of Gaul, near the modern Montpelier. Mela, bk. 2, ch. 5.

Lĕgio, a corps of soldiers in the Roman armies, whose numbers have been different at different times. The legion under Romulus consisted of 3000 foot and 300 horse, and was soon after augmented to 4000, after the admission of the Sabines into the city. When Annibal was in Italy it consisted of 5000 soldiers, and afterwards it decreased to 4000, or 4500. Marius made it consist of 6200, besides 700 horse. This was the period of its greatness in numbers. Livy speaks of 10, and even 18, legions kept at Rome. During the consular government it was usual to levy and fit up four legions, which were divided between the two consuls. This number was, however, often increased, as time and occasion required. Augustus maintained a standing army of 23 or 25 legions, and this number was seldom diminished. In the reign of Tiberius there were 27 legions, and the peace establishment of Adrian maintained no less than 30 of these formidable brigades. They were distributed over the Roman empire, and their stations were settled and permanent. The peace of Britain was protected by three legions; 16 were stationed on the banks of the Rhine and Danube, viz. two in Lower, and three in Upper Germany; one in Noricum, one in Rhætia, three in Mœsia, four in Pannonia, and two in Dacia. Eight were stationed on the Euphrates, six of which remained in Syria, and two in Cappadocia; while the remote provinces of Egypt, Africa, and Spain were guarded each by a single legion. Besides these the tranquillity of Rome was preserved by 20,000 soldiers, who, under the titles of city cohorts and of pretorian guards, watched over the safety of the monarch and of the capital. The legions were distinguished by different appellations, and generally borrowed their name from the order in which they were first raised, as prima, secunda, tertia, quarta, &c. Besides this distinction, another more expressive was generally added, as from the name of the emperor who embodied them, as Augusta, Claudiana, Galbiana, Flavia, Ulpia, Trajana, Antoniana, &c.; from the provinces or quarters where they were stationed, as Britannica, Cyreniaca, Gallica, &c.; from the provinces which had been subdued by their valour, as Parthica, Scythica, Arabica, Africana, &c.; from the names of the deities whom their generals particularly worshipped, as Minervia, Apollinaris, &c.; or from more trifling accidents, as Martia, Fulminatrix, Rapax, Adjutrix, &c. Each legion was divided into 10 cohorts, each cohort into three manipuli, and every manipulus into two centuries or ordines. The chief commander of the legion was called legatus, lieutenant. The standards borne by the legions were various. In the first ages of Rome a wolf was the standard, in honour of Romulus; after that a hog, because that animal was generally sacrificed at the conclusion of a treaty, and therefore it indicated that war is undertaken for the obtaining of peace. A minotaur was sometimes the standard, to intimate the secrecy with which the general was to act, in commemoration of the labyrinth. Sometimes a horse or boar was used, till the age of Marius, who changed all these for the eagle, being a representation of that bird in silver, holding sometimes a thunderbolt in its claws. The Roman eagle ever after remained in use, though Trajan made use of the dragon.

Leitus, or Letus, a commander of the Bœotians at the siege of Troy. He was saved from the victorious hand of Hector and from death by Idomeneus. Homer, Iliad, bks. 2, 6 & 17.――One of the Argonauts, son of Alector. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 9.

Lelaps, a dog that never failed to seize and conquer whatever animal he was ordered to pursue. It was given to Procris by Diana, and Procris reconciled herself to her husband by presenting him with that valuable present. According to some, Procris had received it from Minos, as a reward for the dangerous wounds of which she had cured him. Hyginus, fable 128.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 7, li. 771.—Pausanias, bk. 9, ch. 19.――One of Actæon’s dogs. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 3, li. 211.

Lĕlĕges (a λεγω, to gather), a wandering people, composed of different unconnected nations. They were originally inhabitants of Caria, and went to the Trojan war with Altes their king. Achilles plundered their country, and obliged them to retire to the neighbourhood of Halicarnassus, where they fixed their habitation. The inhabitants of Laconia and Megara bore this name for some time, from Lelex, one of their kings. Strabo, bks. 7 & 8.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 21, li. 85.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 7; bk. 5, ch. 30.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 8, li. 725.—Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 1.

Lelegeis, a name applied to Miletus, because once possessed by the Leleges. Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 29.

Lelex, an Egyptian, who came with a colony to Megara, where he reigned about 200 years before the Trojan war. His subjects were called from him Leleges, and the place Lelegeia mœnia. Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 1.――A Greek, who was the first king of Laconia in Peloponnesus. His subjects were also called Leleges, and the country where he reigned Lelegia. Pausanias.

Lemanis, a place in Britain, where Cæsar is supposed to have first landed, and therefore placed by some at Lime in Kent.

Lemannus, a lake in the country of the Allobroges, through which the Rhone flows by Geneva. It is now called the lake of Geneva or Lausanne. Lucan, bk. 1, li. 396.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 5.

Lemnos, an island in the Ægean sea between Tenedos, Imbros, and Samothrace. It was sacred to Vulcan, called Lemnius pater, who fell there when kicked down from heaven by Jupiter. See: Vulcanus. It was celebrated for two horrible massacres; that of the Lemnian women murdering their husbands [See: ♦Hypsipyle], and that of the Lemnians, or Pelasgi, in killing all the children they had had by some Athenian women, whom they had carried away to become their wives. These two acts of cruelty have given rise to the proverb of Lemnian actions, which is applied to all barbarous and inhuman deeds. The first inhabitants of Lemnos were the Pelasgi, or rather the Thracians, who were murdered by their wives. After them came the children of the Lemnian widows by the Argonauts, whose descendants were at last expelled by the Pelasgi, about 1100 years before the christian era. Lemnos is about 112 miles in circumference, according to Pliny, who says that it is often shadowed by mount Athos, though at the distance of 87 miles. It has been called ♦Hypsipyle, from queen ♦Hypsipyle. It is famous for a certain kind of earth or chalk, called terra Lemnia or terra sigillata, from the seal or impression which it can bear. As the inhabitants were blacksmiths, the poets have taken occasion to fix the forges of Vulcan in that island, and to consecrate the whole country to his divinity. Lemnos is also celebrated for a labyrinth, which, according to some traditions, surpassed those of Crete and Egypt. Some remains of it were still visible in the age of Pliny. The island of Lemnos, now called Stalimene, was reduced under the power of Athens by Miltiades, and the Carians, who then inhabited it, were obliged to emigrate. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 8, li. 454.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 1, li. 593.—Cornelius Nepos, Miltiades.—Strabo, bks. 1, 2, & 7.—Herodotus, bk. 6, ch. 140.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Apollonius, bk. 1, Argonautica.—Flaccus, bk. 2, li. 78.—Ovid, Ars Amatoria, bk. 3, li. 672.—Statius, bk. 3, Thebiad, li. 274.

Lemovices, a people of Gaul, now Limousin and Limoges. Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 7; ch. 4.

Lemovii, a nation of Germany. Tacitus, Germania.

Lĕmŭres, the manes of the dead. The ancients supposed that the souls after death wandered all over the world, and disturbed the peace of its inhabitants. The good spirits were called Lares familiares, and the evil ones were known by the name of Larvæ, or Lemures. They terrified the good, and continually haunted the wicked and impious; and the Romans had the superstition to celebrate festivals in their honour, called Lemuria, or ♦Lemuralia, in the month of May. They were first instituted by Romulus to appease the manes of his brother Remus, from whom they were called Remuria, and, by corruption, Lemuria. These solemnities continued three nights, during which the temples of the gods were shut and marriages prohibited. It was usual for the people to throw black beans on the graves of the deceased, or to burn them, as the smell was supposed to be insupportable to them. They also muttered magical words, and, by beating kettles and drums, they believed that the ghosts would depart and no longer come to terrify their relations upon earth. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 5, li. 421, &c.—Horace, bk. 2, ltr. 2, li. 209.—Persius, bk. 5, li. 185.

Lĕmūria and Lĕmŭrālia. See: Lemures.

Lenæus, a surname of Bacchus, from ληνος, a wine-press. There was a festival called Lenæa, celebrated in his honour, in which the ceremonies observed at the other festivals of the god chiefly prevailed. There were, besides, poetical contentions, &c. Pausanias.—Virgil, Georgics, bk. 2, li. 4; Æneid, bk. 4, li. 207.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 4, li. 14.――A learned grammarian, ordered by Pompey to translate into Latin some of the physical manuscripts of Mithridates king of Pontus.

Lentŭlus, a celebrated family at Rome, which produced many great men in the commonwealth. The most illustrious were Lucius Cornelius Lentulus, a consul, A.U.C. 427, who dispersed some robbers who infested Umbria.――Batiatus Lentulus, a man who trained up some gladiators at Capua, which escaped from his school.――Cornelius Lentulus, surnamed Sura. He joined in Catiline’s conspiracy, and assisted in corrupting the Allobroges. He was convicted in full senate by Cicero, and put in prison and afterwards executed.――A consul who triumphed over the Samnites.――Cnæus Lentulus, surnamed Gætulicus, was made consul A.D. 26, and was some time after put to death by Tiberius, who was jealous of his great popularity. He wrote a history mentioned by Suetonius, and attempted also poetry.――Lucius Lentulus, a friend of Pompey, put to death in Africa.――Publius Cornelius Lentulus, a pretor, defeated by the rebellious slaves in Sicily.――Lentulus Spinther, a senator, kindly used by Julius Cæsar, &c.――A tribune at the battle of Cannæ.――Publius Lentulus, a friend of Brutus, mentioned by Cicero (On Oratory, bk. 1, ch. 48) as a great and consummate statesman.――Besides these, there are a few others, whose name is only mentioned in history, and whose life was not marked by any uncommon event. The consulship was in the family of the Lentuli in the years of Rome 427, 479, 517, 518, 553, 555, 598, &c. Tacitus, Annals.—Livy.—Florus.—Pliny.—Plutarch.—Eutropius.

Leo, a native of Byzantium, who flourished 350 years before the christian era. His philosophical and political talents endeared him to his countrymen, and he was always sent upon every important occasion as ambassador to Athens, or to the court of Philip king of Macedonia. This monarch, well acquainted with the abilities of Leo, was sensible that his views and claims to Byzantium would never succeed while it was protected by the vigilance of such a patriotic citizen. To remove him he had recourse to artifice and perfidy. A letter was forged, in which Leo made solemn promises of betraying his country to the king of Macedonia for money. This was no sooner known than the people ran enraged to the house of Leo, and the philosopher, to avoid their fury, and without attempting his justification, strangled himself. He had written some treatises upon physic, and also the history of his country, and the wars of Philip in seven books, which have been lost. Plutarch.――A Corinthian at Syracuse, &c.――A king of Sparta.――A son of Eurycrates. Athenæus, bk. 12.—Philostratus.――An emperor of the east, surnamed the Thracian. He reigned 17 years, and died A.D. 474, being succeeded by Leo II. for 10 months, and afterwards by Zeno.

Leocorion, a monument and temple erected by the Athenians to Pasithea, Theope, and Eubele, daughters of Leos, who immolated themselves when an oracle had ordered that, to stop the raging pestilence, some of the blood of the citizens must be shed. Ælian, bk. 12, ch. 28.—Cicero, de Natura Deorum, bk. 3, ch. 19.

Leocrătes, an Athenian general, who flourished B.C. 460, &c. Diodorus, bk. 11.

Leodămas, a son of Eteocles, one of the seven Theban chiefs who defended the city against the Argives. He killed Ægialeus, and was himself killed by Alcmæon.――A son of Hector and Andromache. Dictys Cretensis.

Leodŏcus, one of the Argonauts. Flaccus.

Leogŏras, an Athenian debauchee, who maintained the courtesan Myrrhina.

Leon, a king of Sparta. Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 204.――A town of Sicily, near Syracuse. Livy, bk. 24, ch. 25.

Leona, a courtesan, called also Læna. See: Læna.

Leonătus, one of Alexander’s generals. His father’s name was Eunus. He distinguished himself in Alexander’s conquest of Asia, and once saved the king’s life in a dangerous battle. After the death of Alexander, at the general division of the provinces, he received for his portion that part of Phrygia which borders on the Hellespont. He was empowered by Perdiccas to assist Eumenes in making himself master of the province of Cappadocia, which had been allotted to him. Like the rest of the generals of Alexander, he was ambitious of power and dominion. He aspired to the sovereignty of Macedonia, and secretly communicated to Eumenes the different plans he meant to pursue to execute his designs. He passed from Asia into Europe to assist Antipater against the Athenians, and was killed in a battle which was fought soon after his arrival. Historians have mentioned, as an instance of the luxury of Leonatus, that he employed a number of camels to procure some earth from Egypt to wrestle upon, as, in his opinion, it seemed better calculated for that purpose. Plutarch, Alexander.—Curtius, bk. 3, ch. 12; bk. 6, ch. 8.—Justin, bk. 13, ch. 2.—Diodorus, bk. 18.—Cornelius Nepos, Eumenes.――A Macedonian with Pyrrhus in Italy against the Romans.

Leonĭdas, a celebrated king of Lacedæmon, of the family of the Eurysthenidæ, sent by his countrymen to oppose Xerxes king of Persia, who had invaded Greece with about five millions of souls. He was offered the kingdom of Greece by the enemy, if he would not oppose his views; but Leonidas heard the proposal with indignation, and observed, that he preferred death for his country, to an unjust though extensive dominion over it. Before the engagement Leonidas exhorted his soldiers, and told them all to dine heartily, as they were to sup in the realms of Pluto. The battle was fought at Thermopylæ, and the 300 Spartans who alone had refused to abandon the scene of action, withstood the enemy with such vigour, that they were obliged to retire wearied and conquered during three successive days, till Ephialtes, a Trachinian, had the perfidy to conduct a detachment of Persians by a secret path up the mountains, whence they suddenly fell upon the rear of the Spartans, and crushed them to pieces. Only one escaped of the 300; he returned home, where he was treated with insult and reproaches, for flying ingloriously from a battle in which his brave companions, with their royal leader, had perished. This celebrated battle, which happened 480 years before the christian era, taught the Greeks to despise the number of the Persians, and to rely upon their own strength, and intrepidity. Temples were raised to the fallen hero, and festivals, called Leonidea, yearly celebrated at Sparta, in which free-born youths contended. Leonidas, as he departed for the battle from Lacedæmon, gave no other injunction to his wife but, after his death, to marry a man of virtue and honour, to raise from her children deserving of the name and greatness of her first husband. Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 120, &c.—Cornelius Nepos, Themistocles.—Justin, bk. 2.—Valerius Maximus, bk. 1, ch. 6.—Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 4.—Plutarch, Lycurgus & Cleomenes.――A king of Sparta after Areus II., ♦257 years before Christ. He was driven from his kingdom by Cleombrotus his son-in-law, and afterwards re-established.――A preceptor to Alexander the Great.――A friend of Parmenio, appointed commander, by Alexander, of the soldiers who lamented the death of Parmenio, and who formed a separate cohort. Curtius, bk. 7, ch. 2.――A learned man of Rhodes, greatly commended by Strabo, &c.

Leontium and Leontīni, a town of Sicily, about five miles distant from the sea-shore. It was built by a colony from Chalcis in Eubæa, and was, according to some accounts, once the habitation of the Lætrygones, for which reason the neighbouring fields are often called Læstrygonii campi. The country was extremely fruitful, whence Cicero calls it the grand magazine of Sicily. The wine which it produced was the best of the island. The people of Leontium implored the assistance of the Athenians against the Syracusans, B.C. 427. Thucydides, bk. 6.—Polybius, bk. 7.—Ovid, Fasti, bk. 4, li. 467.—Silius Italicus, bk. 14, li. 126.—Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 5.

Leontium, a celebrated courtesan of Athens, who studied philosophy under Epicurus, and became one of his most renowned pupils. She prostituted herself to the philosopher’s scholars, and even to Epicurus himself, if we believe the reports which were raised by some of his enemies. See: Epicurus. Metrodorus shared her favours in the most unbounded manner, and by him she had a son, to whom Epicurus was so partial, that he recommended him to his executors on his dying bed. Leontium not only professed herself a warm admirer and follower of the doctrines of Epicurus, but she even wrote a book in support of them against Theophrastus. This book was valuable, if we believe the testimony and criticism of Cicero, who praised the purity and elegance of its style, and the truly Attic turn of the expressions. Leontium had also a daughter called Danae, who married Sophron. Cicero, de Natura Deorum, bk. 1, ch. 33.

Leontocephălus, a strongly fortified city of Phrygia. Plutarch.

Leonton, or Leontopŏlis, a town of Egypt where lions were worshipped. Ælian, De Natura Animalium, bk. 12, ch. 7.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 10.

Leontychides. See: Leotychides.

Leos, a son of Orpheus, who immolated his three daughters for the good of Athens. See: Leocorion.

Leosthĕnes, an Athenian general, who, after Alexander’s death, drove Antipater to Thessaly, where he besieged him in the town of Lamia. The success which for a while attended his arms was soon changed by a fatal blow, which he received from a stone thrown by the besieged, B.C. 323. The death of Leosthenes was followed by the total defeat of the Athenian forces. The funeral oration over his body was pronounced at Athens by Hyperides, in the absence of Demosthenes, who had been lately banished for taking a bribe from Harpalus. See: Lamiacum. Diodorus, bks. 17 & 18.—Strabo, bk. 9.――Another general of Athens, condemned on account of the bad success which attended his arms against Peparethos.

Leotychĭdes, a king of Sparta, son of Menares, of the family of the Proclidæ. He was set over the Grecian fleet, and, by his courage and valour, he put an end to the Persian war at the famous battle of Mycale. It is said that he cheered the spirits of his fellow-soldiers at Mycale, who were anxious for their countrymen in Greece, by raising a report that a battle had been fought at Platæa, in which the barbarians had been defeated. This succeeded, and though the information was premature, yet a battle was fought at Platæa, in which the Greeks obtained the victory the same day that the Persian fleet was destroyed at Mycale. Leotychides was accused of a capital crime by the Ephori, and, to avoid the punishment which his guilt seemed to deserve, he fled to the temple of Minerva at Tegea, where he perished, B.C. 469, after a reign of 22 years. He was succeeded by his grandson Archidamus. Pausanias, bk. 3, chs. 7 & 8.—Diodorus, bk. 11.――A son of Agis king of Sparta by Timæa. The legitimacy of his birth was disputed by some, and it was generally believed that he was the son of Alcibiades. He was prevented from ascending the throne of Sparta by Lysander, though Agis had declared him upon his death-bed his lawful son and heir, and Agesilaus was appointed in his place. Cornelius Nepos, Agesilaus.—Plutarch.—Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 8.

Lephyrium, a city of Cilicia.

Lepĭda, a noble woman, accused of attempts to poison her husband, from whom she had been separated for 20 years. She was condemned under Tiberius. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 3, ch. 22.――A woman who married Scipio.――Domitia, a daughter of Drusus and Antonia, great niece to Augustus, and aunt to the emperor Nero. She is described by Tacitus as a common prostitute, infamous in her manners, violent in her temper, and yet celebrated for her beauty. She was put to death by means of her rival Agrippina, Nero’s mother. Tacitus.――A wife of Galba the emperor.――A wife of Cassius, &c.

Lepĭdus Marcus Æmĭlius, a Roman, celebrated as being one of the triumvirs with Augustus and Antony. He was of an illustrious family, and, like the rest of his contemporaries, he was remarkable for his ambition, to which were added a narrowness of mind, and a great deficiency of military abilities. He was sent against Cæsar’s murderers, and some time after, he leagued with Marcus Antony, who had gained the heart of his soldiers by artifice, and that of their commander by his address. When his influence and power among the soldiers had made him one of the triumvirs, he showed his cruelty, like his colleagues, by his proscriptions, and even suffered his own brother to be sacrificed to the dagger of the triumvirate. He received Africa as his portion in the division of the empire; but his indolence soon rendered him despicable in the eyes of his soldiers and of his colleagues; and Augustus, who was well acquainted with the unpopularity of Lepidus, went to his camp and obliged him to resign the power to which he was entitled as being a triumvir. After this degrading event, he sunk into obscurity, and retired, by order of Augustus, to Cerceii, a small town on the coast of Latium, where he ended his days in peace, B.C. 13, and where he was forgotten as soon as out of power. Appian.—Plutarch, Life of Augustus.—Florus, bk. 4, chs. 6 & 7.――A Roman consul, sent to be the guardian of young Ptolemy Epiphanes, whom his father had left to the care of the Roman people. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 2, ch. 67.—Justin, bk. 30, ch. 3.――A son of Julia the granddaughter of Augustus. He was intended by Caius as his successor in the Roman empire. He committed adultery with Agrippina when young. Dio Cassius, bk. 59.――An orator mentioned by Cicero, Brutus.――A censor, A.U.C. 734.

Lepīnus, a mountain of Italy. Columella, bk. 10.

Lepontii, a people at the source of the Rhine. Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 20.

Lepreos, a son of Pyrgeus, who built a town in Elis, which he called after his own name. He laid a wager that he would eat as much as Hercules; upon which he killed an ox and ate it up. He afterwards challenged Hercules to a trial of strength, and was killed. Pausanias, bk. 5, ch. 5.

Leprium, or Lepreos, a town of Elis. Cicero, bk. 6, Letters to Atticus, ltr. 2.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 5.

Leptĭnes, a general of Demetrius, who ordered Cnæus Octavius, one of the Roman ambassadors, to be put to death.――A son of Hermocrates of Syracuse, brother to Dionysius. He was sent by his brother against the Carthaginians, and experienced so much success, that he sunk 50 of their ships. He was afterwards defeated by Mago, and banished by Dionysius. He always continued a faithful friend to the interests of his brother, though naturally an avowed enemy to tyranny and oppression. He was killed in a battle with the Carthaginians. Diodorus, bk. 15.――A famous orator at Athens, who endeavoured to set the people free from oppressive taxes. He was opposed by Demosthenes.――A tyrant of Appollonia in Sicily, who surrendered to Timoleon. Diodorus, bk. 16.

Leptis, the name of two cities of Africa, one of which, called Major, now Lebida, was near the Syrtes, and had been built by a Tyrian or Sidonian colony. The other, called Minor, now Lemta, was about 18 Roman miles from Adrumentum. It paid every day a talent to the republic of Carthage, by way of tribute. Lucan, bk. 2, li. 251.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 19.—Sallust, Jugurthine War, ch. 77.—Mela, bk. 1, ch. 8.—Strabo, bk. 3, li. 256.—Cæsar. Civil Wars, bk. 2, ch. 38.—Cicero, bk. 5, Against Verres, ch. 59.

Leria, an island in the Ægean sea, on the coast of Caria, about 18 miles in circumference, peopled by a Milesian colony. Its inhabitants were very dishonest. Strabo, bk. 10.—Herodotus, bk. 5, ch. 125.

Lerĭna, or Planasia, a small island in the Mediterranean, on the coast of Gaul, at the east of the Rhone. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 1, ch. 3.

Lerna, a country of Argolis, celebrated for a grove and a lake, where, according to the poets, the Danaides threw the heads of their murdered husbands. It was there also that Hercules killed the famous hydra. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 803; bk. 12, li. 517.—Strabo, bk. 8.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 3.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 1, li. 597.—Lucretius, bk. 5.—Statius, Thebiad, bk. 4, li. 638.—Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 15.――There was a festival, called Lernæa, celebrated there in honour of Bacchus, Proserpine, and Ceres. The Argives used to carry fire to this solemnity from a temple upon mount Crathis, dedicated to Diana. Pausanias.

Lero, a small island on the coast of Gaul, called also Lerina.

Leros. See: Leria.

Lesbos, a large island in the Ægean sea, now known by the name of Metelin, 168 miles in circumference. It has been severally called Ægira, Lasia, Æthiope, and Pelasgia, from the Pelasgi, by whom it was first peopled, Macaria, from Macareus who settled in it, and Lesbos, from the son-in-law and successor of Macareus, who bore the same name. The chief towns of Lesbos were Methymna and Mitylene. Lesbos was originally governed by kings, but they were afterwards subjected to the neighbouring powers. The wine which it produced was greatly esteemed by the ancients, and still is in the same repute among the moderns. The Lesbians were celebrated among the ancients for their skill in music, and their women for their beauty; but the general character of the people was so debauched and dissipated, that the epithet of Lesbian was often used to signify debauchery and extravagance. Lesbos has given birth to many illustrious persons, such as Arion, Terpander, &c. The best verses were by way of eminence often called Lesboum carmen, from Alcæus and Sappho, who distinguished themselves for their poetical compositions, and were also natives of the place. Diodorus, bk. 5.—Strabo, bk. 13.—Virgil, Georgics, bk. 2, li. 90.—Horace, bk. 1, ltr. 11.—Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 160.

Lesbus, or Lesbos, a son of Lapithas, grandson of Æolus, who married Methymna daughter of Macareus. He succeeded his father-in-law, and gave his name to the island over which he reigned.

Lesches, a Greek poet of Lesbos, who flourished B.C. 600. Some suppose him to be the author of the little Iliad, of which only few verses remain, quoted by Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 25.

Lestrȳgŏnes. See: Læstrygones.

Letānum, a town of Propontis, built by the Athenians.

Lethæus, a river of Lydia, flowing by Magnesia into the Mæander. Strabo, bk. 10, &c.――Another of Macedonia,――of Crete.

Lēthe, one of the rivers of hell, whose waters the souls of the dead drank after they had been confined for a certain space of time in Tartarus. It had the power of making them forget whatever they had done, seen, or heard before, as the name implies, ληθη, oblivion.――Lethe is a river of Africa, near the Syrtes, which runs under the ground, and some time after rises again, whence the origin of the fable of the Lethean streams of oblivion.――There is also a river of that name in Spain.――Another in Bœotia, whose waters were drunk by those who consulted the oracle of Trophonius. Lucan, bk. 9, li. 355.—Ovid, Tristia, bk. 4, poem 1, li. 47.—Virgil, Georgics, bk. 4, li. 545; Æneid, bk. 6, li. 714.—Silius Italicus, bk. 1, li. 235; bk. 10, li. 555.—Pausanias, bk. 9, ch. 39.—Horace, bk. 4, ode 7, li. 27.

Letus, a mountain of Liguria. Livy, bk. 41, ch. 18.

Levāna, a goddess of Rome, who presided over the action of the person who took up from the ground a newly born child, after it had been placed there by the midwife. This was generally done by the father, and so religiously observed was this ceremony, that the legitimacy of a child could be disputed without it.

Leuca, a town of the Salentines, near a cape of the same name in Italy. Lucan, bk. 5, li. 376.――A town of Ionia,――of Crete,――of Argolis. Strabo, bk. 6, &c.

Leucas, or Leucadia, an island of the Ionian sea, now called St. Maura, near the coast of Epirus, famous for a promontory called Leucate, Leucas, or Leucates, where desponding lovers threw themselves into the sea. Sappho had recourse to this leap to free herself from the violent passion which she entertained for Phaon. The word is derived from λευκος, white, on account of the whiteness of its rocks. Apollo had a temple on the promontory, whence he is often called Leucadius. The island was formerly joined to the continent by a narrow isthmus, which the inhabitants dug through after the Peloponnesian war. Ovid, Heroides, poem 15, li. 171.—Strabo, bk. 6, &c.—Silius Italicus, bk. 15, li. 302.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 274; bk. 8, li. 677.――A town of Phœnicia.

Leucasion, a village of Arcadia. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 25.

Leucaspis, a Lycian, one of the companions of Æneas, drowned in the Tyrrhene sea. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 6, li. 334.

Leucate. See: Leucas.

Leuce, a small island in the Euxine sea, of a triangular form, between the mouths of the Danube and the Borysthenes. According to the poets, the souls of the ancient heroes were placed there as in the Elysian fields, where they enjoyed perpetual felicity, and reaped the repose to which their benevolence to mankind, and their exploits during life, seemed to entitle them. From that circumstance it has often been called the island of the blessed, &c. According to some accounts Achilles celebrated there his nuptials with Iphigenia, or rather Helen, and shared the pleasures of the place with the manes of Ajax, &c. Strabo, bk. 2.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Ammianus, bk. 22.—Quintus Calaber [Smyrnæus], bk. 2, li. 773.――One of the Oceanides whom Pluto carried into his kingdom.

Leuci, a people of Gaul, between the Moselle and the Maese. Their capital is now called Toul. Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 1, ch. 40.――Mountains on the west of Crete, appearing at a distance like white clouds, whence the name.

Leucippe, one of the Oceanides.

Leucippĭdes, the daughters of Leucippus. See: Leucippus.

Leucippus, a celebrated philosopher of Abdera, about 428 years before Christ, disciple to Zeno. He was the first who invented the famous system of atoms and of a vacuum, which was afterwards more fully explained by Democritus and Epicurus. Many of his hypotheses have been adopted by the moderns, with advantage. Diogenes Laërtius has written his life.――A brother of Tyndarus king of Sparta, who married Philodice daughter of Inachus, by whom he had two daughters, Hilaira and Phœbe, known by the patronymic of Leucippides. They were carried away by their cousins Castor and Pollux, as they were going to celebrate their nuptials with Lynceus and Idas. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 4, li. 701.—Apollodorus, bk. 3, ch. 10, &c.—Pausanias, bk. 3, chs. 17 & 26.――A son of Xanthus, descended from Bellerophon. He became deeply enamoured of one of his sisters, and when he was unable to restrain his unnatural passion, he resolved to gratify it. He acquainted his mother with it, and threatened to murder himself if she attempted to oppose his views or remove the object of his affection. The mother, rather than lose a son whom she tenderly loved, cherished his passion, and by her consent her daughter yielded herself to the arms of her brother. Some time after the father resolved to give his daughter in marriage to a Lycian prince. The future husband was informed that the daughter of Xanthus secretly entertained a lover, and he communicated the intelligence to the father. Xanthus upon this secretly watched his daughter, and when Leucippus had introduced himself to her bed, the father, in his eagerness to discover the seducer, occasioned a little noise in the room. The daughter was alarmed, and as she attempted to escape she received a mortal wound from her father, who took her to be the lover. Leucippus came to her assistance, and stabbed his father in the dark, without knowing who he was. This accidental parricide obliged Leucippus to fly from his country. He came to Crete, where the inhabitants refused to give him an asylum, when acquainted with the atrociousness of his crime, and he at last came to Ephesus, where he died in the greatest misery and remorse. Hermesianax referenced by Parthenius, ch. 5.――A son of Œnomaus, who became enamoured of Daphne, and to obtain her confidence disguised himself in a female dress, and attended his mistress as a companion. He gained the affections of Daphne by his obsequiousness and attention, but his artifice at last proved fatal through the influence and jealousy of his rival Apollo; for when Daphne and her attendants were bathing in the Ladon, the sex of Leucippus was discovered, and he perished by the darts of the females. Parthenius, Narrationes Amatoriæ, ch. 15.—Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 20.――A son of Hercules by Marse, one of the daughters of Thespius. Apollodorus, bk. 3, ch. 7.

Leucŏla, a part of Cyprus.

Leucon, a tyrant of Bosphorus, who lived in great intimacy with the Athenians. He was a firm patron of the useful arts, and greatly encouraged commerce. Strabo.—Dio Cassius, bk. 14.――A son of Athamas and Themisto. Pausanias, bk. 6, ch. 22.――A king of Pontus killed by his brother, whose bed he had defiled. Ovid, Ibis, li. 3.――A town of Africa near Cyrene. Herodotus, bk. 4, ch. 160.

Leucōne, a daughter of Aphidas, who gave her name to a fountain of Arcadia. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 44.

Leucōnes, a son of Hercules. Apollodorus.

Leuconoe, a daughter of Lycambes. The Leuconoe to whom Horace addressed his bk. 1, ode 11, seems to be a fictitious name.

Leucopĕtra, a place on the isthmus of Corinth, where the Achæans were defeated by the consul Mummius.――A promontory six miles east from Rhegium in Italy, where the Apennines terminate and sink into the sea.

Leucŏphrys, a temple of Diana, with a city of the same name, near the Mæander. The goddess was represented under the figure of a woman with many breasts, and crowned with victory.――An ancient name of Tenedos. Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 14.—Strabo, bks. 13 & 14.

Leucopŏlis, a town of Caria.

Leucos, a river of Macedonia near Pydna.――A man, &c. See: Idomeneus.

Leucosia, a small island in the Tyrrhene sea. It received its name from one of the companions of Æneas, who was drowned there, or from one of the Sirens, who was thrown there by the sea. Strabo, bk. 5.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 15, li. 708.

Leucosy̆rii, a people of Asia Minor, called afterwards Cappadocians. Strabo, bk. 12.――The same name is given to the inhabitants of Cilicia, where it borders on Cappadocia. Cornelius Nepos, bk. 14, ch. 1.

Leucŏthoe, or Leucothea, the wife of Athamas, changed into a sea deity. See: Ino. She was called Matuta by the Romans, who raised her a temple, where all the people, particularly women, offered vows to their brother’s children. They did not entreat the deity to protect their own children, because Ino had been unfortunate in hers. No female slaves were permitted to enter the temple; or if their curiosity tempted them to transgress this rule, they were beaten away with the greatest severity. To this supplicating for other people’s children, Ovid alludes in these lines, Fasti, bk. 6:

Non tamen hanc pro stirpe suâ pia mater adorat,

Ipsa parum felix visa fuisse parens.

――A daughter of king Orchamus by Eurynome. Apollo became enamoured of her, and to introduce himself to her with greater facility, he assumed the shape and features of her mother. Their happiness was complete, when Clytia, who tenderly loved Apollo, and was jealous of his amours with Leucothoe, discovered the whole intrigue to her father, who ordered his daughter to be buried alive. The lover, unable to save her from death, sprinkled nectar and ambrosia on her tomb, which, penetrating as far as the body, changed it into a beautiful tree, which bears frankincense. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 4, li. 196.――An island in the Tyrrhene sea, near Capreæ.――A fountain of Samos.――A town of Egypt,――of Arabia. Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.――A part of Asia which produces frankincense.

Leuctra, a village of Bœotia, between Platæa and Thespia, famous for the victory which Epaminondas the Theban general obtained over the superior force of Cleombrotus king of Sparta, on the 8th of July, B.C. 371. In this famous battle 4000 Spartans were killed with their king Cleombrotus, and no more than 300 Thebans. From that time the Spartans lost the empire of Greece, which they had obtained for nearly 500 years. Plutarch, Pelopidas & Agesilaus.—Cornelius Nepos, Epaminondas.—Justin, bk. 6, ch. 6.—Xenophon, Hellenica.—Diodorus, bk. 15.—Pausanias, Laconia.—Cicero, de Officiis, bk. 1, ch. 18; Tusculanæ Disputationes, bk. 1, ch. 46; Letters to Atticus, bk. 6, ltr. 1.—Strabo, bk. 9.

Leuctrum, a town of Laconia. Strabo, bk. 8.

Leucus, one of the companions of Ulysses, killed before Troy by Antiphus son of Priam. Homer, Iliad, bk. 4, li. 491.

Leucyanias, a river of Peloponnesus, flowing into the Alpheus. Pausanias, bk. 6, ch. 21.

Levinus. See: Lævinus.

Leutychĭdes, a Lacedæmonian, made king of Sparta on the expulsion of Demaratus. Herodotus, bk. 6, ch. 65, &c. See: Leotychides.

Lexovii, a people of Gaul, at the mouth of the Seine, conquered with great slaughter by a lieutenant of Julius Cæsar. Cæsar, Gallic War.

Libānius, a celebrated sophist of Antioch in the age of the emperor Julian. He was educated at Athens, and opened a school at Antioch, which produced some of the best and most learned of the literary characters of the age. Libanius was naturally vain and arrogant, and he contemptuously refused the offers of the emperor Julian, who wished to purchase his friendship and intimacy by raising him to offices of the highest splendour and affluence in the empire. When Julian had imprisoned the senators of Antioch for their impertinence, Libanius undertook the defence of his fellow-citizens, and paid a visit to the emperor, in which he astonished him by the boldness and independence of his expressions, and the firmness and resolution of his mind. Some of his orations, and above 1600 of his letters, are extant; they discover much affectation and obscurity of style, and we cannot perhaps much regret the loss of writings which afforded nothing but a display of pedantry, and quotations from Homer. Julian submitted his writings to the judgment of Libanius with the greatest confidence, and the sophist freely rejected or approved, and showed that he was more attached to the person than the fortune and greatness of his prince. The time of his death is unknown. The best edition of Libanius seems to be that of Paris, folio, 1606, with a second volume published by Morell, 1627. His epistles have been edited by Wolf, folio, 1738.

Libănus, a high mountain of Syria, famous for its cedars. Strabo, bk. 6.

Libentīna, a surname of Venus, who had a temple at Rome, where the young women used to dedicate the toys and childish amusements of their youth, when arrived at nubile years. Varro, de Lingua Latina, bk. 5, ch. 6.

Līber, a surname of Bacchus, which signifies free. He received this name from his delivering some cities of Bœotia from slavery, or, according to others, because wine, of which he was the patron, delivered mankind from their cares, and made them speak with freedom and unconcern. The word is often used for wine itself. Seneca, de Tranquilitate Animi.

Libĕra, a goddess, the same as Proserpine. Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 4, ch. 48.――A name given to Ariadne by Bacchus, or Liber, when he had married her. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 3, li. 513.

Libĕrālia, festivals yearly celebrated in honour of Bacchus, the 17th of March. Slaves were then permitted to speak with freedom, and everything bore the appearance of independence. They were much the same as the Dionysia of the Greeks. Varro.

Libertas, a goddess of Rome who had a temple on mount Aventine, raised by Tiberius Gracchus, and improved and adorned by Pollio with many elegant statues and brazen columns, and a gallery in which were deposited the public acts of the state. She was represented as a woman in a light dress, holding a rod in one hand and a cap in the other, both signs of independence, as the former was used by the magistrates in the manumission of slaves, and the latter was worn by slaves, who were soon to be set at liberty. Sometimes a cat was placed at her feet, as this animal is very fond of liberty, and impatient when confined. Livy, bk. 24, ch. 16; bk. 25, ch. 7.—Ovid, Tristia, bk. 3, poem 1, li. 72.—Plutarch, Gracchus.—Dio Cassius, bk. 44.

Lībēthra, a fountain of Magnesia in Thessaly, or of Bœotia, according to some, sacred to the muses, who from thence are called Libethrides. Virgil, Eclogues, poem 7, li. 21.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 9.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 3.—Strabo, bks. 9 & 10.

Lībethrĭdes, a name given to the Muses from the fountain Libethra, or from mount Libethrus in Thrace.

Libici, Libecii, or Libri, a people of Gaul who passed into Italy, A.U.C. 364. Livy, bk. 5, ch. 35; bk. 21, ch. 38.—Pliny, bk. 3, ch. 17.—Polybius, bk. 2.

Libĭtīna, a goddess at Rome, who presided over funerals. According to some, she is the same as Venus, or rather Proserpine. Servius Tullius first raised her a temple at Rome, where everything necessary for funerals was exposed to sale, and where the registers of the dead were usually kept. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, bk. 4.—Livy, bk. 40, ch. 19.—Valerius Maximus, bk. 5, ch. 2.—Plutarch, Quæstiones Romanæ.

Libo, a friend of Pompey, who watched over the fleet, &c. Plutarch.――A Roman citizen, &c. Horace, bk. 1, ltr. 19.――A friend of the first triumvirate, who killed himself and was condemned after death.

Libon, a Greek architect who built the famous temple of Jupiter Olympius. He flourished about 450 years before the christian era.

Libophœnīces, the inhabitants of the country near Carthage.

Liburna, a town of Dalmatia.

Liburnia, now Croatia, a country of Illyricum, between Istria and Dalmatia, whence a colony came to settle in Apulia, in Italy. There were at Rome a number of men whom the magistrates employed as public heralds, who were called Liburni, probably from being originally of Liburnian extraction. Some ships of a light construction but with strong beaks were also called Liburnian. Propertius, bk. 2, poem 11, li. 44.—Juvenal, satire 4, li. 75.—Martial, bk. 1, ltr. 50, li. 33.—Horace, bk. 1, ode 37, li. 30; Epode 1, li. 1.—Lucan, bk. 3, li. 534.—Pliny the Younger, bk. 6, ltr. 16.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 3.—Strabo, bk. 7.—Ptolemy, bk. 2, ch. 17.

Liburnĭdes, an island on the coast of Liburnia, in the Adriatic. Strabo, bk. 5.

Liburnum mare, the sea which borders on the coasts of Liburnia.

Liburnus, a mountain of Campania.

Lĭbya, a daughter of Epaphus and ♦Cassiope, who became mother of Agenor and Belus by Neptune. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 1; bk. 3, ch. 1.—Pausanias, bk. 1, ch. 44.――A name given to Africa, one of the three grand divisions of the ancient globe. Libya, properly speaking, is only a part of Africa, bounded on the east by Egypt, and on the west by that part called by the moderns the kingdom of Tripoli. The ancients, according to some traditions mentioned by Herodotus and others, sailed round Africa, by steering westward from the Red sea, and entered the Mediterranean by the columns of Hercules, after a perilous navigation of three years. From the word Libya, are derived the epithets of Libys, Libyssa, Libysis, Libystis, Libycus, Libysticus, Libystinus, Libystæus. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 4, li. 106; bk. 5, li. 37.—Lucan, bk. 4.—Sallust, &c.

Liby̆cum mare, that part of the Mediterranean which lies on the coast of Cyrene. Strabo, bk. 2.

Libycus and Libystis. See: Libya.

Libys, a sailor, &c. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 3.

Libyssa, a river of Bithynia, with a town of the same name, where was the tomb of Annibal, still extant in the age of Pliny.

Licates, a people of Vindelicia.

Licha, a city near Lycia.

Lichades, small islands near Cæneum, a promontory of Eubœa, called from Lichas. See: Lichas. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 9, lis. 155, 218.—Strabo, bk. 9.

Lichas, a servant of Hercules who brought him the poisoned tunic from Dejanira. He was thrown by his master into the sea with great violence, and changed into a rock in the Eubœan sea, by the compassion of the gods. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 9, li. 211.

Liches, an Arcadian who found the bones of Orestes buried at Tegea, &c. Herodotus.

Licĭnia lex, was enacted by Lucius Licinius Crassus and Quintus Mutius, consuls, A.U.C. 659. It ordered all the inhabitants of Italy to be enrolled on the list of citizens in their respective cities.――Another, by Caius Licinius Crassus the tribune, A.U.C. 608. It transferred the right of choosing priests from the college to the people. It was proposed, but did not pass.――Another, by Caius Licinius Stolo the tribune. It forbade any person to possess 500 acres of land, or keep more than 100 head of large cattle, or 500 of small.――Another, by Publius Licinius Varus, A.U.C. 545, to settle the day for the celebration of the Ludi Apollinares, which was before uncertain.――Another, by Publius Licinius Crassus Dives, B.C. 110. It was the same as the Fannian law, and further required that no more than 30 asses should be spent at any table on the Calends, nones, or nundinæ, and only three pounds of fresh and one of salt meat, on ordinary days. None of the fruits of the earth were forbidden.――Another, de sodalitiis, by Marcus Licinius the consul, 692. It imposed a severe penalty on party clubs, or societies assembled or frequented for election purposes, as coming under the definition of ambitus, and of offering violence in some degree to the freedom and independence of the people.――Another, called also Æbutia, by Licinius and Æbutius the tribunes. It enacted, that when any law was proffered with respect to any office or power, the person who proposed the bill, as well as his colleagues in office, his friends and relations, should be declared incapable of being invested with the said office or power.

Licĭnia, the wife of Caius Gracchus, who attempted to dissuade her husband from his seditious measures by a pathetic speech. She was deprived of her dowry after the death of Caius.――A vestal virgin accused of incontinence, but acquitted, A.U.C. 636.――Another vestal, put to death for her lasciviousness under Trajan.――The wife of Mæcenas, distinguished for conjugal tenderness. She was sister to Proculeius, and bore also the name of Terentia. Horace, bk. 2, ode 12, li. 13.

Caius Licĭnius, a tribune of the people, celebrated for the consequence of his family, for his intrigues and abilities. He was a plebeian, and was the first of that body who was raised to the office of a master of horse to the dictator. He was surnamed Stolo, or useless sprout, on account of the law which he had enacted during his tribuneship. See: Licinia lex, by Stolo. He afterwards made a law which permitted the plebeians to share the consular dignity with the patricians, A.U.C. 388. He reaped the benefit of this law, and was one of the first plebeian consuls. This law was proposed and passed by Licinius, as it is reported, at the instigation of his ambitious wife, who was jealous of her sister, who had married a patrician, and who seemed to be of a higher dignity in being the wife of a consul. Livy, bk. 6, ch. 34.—Plutarch.――Caius Calvus, a celebrated orator and poet in the age of Cicero. He distinguished himself by his eloquence in the forum, and his poetry, which some of the ancients have compared to Catullus. His orations are greatly commended by Quintilian. Some believe that he wrote annals quoted by Dionysius of Halicarnassus. He died in the 30th year of his age. Quintilian.—Cicero, Brutus, ch. 81.――Macer, a Roman accused by Cicero when pretor. He derided the power of his accuser, but when he saw himself condemned he grew so desperate that he killed himself. Plutarch.――Publius Crassus, a Roman sent against Perseus king of Macedonia. He was at first defeated, but afterwards repaired his losses and obtained a complete victory, &c.――A consul sent against Annibal.――Another, who defeated the robbers that infested the Alps.――A high priest.――Caius Imbrex, a comic poet in the age of Africanus, preferred by some in merit to Ennius and Terence. His Nævia and Neæra are quoted by ancient authors, but of all his poetry only two verses are preserved. Aulus Gellius.――A consul, &c.――Lucullus. See: Lucullus.――Crassus. See: Crassus.――Mucianus, a Roman who wrote about the history and geography of the eastern countries, often quoted by Pliny. He lived in the reign of Vespasian.――Publius Tegula, a comic poet of Rome about 200 years before Christ. He is ranked as the fourth of the best comic poets which Rome produced. Few lines of his compositions are extant. He wrote an ode, which was sung all over the city of Rome by nine virgins during the Macedonian war. Livy, bk. 31, ch. 12.――Varro Muræna, a brother of Proculeius, who conspired against Augustus with Fannius Cæpio, and suffered for his crime. Horace addressed his bk. 2, ode 10 to him, and recommended equanimity in every situation. Dio Cassius, bk. 54.――Caius Flavius Valerianus, a celebrated Roman emperor. His father was a poor peasant of Dalmatia, and himself a common soldier in the Roman armies. His valour recommended him to the notice of Galerius Maximianus, who had once shared with him the inferior and subordinate offices of the army, and had lately been invested with the imperial purple by Diocletian. Galerius loved him for his friendly services, particularly during the Persian war, and he showed his regard for his merit by taking him as a colleague in the empire, and appointing him over the province of Pannonia and Rhœtia. Constantine, who was also one of the emperors, courted the favour of Licinius, and made his intimacy more durable by giving him his sister Constantia in marriage, A.D. 313. The continual successes of Licinius, particularly against Maximinus, increased his pride, and rendered him jealous of the greatness of his brother-in-law. The persecutions of the christians, whose doctrines Constantine followed, soon caused a rupture, and Licinius had the mortification to lose two battles, one in Pannonia, and the other near Adrianopolis. Treaties of peace were made between the contending powers, but the restless ambition of Licinius soon broke them; and after many engagements a decisive battle was fought near Chalcedonia. Ill fortune again attended Licinius, who was conquered, and fled to Nicomedia, where soon the conqueror obliged him to surrender, and to resign the imperial purple. The tears of Constantia obtained forgiveness for her husband, yet Constantine knew what a turbulent and active enemy had fallen into his hands therefore he ordered him to be strangled at Thessalonica, A.D. 324. His family was involved in his ruin. The avarice, licentiousness, and cruelty of Licinius are as conspicuous as his misfortunes. He was an enemy to learning, and this aversion totally proceeded from his ignorance of letters, and the rusticity of his education. His son by Constantia bore also the same name. He was honoured with the title of Cæsar when scarce 20 months old. He was involved in his father’s ruin, and put to death by order of Constantine.

Licīnus, a barber and freedman of Augustus, raised by his master to the rank and dignity of a senator, merely because he hated Pompey’s family. Horace, Art of Poetry, li. 301.

Licymnius, a son of Electryon and brother of Alcmena. He was so infirm in his old age, that when he walked, he was always supported by a slave. Triptolemus son of Hercules, seeing the slave inattentive to his duty, threw a stick at him, which unfortunately killed Licymnius. The murderer fled to Rhodes. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Diodorus, bk. 5.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 2.—Pindar, Olympian, poem 7.

Lide, a mountain of Caria. Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 105.

Quintus Ligarius, a Roman proconsul of Africa, after Confidius. In the civil wars he followed the interest of Pompey, and was pardoned when Cæsar had conquered his enemies. Cæsar, however, and his adherents were determined upon the ruin of Ligarius; but Cicero, by an eloquent oration, still extant, defeated his accusers, and he was pardoned. He became afterwards one of Cæsar’s murderers. Cicero, For Ligarius.—Plutarch, Cæsar.

Ligea, one of the Nereides. Virgil, Georgics, bk. 4.

Liger, a Rutulian killed by Æneas. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 10, li. 576.

Liger, or Ligĕris, now La Loire, a large river of Gaul, falling into the Atlantic ocean near Nantes. Strabo, bk. 4.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 18.—Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 7, chs. 55 & 75.

Ligŏras, an officer of Antiochus king of Syria, who took the town of Sardis by stratagem, &c.

Ligŭres, the inhabitants of Liguria. See: Liguria.

Ligŭria, a country on the west of Italy, bounded on the east by the river Macra, on the south by part of the Mediterranean called the Ligustic sea, on the west by the Varus, and on the north by the Po. The commercial town of Genoa was anciently and is now the capital of the country. The origin of the inhabitants is not known, though in their character they are represented as vain, unpolished, and addicted to falsehood. According to some they were descended from the ancient Gauls and Germans, or, as others support, they were of Greek origin, perhaps the posterity of the Ligyes mentioned by Herodotus. Liguria was subdued by the Romans, and its chief harbour now bears the name of Leghorn. Lucan, bk. 1, li. 442.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 1.—Strabo, bk. 4, &c.—Tacitus, Histories, bk. 2, ch. 15.—Pliny, bk. 2, ch. 5, &c.—Livy, bk. 5, ch. 35; bk. 22, ch. 33; bk. 39, ch. 6, &c.—Cornelius Nepos, Hannibal.—Florus, bk. 2, ch. 8.

Ligurīnus, a poet. Martial, bk. 3, ltr. 50.――A beautiful youth in the age of Horace, bk. 4, ode 1, li. 33.

Ligus, a woman who inhabited the Alps. She concealed her son from the pursuit of Otho’s soldiers, &c. Tacitus, Histories, bk. 2, ch. 13.

Ligustĭcæ Alpes, a part of the Alps which borders on Liguria, sometimes called Maritimi.

Ligusticum mare, the north part of the Tyrrhene sea, now the gulf of Genoa. Pliny, bk. 2, ch. 47.

Ligyes, a people of Asia who inhabited the country between Caucasus and the river Phasis. Some suppose them to be a colony of the Ligyes of Europe, more commonly called Ligures. Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 72.—Dionysius of Halicarnassus, bk. 1, ch. 10.—Strabo, bk. 4.—Diodorus, bk. 4.

Ligyrgum, a mountain of Arcadia.

Lilæa, a town of Achaia near the Cephisus. Statius, Thebiad, bk. 7, li. 348.

Lĭly̆bæum, now Boco, a promontory of Sicily, with a town of the same name near the Ægates, now Marsalla. The town was strong and very considerable, and it maintained long sieges against the Carthaginians, Romans, &c., particularly one of 10 years against Rome in the first Punic war. It had a port large and capacious, which the Romans, in the wars with Carthage, endeavoured in vain to stop and fill up with stones, on account of its convenience and vicinity to the coast of Africa. Nothing now remains of this once powerful city but the ruins of temples and aqueducts. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 706.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Strabo, bk. 6.—Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 5.—Cæsar, African War.—Diodorus, bk. 22.

Limæa, a river of Lusitania. Strabo, bk. 3.

Limenia, a town of Cyprus. Strabo, bk. 14.

Limnæ, a fortified place on the borders of Laconia and Messenia. Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 14.――A town of the Thracian Chersonesus.

Limnæum, a temple of Diana at Limnæ, from which the goddess was called Limnæa, and worshipped under that appellation at Sparta and in Achaia. The Spartans wished to seize the temple in the age of Tiberius, but the emperor interfered, and gave it to its lawful possessors the Messenians. Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 14; bk. 7, ch. 20.—Tacitus, Annals, bk. 4, ch. 43.

Limnatidia, a festival in honour of Diana, surnamed Limnatis, from Limnæ, a school of exercise at Trœzene, where she was worshipped, or from λιμναι, ponds, because she presided over fishermen.

Limniăce, the daughter of the Ganges, mother of Atys. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 5, li. 48.

Limnonia, one of the Nereides. Homer, Iliad, bk. 18.

Limon, a place of Campania between Neapolis and Puteoli. Statius, bk. 3, Sylvæ, poem 1.

Limonum, a town of Gaul, afterwards Pictavi, Poictiers. Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 8, ch. 26.

Limyra, a town of Lycia at the mouth of the Limyrus. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 9, li. 645.—Velleius, bk. 2, ch. 102.

Lincasii, a people of Gaul Narbonensis.

Lindum, a colony of Britain, now Lincoln.

Lindus, a city on the south-east part of Rhodes, built by Cercaphus son of Sol and Cydippe. The Danaides built there a temple to Minerva, and one of its colonies founded Gela in Sicily. It gave birth to Cleobulus, one of the seven wise men, and to Chares and Laches, who were employed in making and finishing the famous Colossus of Rhodes. Strabo, bk. 14.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 2.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Pliny, bk. 34.—Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 153.――A grandson of Apollo. Cicero, de Natura Deorum, bk. 3.

Lingrŏnes, now Langres, a people of Gallia Belgica, made tributary to Rome by Julius Cæsar. They passed into Italy, where they made some settlements near the Alps at the head of the Adriatic. Tacitus, Histories, bk. 4, ch. 55.—Martial, bk. 11, ltr. 57, li. 9; bk. 14, ltr. 159.—Lucan, bk. 1, li. 398.—Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 1, ch. 26.

Linterna palus, a lake of Campania. Silius Italicus, bk. 7, li. 278.

Linternum, a town of Campania at the mouth of the river Clanis, where Scipio Africanus died and was buried. Livy, bk. 34, ch. 45.—Silius Italicus, bk. 6, li. 654; bk. 7, li. 278.—Cicero, bk. 10, Letters to Atticus, ltr. 13.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 15, li. 713.

Linus. This name is common to different persons whose history is confused, and who are often taken one for the other. One was son of Urania and Amphimarus the son of Neptune. Another was son of Apollo by Psammathe, daughter of Crotopus king of Argos. Martial mentions him in his ltr. 78, bk. 9. The third, son of Ismenius, and born at Thebes in Bœotia, taught music to Hercules, who in a fit of anger struck him on the head with his lyre and killed him. He was son of Mercury and Urania, according to Diogenes, who mentions some of his philosophical compositions, in which he asserted that the world had been created in an instant. He was killed by Apollo for presuming to compare himself to him. Apollodorus, however, and Pausanius mention that his ridicule of Hercules on his awkwardness in holding the lyre was fatal to him. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 4.—Diogenes Laërtius, bk. 1.—Virgil, Eclogues, poem 4.—Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 15; bk. 9, ch. 20.――A fountain in Arcadia, whose waters were said to prevent abortion. Pliny, bk. 31, ch. 2.