A CLASSICAL DICTIONARY
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Transcriber’s Notes │
│ │
│ │
│ Punctuation has been standardized. │
│ │
│ To facilitate usage by modern readers, most abbreviated │
│ Latin words and names have been expanded to their common │
│ non-abbreviated form. (Example: Hom. expanded to Homer; │
│ Hor. expanded to Horace.) Also, labels have been added to │
│ references for book (bk.), chapter (ch.), line (li.), and │
│ letter (ltr.) for clarity. │
│ │
│ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps. │
│ │
│ Non-printable characteristics have been given the following │
│ Italic text: --> _text_ │
│ bold text: --> =text=. │
│ │
│ This book was written in a period when many words had │
│ not become standardized in their spelling. Words may have │
│ multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in │
│ the text. These have been left unchanged unless indicated │
│ with a Transcriber’s Note. │
│ │
│ The symbol ‘‡’ indicates the description in parenthesis has │
│ been added to an illustration. This may be needed if there │
│ is no caption or if the caption does not describe the image │
│ adequately. │
│ │
│ In the listings, the alphabetical order of topics has been │
│ corrected, but no topics have been added or removed. The │
│ letters “I” and “J”, and the letters “U” and “V”, are │
│ considered synonymous and alphabetized together by the author.│
│ │
│ Footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript │
│ number and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which │
│ they appear. │
│ │
│ Transcriber’s Notes are used when making corrections to the │
│ text or to provide additional information for the modern │
│ reader. These notes are identified by ♦♠♥♣ symbols in the │
│ text and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which │
│ they appear. │
│ │
│ Some of the tables at the end are extra wide and may require │
│ scrolling to the right to see the entire table. │
│ │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
LEMPRIERE’S CLASSICAL DICTIONARY.
A
CLASSICAL DICTIONARY
CONTAINING A COPIOUS ACCOUNT
OF ALL THE PROPER NAMES
MENTIONED IN ANCIENT AUTHORS
WITH
THE VALUE OF COINS, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES
USED AMONG THE GREEKS AND ROMANS
AND
A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
BY
J. LEMPRIERE, D.D.
Illustration: (‡ Colophon)
LONDON
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, LIMITED
NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON AND CO.
1904
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
At the Ballantyne Press
PREFACE
TO THE ORIGINAL EDITION.
IN the following pages it has been the wish of the author to give
the most accurate and satisfactory account of all the proper names
which occur in reading the Classics, and by a judicious collection of
anecdotes and historical facts to draw a picture of ancient times, not
less instructive than entertaining. Such a work, it is hoped, will not
be deemed a useless acquisition in the hands of the public; and while
the student is initiated in the knowledge of history and mythology,
and familiarized with the ancient situation and extent of kingdoms and
cities that no longer exist, the man of letters may, perhaps, find it
not a contemptible companion, from which he may receive information,
and be made, a second time, acquainted with many important particulars
which time, or more laborious occupations, may have erased from his
memory. In the prosecution of his plan, the author has been obliged
to tread in the steps of many learned men, whose studies have been
directed, and not without success, to facilitate the attainment of
classical knowledge, and of the ancient languages. Their compositions
have been to him a source of information, and he trusts that their
labours have now found new elucidation in his own, and that, by a
due consideration of every subject, he has been enabled to imitate
their excellences, without copying their faults. Many compositions of
the same nature have issued from the press, but they are partial and
unsatisfactory. The attempts to be concise, have rendered the labours
of one barren and uninstructive, while long and unconnected quotations
of passages from Greek and Latin writers, disfigure the page of
the other, and render the whole insipid and disgusting. It cannot,
therefore, be a discouraging employment now, to endeavour to finish
what others have left imperfect, and with the conciseness of Stephens,
to add the diffuse researches of Lloyd, Hoffman, Collier, &c. After
paying due attention to the ancient poets and historians, from whom the
most authentic information can be received, the labours of more modern
authors have been consulted, and every composition distinguished for
the clearness and perspicuity of historical narration, or geographical
descriptions, has been carefully examined. Truly sensible of what he
owes to modern Latin and English writers and commentators, the author
must not forget to make a public acknowledgment of the assistance he
has likewise received from the labours of the French. In the Siècles
Payens of l’Abbé Sabatier de Castres he has found all the information
which judicious criticism, and a perfect knowledge of heathen mythology,
could procure. The compositions of l’Abbé Banier have also been useful;
and in the Dictionnaire Historique, of a literary society, printed at
Caen, a treasure of original anecdotes, and a candid selection and
arrangement of historical facts, have been discovered.
It was the original design of the author of this Dictionary to give a
minute explanation of all the names of which Pliny and other ancient
geographers make mention; but, upon a second consideration of the
subject, he was convinced that it would have increased his volume in
bulk, and not in value. The learned reader will be sensible of the
propriety of this remark, when he recollects that the names of many
places mentioned by Pliny and Pausanias occur nowhere else in ancient
authors; and that to find the true situation of an insignificant
village mentioned by Strabo, no other writer but Strabo is to be
consulted.
This Dictionary being undertaken more particularly for the use of
schools, it has been thought proper to mark the quantity of the
penultimate of every word, and to assist the student who can receive
no fixed and positive rules for pronunciation. In this the authority
of Smethius has been followed, as also Leede’s edition of Labbe’s
Catholici Indices.
As every publication should be calculated to facilitate literature,
and to be serviceable to the advancement of the sciences, the author
of this Dictionary did not presume to intrude himself upon the public,
before he was sensible that his humble labours would be of some service
to the lovers of the ancient languages. The undertaking was for the
use of schools, therefore he thought none so capable of judging of
its merit, and of ascertaining its utility, as those who preside
over the education of youth. With this view, he took the liberty to
communicate his intentions to several gentlemen in that line, not
less distinguished for purity of criticism, than for their classical
abilities, and from them he received all the encouragement which the
desire of contributing to the advancement of learning can expect. To
them, therefore, for their approbation and friendly communications,
he publicly returns his thanks, and hopes that, now his labours are
completed, his Dictionary may claim from them that patronage and that
support to which, in their opinion, the specimen of the work seemed
to be entitled. He has paid due attention to their remarks, he has
received with gratitude their judicious observations, and cannot pass
over in silence their obliging recommendations, and particularly the
friendly advice he has received from the Rev. R. Valpy, master of
Reading School.
For the account of the Roman laws, and for the festivals celebrated
by the ancient inhabitants of Greece and Italy, he is particularly
indebted to the useful collections of Archbishop Potter, of Godwyn,
and Kennet. In the tables of ancient coins, weights and measures,
which he has annexed to the body of the Dictionary, he has followed
the learned calculations of Dr. Arbuthnot. The quoted authorities have
been carefully examined, and frequently revised: and, it is hoped, the
opinions of mythologists will appear without confusion, and be found
divested of all obscurity.
Therefore, with all the confidence which an earnest desire of being
useful can command, the author offers the following pages to the
public, conscious that they may contain inaccuracies and imperfections.
A Dictionary, the candid reader is well aware, cannot be made perfect
all at once; it must still have its faults and omissions, however
cautious and vigilant the author may have been; and in every page there
may be found, in the opinion of some, room for improvement and for
addition. Before the candid, therefore, and the impartial, he lays his
publication, and for whatever observations the friendly critic may make,
he will show himself grateful, and take advantage of the remarks of
every judicious reader, should the favours and the indulgence of the
public demand a second edition.
A
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE,
FROM
THE CREATION OF THE WORLD
TO
THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
IN THE WEST, AND IN THE EAST
¹In the following table, I have confined myself to the more
easy and convenient eras of before (B.C.) and after (A.D.)
Christ. For the sake of those, however, that do not wish the
exclusion of the Julian period, it is necessary to observe
that, as the first year of the christian era always falls on
the 4714th of the Julian years, the number required either
before or after Christ will easily be discovered by the
application of the rules of subtraction or addition. The
era from the foundation of Rome (A.U.C.) will be found with
the same facility, by recollecting that the city was built
753 years before Christ; and the Olympiads can likewise be
recurred to by the consideration that the conquest of Corœbus
(B.C. 776) forms the first Olympiad, and that the Olympic
games were celebrated after the revolution of four years.
Before
Christ.¹
The world created in the 710th year of the Julian period 4004
The deluge 2348
The tower of Babel built, and the confusion of languages 2247
Celestial observations are first made at Babylon 2234
The kingdom of Egypt is supposed to have begun under
Misraim the son of Ham, and to have continued 1663
years, to the conquest of Cambyses 2188
The kingdom of Sicyon established 2089
The kingdom of Assyria begins 2059
The birth of Abraham 1996
The kingdom of Argos established under Inachus 1856
Memnon the Egyptian said to invent letters, 15 years
before the reign of Phoroneus 1822
The deluge of Ogyges, by which Attica remained waste above
200 years, till the coming of Cecrops 1764
Joseph sold into Egypt by his brethren 1728
The chronology of the Arundelian marbles begins about this
time, fixing here the arrival of Cecrops in Attica, an
epoch which other writers have placed later by 26 years 1582
Moses born 1571
The kingdom of Athens begun under Cecrops, who came from
Egypt with a colony of Saites. This happened about 780
years before the first Olympiad 1556
Scamander migrates from Crete, and begins the kingdom of
Troy 1546
The deluge of Deucalion in Thessaly 1503
The Panathenæa first celebrated at Athens 1495
Cadmus comes into Greece, and builds the citadel of Thebes 1493
The first Olympic games celebrated in Elis by the Idæi
Dactyli 1453
The five books of Moses written in the land of Moab, where
he dies the following year, aged 110 1452
Minos flourishes in Crete, and iron is found by the Dactyli
by the accidental burning of the woods of Ida, in Crete 1406
The Eleusinian mysteries introduced at Athens by Eumolpus 1356
The Isthmian games first instituted by Sisyphus king of
Corinth 1326
The Argonautic expedition. The first Pythian games
celebrated by Adrastus king of Argos 1263
Gideon flourishes in Israel 1245
The Theban war of the seven heroes against Eteocles 1225
Olympic games celebrated by Hercules 1222
The rape of Helen by Theseus, and, 15 years after, by Paris 1213
Troy taken, after a siege of 10 years. Æneas sails to Italy 1184
Alba Longa built by Ascanius 1152
Migration of the Æolian colonies 1124
The return of the Heraclidæ into Peloponnesus, 80 years
after the taking of Troy. Two years after, they divide
the Peloponnesus among themselves; and here, therefore,
begins the kingdom of Lacedæmon under Eurysthenes and
Procles 1104
Saul made king over Israel 1095
The kingdom of Sicyon ended 1088
The kingdom of Athens ended in the death of Codrus 1070
The migration of the Ionian colonies from Greece, and their
settlement in Asia Minor 1044
Dedication of Solomon’s temple 1004
Samos built 986
Division of the kingdom of Judah and Israel 975
Homer and Hesiod flourished about this time, according to
the marbles 907
Elias the prophet taken up into heaven 896
Lycurgus, 42 years old, establishes his laws at Lacedæmon,
and, together with Iphitus and Cleosthenes, restores the
Olympic games at Elis, about 108 years before the era
which is commonly called the first Olympiad 884
Phidon king of Argos is supposed to have invented scales
and measures, and coined silver at Ægina. Carthage built
by Dido 869
Fall of the Assyrian empire by the death of Sardanapalus, an
era placed 80 years earlier by Justin 820
The kingdom of Macedonia begins, and continues 646 years,
till the battle of Pydna 814
The kingdom of Lydia begins, and continues 249 years 797
The triremes first invented by the Corinthians 786
The monarchical government abolished at Corinth, and the
Prytanes elected 779
Corœbus conquers at Olympia, in the 28th Olympiad from the
institution of Iphitus. This is vulgarly called the first
Olympiad, about 23 years before the foundation of Rome 776
The Ephori introduced into the government of Lacedæmon by
Theopompus 760
Isaiah begins to prophesy 757
The decennial archons begin at Athens, of which Charops is
the first 754
Rome built on the 20th of April, according to Varro, in the
year 3961 of the Julian period 753
The rape of the Sabines 750
The era of Nabonassar king of Babylon begins 747
The first Messenian war begins, and continues 19 years, to
the taking of Ithome 743
Syracuse built by a Corinthian colony 732
The kingdom of Israel finished by the taking of Samaria by
Salmanasar king of Assyria. The first eclipse of the moon
on record March 19th, according to Ptolemy 721
Candaules murdered by Gyges, who succeeds to the Lydian
throne 718
Tarentum built by the Parthenians 707
Corcyra built by the Corinthians 703
The second Messenian war begins, and continues 14 years, to
the taking of Ira, after a siege of 11 years. About this
time flourished the poets Tyrtæus and Archilochus 685
The government of Athens intrusted to annual archons 684
Alba destroyed 665
Cypselus usurps the government of Corinth, and keeps it for
30 years 659
Byzantium built by a colony of Argives or Athenians 658
Cyrene built by Battus 630
The Scythians invade Asia Minor, of which they keep
possession for 28 years 624
Draco established his laws at Athens 623
The canal between the Nile and the Red sea begun by king
Necho 610
Nineveh taken and destroyed by Cyaxares and his allies 606
The Phœnicians sail round Africa, by order of Necho. About
this time flourished Arion, Pittacus, Alcæus, Sappho, &c. 604
The Scythians are expelled from Asia Minor by Cyaxares 596
The Pythian games first established at Delphi. About this
time flourished Chilo, Anacharsis, Thales, Epimenides,
Solon, the prophet Ezekiel, Æsop, Stersichorus 591
Jerusalem taken by Nebuchadnezzar, 9th of June, after a
siege of 18 months 587
The Isthmian games restored and celebrated every first and
third year of the Olympiads 582
Death of Jeremiah the prophet 577
The Nemæan games restored 568
The first comedy acted at Athens by Susarion and Dolon 562
Pisistratus first usurped the sovereignty at Athens 560
Cyrus begins to reign. About this time flourished Anaximenes,
Bias, Anaximander, Phalaris, and Cleobulus 559
Crœsus conquered by Cyrus. About this time flourished
Theognis and Pherecydes 548
Marseilles built by the Phocæans. The age of Pythagoras,
Simonides, Thespis, Xenophanes, and Anacreon 539
Babylon taken by Cyrus 538
The return of the Jews by the edict of Cyrus, and the
rebuilding of the temple 536
The first tragedy acted at Athens on the waggon of Thespis 535
Learning encouraged at Athens, and a public library built 526
Egypt conquered by Cambyses 525
Polycrates of Samos put to death 522
Darius Hystaspes chosen king of Persia. About this time
flourished Confucius the celebrated Chinese philosopher 521
The tyranny of the Pisistratidæ abolished at Athens 510
The consular government begins at Rome after the expulsion
of the Tarquins, and continues independent 461 years, till
the battle of Pharsalia 509
Sardis taken by the Athenians and burnt, which became
afterwards the cause of the invasion of Greece by
the Persians. About this time flourished Heraclitus,
Parmenides, Milo the wrestler, Aristagoras, &c. 504
The first dictator, Lartius, created at Rome 498
The Roman populace retire to mount Sacer 493
The battle of Marathon 490
The battles of Thermopylæ, August 7th, and Salamis, October
20th. About this time flourished Æschylus, Pindar, Charon,
Anaxagoras, Zeuxis, Aristides, &c. 480
The Persians defeated at Platæa and Mycale on the same day,
22nd September 479
The 300 Fabii killed at Cremera, July 17th 477
Themistocles, accused of conspiracy, flies to Xerxes 471
The Persians defeated at Cyprus, and near the Eurymedon 470
The third Messenian war begins, and continues 10 years 465
Egypt revolts from the Persians under Inarus, assisted by
the Athenians 463
The Romans send to Athens for Solon’s laws. About this
time flourished Sophocles, Nehemiah the prophet, Plato
the comic poet, Aristarchus the tragic, Leocrates,
Thrasybulus, Pericles, Zaleucus, &c. 454
The first Sacred war concerning the temple of Delphi 448
The Athenians defeated at Chæronea by the Bœotians 447
Herodotus reads his history to the council of Athens, and
receives public honours in the 39th year of his age.
About this time flourished Empedocles, Hellanicus,
Euripides, Herodicus, Phidias Artemones, Charondas, &c. 445
A colony sent to Thurium by the Athenians 444
Comedies prohibited at Athens, a restraint which remained
in force for three years 440
A war between Corinth and Corcyra 439
Meton begins here his 19 years’ cycle of the moon 432
The Peloponnesian war begins, May the 7th, and continues
about 27 years. About this time flourished Cratinus,
Eupolis, Aristophanes, Meton, Euctemon, Malachi the
last of the prophets, Democritus, Gorgias, Thucydides,
Hippocrates, &c. 431
The history of the Old Testament finishes about this time.
A plague at Athens for five years 430
A peace of 50 years made between the Athenians and
Lacedæmonians, which is kept only during six years and
ten months, though each continued at war with the other’s
allies 421
The scene of the Peloponnesian war changed to Sicily. The
Agrarian law first moved at Rome 416
Egypt revolts from the Persians, and Amyrtæus is appointed
king 414
The Carthaginians enter Sicily, where they destroy Selinus
and Himera, but they are repulsed by Hermocrates 409
The battle of Ægospotamos. The usurpation of Dionysius 405
Athens taken by Lysander, 24th of April. The end of the
Peloponnesian war, and the appointment of 30 tyrants over
the conquered city. About this time flourished Parrhasius,
Protagoras, Lysias, Agathon, Euclid, Cebes, Telestes, &c. 404
Cyrus the younger killed at Cunaxa. The glorious retreat
of the 10,000 Greeks, and the expulsion of the 30 tyrants
from Athens by Thrasybulus 401
Socrates put to death 400
Agesilaus of Lacedæmon’s expedition into Asia against
the Persians. The age of Xenophon, Ctesias, Zeuxis,
Antisthenes, Evagoras, Aristippus of Cyrene, and Archytas 396
The Corinthian war begun by the alliance of the Athenians,
Thebans, Corinthians, and Argives, against Lacedæmon 395
The Lacedæmonians, under Pisander, defeated by Conon at
Cnidus; and, a few days after, the allies are defeated
at Coronæa, by Agesilaus 394
The battle of Allia, July 17th, and the taking of Rome by
the Gauls 390
Dionysius besieges Rhegium, and takes it after 11 months.
About this time flourished Plato, Philoxenus, Damon,
Pythias, Iphicrates, &c. 388
The Greek cities of Asia tributary to Persia, by the peace
of Antalcidas, between the Lacedæmonians and Persians 387
The war of Cyprus finished by a treaty, after it had
continued two years 385
The Lacedæmonians defeated in a sea-fight at Naxos,
September 20th, by Chabrias. About this time flourished
Philistus, Isæus, Isocrates, Arete, Philolaus, Diogenes
the cynic, &c. 377
Artaxerxes sends an army under Pharnabazus, with 20,000
Greeks, commanded by Iphicrates 374
The battle of Leuctra, July 8th, where the Lacedæmonians
are defeated by Epaminondas the general of the Thebans 371
The Messenians, after a banishment of 300 years, return to
Peloponnesus 370
One of the consuls at Rome elected from the plebeians 367
The battle of Mantinea gained by Epaminondas, a year after
the death of Pelopidas 363
Agesilaus assists Tachos king of Egypt. Some of the
governors of Lesser Asia revolt from Persia 362
The Athenians are defeated at Methone, the first battle
that Philip of Macedon ever won in Greece 360
Dionysius the younger is expelled from Syracuse by Dion. The
second Sacred war begins, on the temple of Delphi being
attacked by the Phocians 357
Dion put to death, and Syracuse governed seven years by
tyrants. About this time flourished Eudoxus, Lycurgus,
Ibis, Theopompus, Ephorus, Datames, Philomelus, &c. 354
The Phocians, under Onomarchus, are defeated in Thessaly by
Philip 353
Egypt is conquered by Ochus 350
The Sacred war is finished by Philip taking all the cities
of the Phocians 348
Dionysius recovers the tyranny of Syracuse, after 10 years’
banishment 347
Timoleon recovers Syracuse and banishes the tyrant 343
The Carthaginians defeated by Timoleon near Agrigentum.
About this time flourished Speusippus, Protogenes,
Aristotle, Æschines, Zenocrates, Demosthenes, Phocion,
Mamercus, Icetas, Stilpo, Demades 340
The battle of Cheronæa, August 2nd, where Philip defeats
the Athenians and Thebans 338
Philip of Macedon killed by Pausanius. His son Alexander,
on the following year, enters Greece, destroys Thebes, &c. 336
The battle of the Granicus, 22nd of May 334
The battle of Issus in October 333
Tyre and Egypt conquered by the Macedonian prince, and
Alexandria built 332
The battle of Arbela, October 2nd 331
Alexander’s expedition against Porus. About this time
flourished Apelles, Callisthenes, Bagoas, Parmenio,
Philotas, Memnon, Dinocrates, Calippus, Hyperides,
Philetus, Lysippus, Menedemus, &c. 327
Alexander dies on the 21st of April. His empire is divided
into four kingdoms. The Samian war, and the reign of the
Ptolemies in Egypt 323
Polyperchon publishes a general liberty to all the Greek
cities. The age of Praxiteles, Crates, Theophrastus,
Menander, Demetrius, Dinarchus, Polemon, Neoptolemus,
Perdiccas, Leosthenes 320
Syracuse and Sicily usurped by Agathocles. Demetrius
Phalereus governs Athens for 10 years 317
Eumenes delivered to Antigonus by his army 315
Seleucus takes Babylon, and here the beginning of the era
of the Seleucidæ 312
The conquests of Agathocles in Africa 309
Democracy established at Athens by Demetrius Poliorcetes 307
The title of kings first assumed by the successors of
Alexander 306
The battle of Ipsus, where Antigonus is defeated and killed
by Ptolemy, Seleucus, Lysimachus, and Cassander. About
this time flourished Zeno, Pyrrho, Philemon, Megasthenes,
Crantor, &c. 301
Athens taken by Demetrius Poliorcetes, after a year’s siege 296
The first sun-dial erected at Rome by Papirius Cursor, and
the time first divided into hours 293
Seleucus, about this time, built about 40 cities in Asia,
which he peopled with different nations. The age of
Euclid the mathematician, Arcesilaus, Epicurus, Bion,
Timocharis, Erasistratus, Aristyllus, Strato, Zenodotus,
Arsinoe, Lachares, &c. 291
The Athenians revolt from Demetrius 287
Pyrrhus expelled from Macedon by Lysimachus 286
The Pharos of Alexandria built. The Septuagint supposed to
be translated about this time 284
Lysimachus defeated and killed by Seleucus. The Tarentine
war begins, and continues 10 years. The Achæan league
begins 281
Pyrrhus of Epirus goes to Italy to assist the Tarentines 280
The Gauls, under Brennus, are cut to pieces near the temple
of Delphi. About this time flourished Dionysius the
astronomer, Sostratus, Theocritus, Dionysius Heracleotes,
Philo, Aratus, Lycophron, Persæus, &c. 278
Pyrrhus, defeated by Curius, retires to Epirus 274
The first coining of silver at Rome 269
Athens taken by Antigonus Gonatas, who keeps it 12 years 268
The first Punic war begins, and continues for 23 years. The
chronology of the Arundelian marbles composed. About this
time flourished Lycon, Crates, Berosus, Hermachus, Helenus,
Clinias, Aristotimus, &c. 264
Antiochus Soter defeated at Sardis by Eumenes of Pergamus 262
The Carthaginian fleet defeated by Duilius 260
Regulus defeated by Xanthippus. Athens is restored to
liberty by Antigonus 256
Aratus persuades the people of Sicyon to join the Achæan
league. About this time flourished Cleanthes, Homer
junior, Manetho, Timæus, Callimachus, Zoilus, Duris,
Neanthes, Ctesibius, Sosibius, Hieronymus, Hanno, Laodice,
Lysias, Ariobarzanes 251
The Parthians under Arsaces, and the Bactrians under
Theodotus, revolt from the Macedonians 250
The sea-fight of Drepanum 249
The citadel of Corinth taken by Aratus, 12th of August 243
Agis king of Sparta put to death for attempting to settle
an Agrarian law. About this period flourished Antigonus
Carystius, Conon of Samos, Eratosthenes, Apollonius of
Perga, Lacydes, Amilcar, Agesilaus the ephor, &c. 241
Plays first acted at Rome, being those of Livius Andronicus 240
Amilcar passes with an army to Spain, with Annibal his son 237
The temple of Janus shut at Rome, the first time since Numa 235
The Sardinian war begins, and continues three years 234
Original manuscripts of Æschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles,
lent by the Athenians to Ptolemy for a pledge of
15 talents 233
The first divorce known at Rome, by Spurius Carvilius.
Sardinia and Corsica conquered 231
The Roman ambassadors first appeared at Athens and Corinth 228
The war between Cleomenes and Aratus begins, and continues
for five years 227
The colossus of Rhodes thrown down by an earthquake. The
Romans first cross the Po, pursuing the Gauls, who had
entered Italy. About this time flourished Chrysippus,
Polystratus, Euphorion, Archimedes, Valerius Messala,
C. Nævius, Aristarchus, Apollonius, Philocorus, Aristo
Ceus, Fabius Pictor the first Roman historian, Philarchus,
Lysiades, Agro, &c. 224
The battle of Sellasia 222
The Social war between the Ætolians and Achæans, assisted
by Philip 220
Saguntum taken by Annibal 219
The second Punic war begins, and continues 17 years 218
The battle of the lake Thrasymenus, and next year that of
Cannæ, May 21st 217
The Romans begin the auxiliary war against Philip in Epirus,
which is continued by intervals for 14 years 214
Syracuse taken by Marcellus, after a siege of three years 212
Philopœmen defeats Machanidas at Mantinea 208
Asdrubal is defeated. About this time flourished Plautus,
Archagathus, Evander, Teleclus, Hermippus, Zeno, Sotion,
Ennius, Hieronymus of Syracuse, Tlepolemus, Epicydes 207
The battle of Zama 202
The first Macedonian war begins and continues near four
years 200
The battle of Panius, where Antiochus defeats Scopas 198
The battle of Cynoscephale, where Philip is defeated 197
The war of Antiochus the Great begins, and continues three
years 192
Lacedæmon joined to the Achæan league by Philopœmen 191
The luxuries of Asia brought to Rome in the spoils of
Antiochus 189
The laws of Lycurgus abrogated for a while at Sparta by
Philopœmen 188
Antiochus the Great defeated and killed in Media. About this
time flourished Aristophanes of Byzantium, Asclepiades,
Tegula, C. Lælius, Aristonymus, Hegesinus, Diogenes
the stoic, Critolaus, Massinissa, the Scipios, the Gracchi,
Thoas, &c. 187
A war, which continues for one year, between Eumenes and
Prusias, till the death of Annibal 184
Philopœmen defeated and killed by Dinocrates 183
Numa’s books found in a stone coffin at Rome 179
Perseus sends his ambassadors to Carthage 175
Ptolemy’s generals defeated by Antiochus, in a battle
between Pelusium and mount Cassius. The second Macedonian
war 171
The battle of Pydna, and the fall of the Macedonian empire.
About this period flourished Attalus the astronomer,
Metrodorus, Terence, Crates, Polybius, Pacuvius,
Hipparchus, Heraclides, Carneades, Aristarchus, &c. 168
The first library erected at Rome, with books obtained from
the plunder of Macedonia 167
Terence’s Andria first acted at Rome 166
Time measured out at Rome by a water-machine, invented
by Scipio Nasica, 134 years after the introduction of
sun-dials 159
Andriscus the Pseudophilip assumes the royalty of Macedonia 152
Demetrius king of Syria defeated and killed by Alexander
Balas 150
The third Punic war begins. Prusias king of Bithynia put to
death by his son Nicomedes 149
The Romans make war against the Achæans, which is finished
the next year by Mummius 148
Carthage is destroyed by Scipio, and Corinth by ♦Mummius 147
♦ ‘Mummus’ replaced with ‘Mummius’
Viriathus is defeated by Lælius, in Spain 146
The war of Numantia begins, and continues for eight years 141
The Roman army of 30,000, under Mancinus, is defeated by
4000 Numantines 138
Restoration of learning at Alexandria, and universal
patronage offered to all learned men by Ptolemy Physcon.
The age of Satyrus, Aristobulus, Lucius Accius, Mnaseas,
Antipater, Diodorus the peripatetic, Nicander, Ctesibius,
Sarpedon, Micipsa, &c. 137
The famous embassy of Scipio, Metellus, Mummius, and
Panætius, into Egypt, Syria, and Greece 136
The history of the Apocrypha ends. The Servile war in
Sicily begins, and continues for three years 135
Numantia taken. Pergamus annexed to the Roman empire 133
Antiochus Sidetes killed by Phraates. Aristonicus defeated
by Perpenna 130
Demetrius Nicator defeated at Damascus by Alexander Zebina 127
The Romans make war against the pirates of the Beleares.
Carthage is rebuilt by order of the Roman senate 123
Caius Gracchus killed 121
Dalmatia conquered by Metellus 118
Cleopatra assumes the government of Egypt. The age of
Erymnæus, Athenion, Artemidorus, Clitomachus, Apollonius,
Herodicus, Lucius Cælius, Castor, Menecrates, Lucilius, &c. 116
The Jugurthine war begins, and continues for five years 111
The famous sumptuary law at Rome, which limited the expenses
of eating every day 110
The Teutones and Cimbri begin their war against Rome, and
continue it for eight years 109
The Teutones defeat 80,000 Romans on the banks of the Rhone 105
The Teutones defeated by Caius Marius at Aquæ Sextiæ 102
The Cimbri defeated by Marius and Catulus 101
Dolabella conquers Lusitania 99
Cyrene left by Ptolemy Apion to the Romans 97
The Social war begins, and continues three years, till
finished by Sylla 91
The Mithridatic war begins, and continues 26 years 89
The civil wars of Marius and Sylla begin, and continue six
years 88
Sylla conquers Athens, and sends its valuable libraries to
Rome 86
Young Marius is defeated by Sylla, who is made dictator 82
The death of Sylla. About this time flourished Philo,
Charmidas, Asclepiades, Apellicon, Lucius Sisenna,
Alexander Polyhistor, Plotius Gallus, Diotimus, Zeno,
Hortensius, Archias, Posidonius, Geminus, &c. 78
Bithynia left by Nicomedes to the Romans 75
The Servile war, under Spartacus, begins, and, two years
after, the rebel general is defeated and killed by Pompey
and Crassus 73
Mithridates and Tigranes defeated by Lucullus 69
Mithridates conquered by Pompey in a night battle. Crete is
subdued by Metellus, after a war of two years 66
The reign of the Seleucidæ ends in Syria, on the conquest of
the country by Pompey 65
Catiline’s conspiracy detected by Cicero. Mithridates kills
himself 63
The first triumvirate in the person of Julius Cæsar, Pompey,
and Crassus. About this time flourished Apollonius of
Rhodes, Terentius Varro, Tyrannion, Aristodemus of Nysa,
Lucretius, Dionysius the grammarian, Cicero, Antiochus,
Spurinus, Andronicus, Catullus, Sallust, Timagenes,
Cratippus, &c. 60
Cicero banished from Rome, and recalled the next year 58
Cæsar passes the Rhine, defeats the Germans, and invades
Britain 55
Crassus is killed by Surena, in June 53
Civil war between Cæsar and Pompey 50
The battle of Pharsalia about May 12th 48
Alexander taken by Cæsar 47
The war of Africa. Cato kills himself. This year is called
the year of confusion, because the calendar was corrected
by Sosigenes, and the year made to consist of 15 months,
or 445 days 46
The battle of Munda 45
Cæsar murdered 44
The battle of Mutina. The second triumvirate in Octavius,
Antony, and Lepidus. Cicero put to death. The age of
Sosigenes, Cornelius Nepos, Diodorus Siculus, Trogus
Pompey, Didymus the scholiast, Varro the poet, &c. 43
The battle of Philippi 42
Pacorus general of Parthia defeated by Ventidius, 14 years
after the disgrace of Crassus, and on the same day 39
Pompey the younger defeated in Sicily by Octavius 36
Octavius and Antony prepare for war 32
The battle of Actium, 2nd September. The era of the Roman
emperors properly begins here 31
Alexander taken, and Egypt reduced into a Roman province 30
The title of Augustus given to Octavius 27
The Egyptians adopt the Julian year. About this time
flourished Virgil, Manilius, Dioscorides, Asinius Pollio,
Mæcenas, Agrippa, Strabo, Horace, Macer, Propertius, Livy,
Musa, Tibullus, Ovid, Pylades, Bathyllus, Varius, Tucca,
Vitruvius, &c. 25
The conspiracy of Muræna against Augustus 22
Augustus visits Greece and Asia 21
The Roman ensigns recovered from the Parthians by Tiberius 20
The secular games celebrated at Rome 17
Lollius defeated by the Germans 16
The Rhæti and Vindelici defeated by Drusus 15
The Pannonians conquered by Tiberius 12
Some of the German nations conquered by Drusus 11
Augustus corrects the calendar, by ordering the 12 ensuing
years to be without intercalation. About this time
flourished Damascenus, Hyginus, Flaccus the grammarian,
Dionysius of Halicarnassus, and Dionysius the geographer 8
Tiberius retires to Rhodes for seven years 6
Our Saviour is born, four years before the vulgar era, in the
year 4709 of the Julian period, A.U.C. 749, and the fourth
of the 193rd Olympiad 4
A.D.
Tiberius returns to Rome 2
The leap year corrected, having formerly been every third
year 4
Ovid banished to Tomos 9
Varus defeated and killed in Germany by Arminius 10
Augustus dies at Nola, August 19th, and is succeeded by
Tiberius. The age of Phædrus, Asinius Gallus, Velleius
Paterculus, Germanicus, Cornel. Celsus, &c. 14
Twelve cities in Asia destroyed by an earthquake 17
Germanicus, poisoned by Piso, dies at Antioch 19
Tiberius goes to Capreæ 26
Sejanus disgraced 31
Our Saviour crucified, Friday, April 3rd. _This is put four
years earlier by some chronologists_ 33
St. Paul converted to Christianity 35
Tiberius dies at Misenum, near Baiæ, March 16th, and is
succeeded by Caligula. About this time flourished Valerius
Maximus, Columella, Pomponius Mela, Appion, Philo Judæus,
Artabanus, and Agrippina 37
St. Matthew writes his Gospel 39
The name of christians first given, at Antioch, to the
followers of our Saviour 40
Caligula murdered by Chæreas, and succeeded by Claudius 41
The expedition of Claudius into Britain 43
St. Mark writes his Gospel 44
Secular games celebrated at Rome 47
Caractacus carried in chains to Rome 51
Claudius succeeded by Nero 54
Agrippina put to death by her son Nero 59
First persecution against the christians 64
Seneca, Lucan, and others put to death 65
Nero visits Greece. The Jewish war begins. The age of
Persius, Quintus Curtius, Pliny the elder, Josephus,
Frontinus, Burrhus, Corbulo, Thrasea, Boadicea, &c. 66
St. Peter and St. Paul put to death 67
Nero dies, and is succeeded by Galba 68
Galba put to death. Otho, defeated by Vitellius, kills
himself. Vitellius is defeated by Vespasian’s army 69
Jerusalem taken and destroyed by Titus 70
The Parthians revolt 77
Death of Vespasian, and succession of Titus. Herculaneum
and Pompeii destroyed by an eruption of mount Vesuvius,
November 1st 79
Death of Titus, and succession of Domitian. The age of
Silius Italicus, Martial, Apollon. Tyanæus, Valerius
Flaccus, Solinus, Epictetus, Quintilian, Lupus, Agricola,
&c. 81
Capitoline games instituted by Domitian, and celebrated
every fourth year 86
Secular games celebrated. The war with Dacia begins, and
continues 15 years 88
Second persecution of the christians 95
Domitian put to death by Stephanus, &c., and succeeded by
Nerva. The age of Juvenal, Tacitus, Statius, &c. 96
Nerva dies, and is succeeded by Trajan 98
Pliny proconsul of Bithynia sends Trajan an account of the
christians 102
Dacia reduced to a Roman province 103
Trajan’s expedition against Parthia. About this time
flourished Florus, Suetonius, Pliny junior, Philo Biblius,
Dion, Prusæus, Plutarch, &c. 106
Third persecution of the christians 107
Trajan’s column erected at Rome 114
Trajan dies, and is succeeded by Adrian 117
Fourth persecution of the christians 118
Adrian builds a wall in Britain 121
Adrian visits Asia and Egypt for seven years 126
He rebuilds Jerusalem, and raises there a temple to Jupiter 130
The Jews rebel, and are defeated after a war of five years,
and all banished 131
Adrian dies, and is succeeded by Antoninus Pius. In the
reign of Adrian flourished Teon, Phavorinus, Phlegon,
Trallian, Aristides, Aquila, Salvius Julian, Polycarp,
Arian, Ptolemy, &c. 138
Antoninus defeats the Moors, Germans, and Dacians 145
The worship of Serapis brought to Rome 146
Antoninus dies, and is succeeded by Marcus Aurelius and
Lucius Verus, the last of whom reigned nine years.
In the reign of Antoninus flourished Maximus Tyrius,
Pausanias, Diophantus, Lucian, Hermogenes, Polyænus,
Appian, Artemidorus, Justin the martyr, Apuleius, &c. 161
A war with Parthia, which continues three years 162
A war against the Marcomanni, which continues five years 169
Another, which continues three years 177
Marcus Aurelius dies, and Commodus succeeds. In the last
reign flourished Galen, Athenagoras, Tatian, Athenæus,
Montanus, Diogenes, Laërtius 180
Commodus makes peace with the Germans 181
Commodus put to death by Martia and Lætus. He is succeeded
for a few months by Pertinax, who is murdered 193; and
four rivals arise, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger,
Severus, and Albinus. Under Commodus flourished Julius
Pollux, Theodotion, St. Irenæus, &c. 192
Niger is defeated by Severus at Issus 194
Albinus defeated in Gaul, and killed at Lyons, February 19th 198
Severus conquers the Parthians 200
Fifth persecution against the christians 202
Severus visits Britain, and two years after builds a wall
there across from the Frith of Forth 207
Severus dies at York, and is succeeded by Caracalla and
Geta. In his reign flourished Tertullian, Minutius
Felix, Papinianus, Clemens of Alexandria, Philostratus,
Plotianus, and Bulas 211
Geta killed by his brother Caracalla 212
The Septuagint discovered. Caracalla murdered by Macrinus.
Flourished Oppian 217
Opilius ♦Macrinus killed by the soldiers, and succeeded by
Heliogabalus 218
♦ ‘Macrinius’ replaced with ‘Macrinus’
Alexander Severus succeeds Heliogabalus. The Goths then
exacted an annual payment not to invade or molest the
Roman empire. The age of Julius Africanus 222
The Arsacidæ of Parthia are conquered by Artaxerxes king
of Media, and their empire destroyed 229
Alexander defeats the Persians 234
The sixth persecution against the christians 235
Alexander killed and succeeded by Maximinus. At that time
flourished Dion Cassius, Origen, and Ammonius 235
The two Gordians succeeded Maximinus, and are put to death
by Pupienus, who soon after is destroyed, with Balbinus,
by the soldiers of the younger Gordian 236
Sarbinianus defeated in Africa 240
Gordian marches against the Persians 242
He is put to death by Philip, who succeeds, and makes peace
with Sapor the next year. About this time flourished
Censorius, and Gregory Thaumaturgus 244
Philip killed, and succeeded by Decius. Herodian flourished 249
The seventh persecution against the christians 250
Decius succeeded by Gallus 251
A great pestilence over the empire 252
Gallus dies, and is succeeded by Æmilianus, Valerianus, and
Gallienus. In the reign of Gallus flourished St. Cyprian
and Plotinus 254
The eighth persecution against the christians 257
The empire is harassed by 30 tyrants successively 258
Valerian is taken by Sapor and flayed alive 260
Odenatus governs the east for Gallienus 264
The Scythians and Goths defeated by Cleodamus and Athenæus 267
Gallienus killed, and succeeded by Claudius. In this reign
flourished Longinus, Paulus Samosatenus, &c. 268
Claudius conquers the Goths, and kills 300,000 of them.
Zenobia takes possession of Egypt 269
Aurelian succeeds 270
The ninth persecution against the christians 272
Zenobia defeated by Aurelian at Edessa 273
Dacia ceded to the Barbarians by the emperor 274
Aurelian killed, and succeeded by Tacitus, who died after a
reign of six months, and was succeeded by Florianus, and,
two months after, by Probus 275
Probus makes an expedition into Gaul 277
He defeats the Persians in the east 280
Probus is put to death, and succeeded by Carus, and his
sons Carinus and Numerianus 282
Diocletian succeeds 284
The empire attacked by the Barbarians of the north.
Diocletian takes Maximianus as his imperial colleague 286
Britain recovered, after a tyrant’s usurpation of 10 years.
Alexandria taken by Diocletian 296
The tenth persecution against the christians, which
continues 10 years 303
Diocletian and Maximianus abdicate the empire, and live in
retirement, succeeded by Constantius Chlorus and Galerius
Maximianus the two Cæsars. About this period flourished
Julius Capitolinus, Arnobius, Gregory and Hermogenes the
lawyers, Ælius Spartianus, Hierocles, Flavius Vopiscus,
Trebellius Pollio, &c. 304
Constantius dies, and is succeeded by his son 306
At this time there were four emperors, Constantine,
Licinius, Maximianus, and Maxentius 308
Maxentius defeated and killed by Constantine 312
The emperor Constantine begins to favour the christian
religion 319
Licinius defeated and banished by Constantine 324
The first general Council of Nice, composed of 318 bishops,
who sit from June 19th to August 25th 325
The seat of the empire removed from Rome to Constantinople 328
Constantinople solemnly dedicated by the emperor on the
11th of May 330
Constantine orders all the heathen temples to be destroyed 331
The death of Constantine, and succession of his three sons,
Constantinus, Constans, and Constantius. In the reign of
Constantine flourished Lactantius, Athanasius, Arius, and
Eusebius 337
Constantine the younger defeated and killed by Constans at
Aquilea 340
Constans killed in Spain by Magnentius 350
Gallus put to death by Constantius 354
One hundred and fifty cities of Greece and Asia ruined by
an earthquake 358
Constantius and Julian quarrel, and prepare for war; but
the former dies the next year, and leaves the latter
sole emperor. About this period flourished Ælius Donatus,
Eutropius, Libanius, Ammian. Marcellinus, Jamblicus,
St. Hilary, &c. 360
Julian dies, and is succeeded by Jovian. In Julian’s reign
flourished Gregory Nazienzen, Themistius, Aurelius Victor,
&c. 363
Upon the death of Jovian, and the succession of Valens
and Valentinian, the empire is divided, the former being
emperor of the east, and the other of the west 364
Gratian taken as partner in the western empire by
Valentinian 367
Firmus tyrant of Africa defeated 373
Valentinian II. succeeds Valentinian I. 375
The Goths permitted to settle in Thrace, on being expelled
by the Huns 376
Theodosius the Great succeeds Valens in the eastern empire.
The Lombards first leave Scandinavia and defeat the
Vandals 379
Gratian defeated and killed by Andragathius 383
The tyrant Maximus defeated and put to death by Theodosius 388
Eugenius usurps the western empire, and is two years after
defeated by Theodosius 392
Theodosius dies, and is succeeded by his sons, Arcadius
in the east and Honorius in the west. In the reign of
Theodosius flourished Ausonius, Eunapius, Pappus, Theon,
Prudentius, St. Austin, St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, &c. 395
Gildo, defeated by his own brother, kills himself 398
Stilicho defeats 200,000 of the Goths at Fesulæ 405
The Vandals, Alani, and Suevi permitted to settle in Spain
and France by Honorius 406
Theodosius the younger succeeds Arcadius in the east,
having Isdegerdes king of Persia as his guardian,
appointed by his father 408
Rome plundered by Alaric king of the Visigoths, August 24th 410
The Vandals begin their kingdom in Spain 412
The kingdoms of the Burgundians is begun in Alsace 413
The Visigoths found a kingdom at Toulouse 415
The Alani defeated and extirpated by the Goths 417
The kingdom of the French begins on the Lower Rhine 420
The death of Honorius, and succession of Valentinian III.
Under Honorius flourished Sulpicius Severus, Macrobius,
Anianus, Panodorus, Stobæus, Servius the commentator,
Hypatia, Pelagius, Synesius, Cyrill, Orosius, Socrates,
&c. 423
Theodosius establishes public schools at Constantinople,
and attempts the restoration of learning 425
The Romans take leave of Britain and never return 426
Pannonia recovered from the Huns by the Romans. The Vandals
pass into Africa 427
The French defeated by Ætius 428
The Theodosian code published 435
Genseric the Vandal takes Carthage, and begins the kingdom
of the Vandals in Africa 439
The Britons, abandoned by the Romans, make their celebrated
complaint to Ætius against the Picts and Scots, and
three years after the Saxons settle in Britain, upon the
invitation of Vortigern 446
Attila king of the Huns ravages Europe 447
Theodosius II. dies, and is succeeded by Marcianus. About
this time flourished Zozimus, Nestorius, Theodoret,
Sozomen, Olympiodorus, &c. 450
The city of Venice first began to be known 452
Death of Valentinian III., who is succeeded by Maximus for
two months, by Avitus for 10, and, after an interregnum
of 10 months, by Majorianus 454
Rome taken by Genseric in July. The kingdom of Kent first
established 455
The Suevi defeated by Theodoric on the Ebro 456
Marcianus dies, and is succeeded by Leo, surnamed the
Thracian. Vortimer defeated by Hengist at Crayford, in
Kent 457
Severus succeeds in the western empire 461
The paschal cycle of 532 years invented by Victorius of
Aquitain 463
♦Anthemius succeeds in the western empire, after an
interregnum of two years 467
♦ ‘Athemius’ replaced with ‘Anthemius’
Olybrius succeeds Anthemius, and is succeeded, the next
year, by Glycerius, and Glycerius by Nepos 472
Nepos is succeeded by Augustulus. Leo junior, son of
Ariadne, though an infant, succeeds his grandfather
Leo in the eastern empire, and, some months after, is
succeeded by his father Zeno 474
The western empire is destroyed by Odoacer king of the
Heruli, who assumes the title of king of Italy. About
this time flourished Eutyches, Prosper, Victorius,
Sidonius Apollinaris 476
Constantinople partly destroyed by an earthquake, which
lasted 40 days at intervals 480
The battle of Soissons and victory of Clovis over Siagrius
the Roman general 485
After the death of Zeno in the east, Ariadne married
Anastasius, surnamed the Silentiary, who ascends the
vacant throne 491
Theodoric king of the Ostrogoths revolts about this time,
and conquers Italy from the Heruli. About this time
flourished Boethius and Symmachus 493