Aristomenes, who was wonderfully preserved and en- | unparalleled among Grecian heroes. Inexhaustible in abled to escape, and, returning to Ira, soon gave resources, unconquerable in spirit, and resolutely perproof to the enemy of his presence by fresh exploits severing through every extremity of hopeless disaster, equally daring and judicious. The siege was protract- an ardent patriot and a formidable warrior, he yet was ed till the eleventh year, when the Lacedæmonian formed to find his happiness in peace; and after passcommander, one stormy night, learning that a post in ing his youth under oppression, and his manhood in the fort had been quitted by its guard, silently occu- war against a cruel enemy, wherein he is said to have Fied it with his troops. Aristomenes flew to the spot slain more than 300 men with his own hand, he yet and commenced a vigorous defence, the women assist- retained a singular gentleness of nature, insomuch ing by throwing tiles from the house-tops, and many, that he is related to have wept at the fate of the traitor when driven thence by the storm, even taking arms Aristocrates. The original injustice and subsequent and mixing in the fight. But the superior numbers of tyranny of the Lacedæmonians, with the crowning outthe Lacedæmonians enabled them constantly to bring rage in the condemnation as rebels of himself and his up fresh troops, while the Messenians were fighting companions, might have driven a meaner spirit to without rest or pause, with the tempest driving in acts of like barbarity: but, deep as was his hatred their faces. Cold, wet, sleepless, jaded, and hungry, to Sparta, he conducted the struggle with uniform they kept up the struggle for three nights and two obedience to the laws of war, and sometimes, as in days; at length, when all was vain, they formed their the case of the virgins taken at Caryæ, with more column, placing in the middle their women and chil- than usual generosity and strictness of morals.dren and most portable effects, and resolved to make The Messenians who remained in their country were their way out of the place. Aristomenes demanded treated with the greatest severity by the Spartans, a passage, which was granted by the enemy, unwilling and reduced to the condition of Helots or slaves. to risk the effects of their despair. Their march was This cruel oppression induced them once more to towards Arcadia, where they were most kindly re- take up arms, in the 79th Olympiad, and to fortify ceived, and allotments were offered them of land. Mount Ithome, where they defended themselves for Even yet Aristomenes hoped to strike a blow for the ten years: the Lacedæmonians being at this time deliverance of his country. He selected 500 Messe- so greatly reduced in numbers by an earthquake, nians, who were joined by 300 Arcadian volunteers, which destroyed several of their towns, that they and resolved to attempt the surprise of Sparta while were compelled to have recourse to their allies for asthe army was in the farthest part of Messenia, where sistance. (Thucyd, 1, 101.—Pausan., 4, 24.) At Pylos and Methone still held out. But the enterprise length the Messenians, worn out by this protracted was frustrated by Aristocrates, who sent word of it to siege, agreed to surrender the place on condition that Sparta. The messenger was seized on his return, they should be allowed to retire from the Peloponneand the letters found on him discovering both the pres-sus The Athenians were at this time on no friendly ent and former treachery of his master, the indignant terms with the Spartans, and gladly received the refupeople stoned the traitor to death, and erected a pillar gees of Ithome, allowing them to settle at Naupactus, to commemorate his infamy.-The Messenians, who which they had taken from the Locri Ozola. (Thu fell under the power of Lacedæmon, were made He- cyd, 1, 103.-Pausan., l. c.) Grateful for the protec lots. The Pylians and Methonæans, and others on tion thus afforded them, the Messenians displayed great the coast, now giving up all hope of farther resistance, zeal in the cause of Athens during the Peloponnesian proposed to. their countrymen in Arcadia to join them war. Thucydides has recorded several instances in in seeking some fit place for a colony, and requested which they rendered important services to that power, Aristomenes to be their leader. He sent his son. not only at Naupactus, but in Ætolia and Amphilochia, For himself, he said, he would never cease to war at Pylos, and in the island of Sphacteria, as well as in with Lacedæmon, and he well knew that, while he the Sicilian expedition. When, however, the disaster lived, some ill would ever be happening to it. After of Egospotamos placed Athens at the mercy of her the former war, the town of Rhegium in Italy had rival, the Spartans obtained possession of Naupactus, been partly peopled by expelled Messenians. The ex- and compelled the Messenians to quit a town which iles were now invited by the Rhegians to assist them had so long afforded them refuge. Many of these, on against Zancle, a hostile Grecian town on the oppo- this occasion, crossed over into Sicily, to join their site coast of Sicily, and in case of victory the town countrymen who were established there, and others was offered them as a settlement. Zancle was be- sailed to Africa, where they procured settlements sieged, and the Messenians having mastered the walls, among the Evesperita, a Libyan people. (Pausan., the inhabitants were at their mercy. In the common 4, 26.) After the battle of Leuctra, however, which course of Grecian warfare, they would all have been humbled the pride of Sparta, and paved the way for either slaughtered or sold for slaves, and such was the the ascendancy of Thebes, Epaminondas, who directed wish of the Rhegian prince. But Aristomenes had the counsels of the latter republic, with masterly pol taught his followers a nobler lesson. They refused to icy determined to restore the Messenian nation, by inflict on other Greeks what they had suffered from collecting the remnants of this brave and warlike peothe Lacedæmonians, and made a convention with the pie. He accordingly despatched agents to Sicily, ItZancleans, by which each nation was to live on equal aly, and Africa, whither the Messenians had emigraterms in the city. The name of the town was chanted, to recall them to their ancient homes, there to ged to Messana. (Vid. Messana.)-Aristomenes vain- enjoy the blessings of peace and liberty, under the ly sought the means of farther hostilities against Spar-powerful protection of Thebes, Argos, an Arcadia, ta, but his remaining days were passed in tranquillity Gladly did they obey the summons of the Thebar with Damagetus, prince of Ialysus in Rhodes, who had married his daughter. His actions dwelt in the memories of his countrymen, and cheered them in their wanderings and sufferings: and from their legendary songs, together with those of the Lacedæmonians, and with the poems of Tyrtæus, the story of the two Messenian wars has been chiefly gathered by the learned and careful antiquary Pausanias, from whose work it is here taken The character of Aristomenes, as thus represented, combines all the elements of goodness and greatness, in a degree almost

general, and hastened to return to that country, the
recollection of which they had ever fondly cherished.
Epaminondas, meanwhile, had made every preparation
for the erection of a city under Ithome, which was to
be the metropolis of Messenia; and such was the zeal
and activity displayed by the Thebans and their allies
in this great undertaking, that the city, which they
named Messene, was completed in eighty-five days.
(Diod Sic., 15, 66.) The entrance of the Messenians,
which took place in the fourth year of the 1028 Olym
piad, was attended with great pomp, and the celebra-

METAPONTUM, a city of Lucania in Italy, on the coast of the Sinus Tarentinus, and a short distance to the south of the river Bradanus. It was one of the METAURUS, I. a river in the territory of the Bruttii, most distinguished of the Greek colonies. The ori- running into the Tyrrhene or Lower sea. The town ginal name of the place appears to have been Metaburn, of Metaurum is supposed to have stood at or near its which it is said was derived from Metabus, a hero to mouth. It is now called the Marro, and sometimes whom divine honours were paid. Some reports as the Petrace. (Cluver., It. Ant., vol. 2, p. 1292.) It cribed its foundation to a party of Pylians on their re-appears to have been noted for the excellence of the

chunny fish caught at its mouth. (Athen., 7, 63.) Stra- | the preceding, belonged to the same political party as bo speaks of a port of the same name, which may have his father, and supported Sylla in his contest with Mabeen the town of Metaurum. (Strab., 256.-Cramer's rius. Metellus received especial marks of favour from Anc. Italy, vol. 2, p. 423.)—II. A river of Umbria, in Italy, flowing into the Adriatic. It was rendered memorable by the defeat of Hasdrubal, the brother of Hannibal. The Roman forces were commanded by the consuls Livius Salinator and Claudius Nero, A.U.C 545. It is now the Metro. The battle must have taken place near the modern Fossombrone, and on the left bank of the Metaurus. Though Livy has given no precise description of the spot, it may be collected that it was in that part of the course of the river where it begins to be enclosed between high and steep rocks (27, 47). Tradition has preserved a record of the event in the name of a hill between Fossombrone and the pass of Furba, called Monte d'Asdrubale. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 261.)

Sylla, and was consul with him B.C. 80. He was sent, in B.C. 78, against Sertorius in Spain, where he appears to have remained till the conclusion of the war, in B.C. 72. From the year 76 B.C., Pompey was his colleague in command, and they triumphed together at the end of the war. (Vell. Patere, 2, 30.— Eutrop,, 6, 5-Plut., Vit. Pomp) Metellus was Pontifex Maximus; and on his death, B.C. 63, in the consolship of Cicero, he was succeeded in that dignity by Julius Cæsar. (Encycl. Us. Knowl., vol. 15, p 137) METHODIUS, I. surnamed Eubulius, a father of the church, and a martyr, flourished at the beginning of the fourth century. He was at first bishop of Olympus of Patara in Lycia, but was afterward translated to the see of Tyre. This latter station, however, he occupied only a short time. His zeal for the purity of the Christian faith exposed him to the resentment of the Arians; he was exiled to Chalcidice in Syria, and there received the crown of martyrdom, A.D. 312. He was the author of a long poem against Porphyry; a treatise on the Resurrection, against Origen; another on the Pythoness; another on Free Will; a dialogue entitled "The Banquet of the Virgins," &c. Several fragments of this author have been collected. The

METELLI, a distinguished family of the Cæcilian gens in Rome. Those most worthy of notice are: I. Q. Cæcilius Metellus Macedonicus, was sent, when prætor (B C. 148), into Macedonia, against Andriscus, who pretended to be a son of Perseus, the last king of Macedonia, and who had excited a revolt against the Romans. In this war Andriscus was defeated and taken prisoner by Metellus, who obtained, in consequence, a triumph, and the surname of Macedonicus. (Livy, Epit., 50-Pausanias. 7, 13, 1.—Eu- Banquet of the Virgins" has reached us entire. It trop., 4. 13.) In his consulship, B.C. 143, Metellus was first published at Rome, 1656, 8vo. with a Latin was sent into Spain to oppose Viriathus, who had ob- version and a Dissertation by Leo Allatius. It is a tained possession of the whole of Lusitania, and had dialogue on the excellence of chastity, modelled after defeated successively the prætors Vetilius and Plautius. the Banquet of Plato. The best edition is that of FaMetellus remained in Spain two years, and obtained bricius, appended to the second volume of the works of several victories; but was superseded in the command, St. Hyppolitus, Hamb., 1718.-II. A patriarch of Conbefore the conclusion of the war, by Pompey. (Liv., stantinople, born at Syracuse about the commenceEpit., 52, 53.-Val. Max, 3, 2, 21.—Id., 7, 4, 5.- ment of the ninth century. After various difficulties, Id, 9, 3, 7.-Appian, Iher, 76.) During the cen- into which he was plunged by his attachment to the sorship of Metellus and Pompey, B.C. 131, it was de- worship of images, and the opposition of the Icono creed that all citizens should be obliged to marry. The clasts, he obtained the see of Constantinople, A.D. oration which Metellus delivered on this subject was 842. His first act after his accession to the episcopal extant in the time of Livy, and is referred to by Suetoni- office was to assemble a council and re-establish the us. (Liv, Epit., 59. Suet, Vit. Aug., 89.) We worship of images. He died A.D. 846. He was the are told by Livy and Pliny, that, when Metellus was author of several works, which are given by Combefis returning one day from the Campus Martius, he was in his Bibliotheca Patrum. —III. A monk and painter, seized by command of C. Attinius Labeo, a tribune of born at Thessalonica, and who flourished about the the commons, whom he had in his censorship expelled middle of the 9th century. He is celebrated for hav from the senate, and was dragged to the Tarpeian rock;ing converted to Christianity Bogoris, king of the Bul and that it was with the greatest difficulty that his friends were enabled to preserve his life by obtaining another tribune to put his veto upon the order of Attinius. (Liv., Epit., 59.—Plin., 7, 45) Pliny refers to Metellus as an extraordmary example of human happiness: "For, besides the possession of the highest dignities," says the Roman writer," and having obtained a surname from the conquest of Macedonia, he was carried to the funeral pile by four sons, of whom one had been prætor, three had been consuls, two had enjoyed a triumph, and one had been censor." (Plin., 7, 45.)-II. Q. Cæcilius Metellus Numidicus, derived his surname from his victories in Numidia, whither he was sent in his consulship, B.C. 109, in order to oppose Jugurtha. He remained in Numidia, B.C. 108, as proconsul; but, in the beginning of the following year, he was superseded in the command by Marius, who had previously been his legatus or lieutenantgeneral. On his return to Rome Metellus obtained the honours of a triumph. (Sallust, Bell. Jug.-Velleius Paterc., 2, 11.-Eutropius, 4, 27-Liv, Epit., 65) Metellus was censor B.C. 102. He took an active part in the civil commotions of his time, and was one of the most powerful supporters of the aristocratical party. In B.C. 100 he was obliged to go into exile, in consequence of opposing the measures of the tribune Saturninus; but, on the execution of the latter, Metellus was recalled from exile in the following year. (Vid Marius.)—III. Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius, son of

garians, by means of a picture representing the scenes of the last judgment. (Biogr. Univ., vol. 28, p. 465.)

METHONE, I. a city of Macedonia, about forty stadia north of Pydna, according to the epitomist of Stra bo (330). It was celebrated in history from the cir cumstance of Philip's having lost an eye in besieging the place. (Strab., 1. c.-Demosth., Olynth., 1, 9.) That it was a Greek colony we learn from Scylax (Peripl., p. 26), and also Plutarch, who reports that a party of Eretrians settled there, naming the place Methone, from Methon, an ancestor of Orpheus. He adds, that these Greek colonists were termed Aposphendone ti by the natives. (Quest. Græc.) It appears from Athenæus that Aristotle wrote an account of the Methonean commonwealth (6, 27). This town was occupied by the Athenians towards the close of the Peloponnesian war, with a view of annoying Perdiccas by ravaging his territory and affording a refuge to his discontented subjects. When Philip, the son of Amyntas, succeeded to the crown, the Athenians, who still held Methone, landed three thousand men, in order to establish Argeus on the throne of Macedon; they were, however, defeated by the young prince, and driven back to Methone. Several years after, Philip laid siege to this place, which at the end of twelve months capitulated. The inhabitants having evacua ted the town, the walls were razed to the ground. (Diod., 16, 34.) Dr. Clarke and Dr. Holland concur in supposing that the site of Methone answers to that

85.) Towards the close of the Peloponnesian war, Methymna fell into the power of the Spartan commander Callicratidas, who, though urged to treat the citizens with severity, and to sell them as slaves, refused to comply with the advice, declaring that, as long as he was admiral, no Greek, as far as lay in his

The best Lesbian wine was obtained from an adjacent territory belonging to this city (Ovid, A. A., 1, 57), and hence Bacchus was frequently called the god of Methymna. (Athenæus, 8, p. 363, b.—Puusan., 10, 19.) According to Strabo, this city was the na tive place of the historian Hellanicus. (Strab., 616.) It was also the birthplace of Arion, whose adventure with the dolphin is related by Herodotus (1, 23).— The modern name, according to D'Anville, is Porto Petera; but Olivier (vol. 2, p. 87) makes Molivo, which others write Molina, correspond to the site of the ancient city. (Compare De Sinner, ad Bondelmont., Ins. Archipel., p. 219.- Cramer's Asia Minor, vol. 1, p. 160.)

METIS (Prudence), daughter of Oceanus, was the first wife of Jupiter, and exceeded gods and men in knowledge. Heaven and Earth, however, having told Jupiter that the first child of Metis, a maid, would equal him in strength and counsel; and that her second, a son, would be king of gods and men, he deceived her when she was pregnant, and swallowed her; and, after a time, the goddess Minerva sprang from his head. (Apollod, 1, 3, 6.) Metis is said to have given a potion to Saturn, which compelled him to vomit up the offspring whom he had swallowed.— (Apollod, 1, 2, 1.)

of Leuterochori. (Cramer's Anc. Greece, vol. 1, p. | lene, a circumstance which appears to have created 216.) — M. A city of Thessaly, noticed by Homer considerable rivalry between them, and probably in (I., 2, 716), and situate, like the preceding, on the duced the Methymneans to adhere to the Athenians, seacoast. It must not, however, be confounded with while their neighbours were bent on detaching themthe Macedonian one, an error into which Stephanus selves from that power. (Thucyd., 3, 2, 18.) As a seems to have fallen (s. v. Mɛ0úvn.)—III. A city of reward for their fidelity, the Methymneans were exMessenia, on the western coast, below Pylos Messe-empted from contributions in money. (Thurył., 6, niacus. According to Pausanias, the name was Mothone. Tradition reported, that it was so called from Mothone, the daughter of Eneas; but it more probably derived its name from the rock Mothon, which formned the breakwater of its harbour. (Pausan., 4, 35.) Strabo informs us, that, in the opinion of many writers, Methone should be identified with Pedasus, rank-power, should be enslaved. (Xen., Hist. Gr., 1, 6, 8.) ed by Homer among the seven towns which Agamemnon offered to Achilles. (It., 9, 1294.-Strab, 359.) Pausanias makes the same observation. In the Peloponnesian war Methone was attacked by some Athenian troops, who were conveyed thither in a fleet sent to ravage the coast of the Peloponnesus; but Brasidas, who was quartered in the neighbourhood, having forced his way through the enemy's line, threw himself into the town with 100 men, which timely succour obliged the Athenians to re-embark their troops. (Thucyd., 2,25.) Methone subsequently received a colony of Nauplians: these, being expelled their native city by the Argives, were established here by the Lacedæmonians. (Pausan, 4, 35.) Many years after, it sustained great loss from the sudden attack of some Illyrian pirates, who carried off a number of inhabitants, both men and women. Methone was afterward besieged and taken by Agrippa, who had the command of a Roman fleet: that general having found here Bocchus (Boyos), king of Mauritania, caused him to be put to death as a partisan of Marc Antony. (Strab., 359.) We learn from Pausanias that Trajan especially favoured this city, and bestowed several privileges on its inhabitants. Sir W. Gell states, that at about 2700 paces to the east of Modon is a place called Palaio Mothone, where are vestiges of a city. Modon is a Greek town of some size, with a fortress METTUS, OF METTIUS FUFFETIUS, I. dictator of Albuilt by the Venetians. (Cramer's Anc. Greece, vol. ba. He fought against the Romans in the reign of 3, p. 137.)-IV. or Methana, a peninsula of Argolis, Tullus Hostilius, and agreed at length with the foe within the district of Trazene, formed by the harbour to leave the issue of the war to a combat between or bay of Pogon on one side, and the curvature of the three Horatii and three Curiatii. Beholding with the Epidaurian Gulf on the other, and connected with pain his country subdued by the defeat of the latter, the mainland by a narrow isthmus, which the Athe-he imagined that he should be able to recover her nians occupied and fortified in the seventh year of the freedom for her by joining with the Fidenates, who Peloponnesian war. (Thucyd.,4,45.) Diodorus Sic- had attempted, during the late war, to shake off the ulus says it was taken by the same people under Tol- Roman yoke. Secretly encouraged by him, they took mides, in the interval between the Persian and Pelo, the field, and advanced to the neighbourhood of Rome, ponnesian wars: and this is perhaps the meaning of in conjunction with the Veientes, their allies. FuffeThucydides, when he says that, on peace being made, tius had promised to abandon the Romans, and go or, rather, a truce for thirty years, Trazene, among over to the Fidenates and Veientes in the middle of other towns, was restored to the Peloponnesians. the engagement. He had not courage enough to keep (Thucyd., 1, 115.) Within the peninsula was a small his word, but proved a traitor alike to the Romans town, also called Methone, which possessed a temple and to his new allies, by drawing off his troops from of Isis. About thirty stadia from the town were to the line of battle, and yet not marching over to the some hot springs, produced by the eruption foe, but waiting to see which side would conquer. of a volcano in the reign of Antigonus Gonatas. The Romans gained the victory, and Fuffetius was (Pausan., 2, 34.) Dodwell says, that "the moun- torn asunder by being attached to two four-horse chartainous promontory of Methana consists chiefly of a iots, that were driven in different directions. (Liv., volcanic rock of a dark colour. The outline is grand 1, 23, seqq.)-The common form of the name is Metand picturesque, and the principal mountain which tus Fuffetius, but the more correct one is Meltius, as was thrown up by the volcano is of a conical form. is shown by Niebuhr (Rom. Hist., vol. 1, p. 299, Eng. Its apparent height is about equal to that of Vesu- transl.)-II. Tarpa, a critic. (Vid. Tarpa.) vius." The ancient city of Methone, according to METON, a celebrated astronomer, who lived at Aththe same intelligent traveller," was situated in the ens in the fifth century B.C. He was, according plain, at the foot of its acropolis, near which are a few to some, a Lacedæmonian (Aákwv), but the best auremains of two edifices." (Dodwell, vol. 2, p. 281.-thorities call him a Leuconian (AEUKOVLEVC). He is Cramer's Anc. Greece, vol. 3, p. 269, seqq.) said to have pretended insanity in order not to go METHYMNA, a city of Lesbos, lying opposite to As- with the Athenian expedition against Syracuse, the sus in Troas, and situate, according to Ptolemy, near disastrous termination of which he plainly foresaw.→ the northernmost point of the island. It was, next to The solstices which Meton observed with Euctemon Mytilene, the most important city of Lesbos. The are preserved by Ptolemy. He is best known, howterritory of the place was contiguous to that of Myti-ever, as the founder of the celebrated lunar cycle,

be seen

called "the Metonic" after his name, and which is This city is farther memorable as the birthplace of still preserved by the Western churches in their com- Propertius, a fact of which he himself inforins us (4, putation of Easter. This cycle takes its rise as fol-1, 21). It is now an obscure village, which still, lows: 235 revolutions of the moon are very nearly 19 however, retains some traces of the original name in revolutions of the sun, and one complete revolution of that of Bevagna. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. the moon's node. If these approximations were exact, 269.) all the relative phenomena of the sun and moon, particularly those of eclipses, would recommence in the same order, at the end of every 19 years. There is, however, an error of some hours in every cycle. The first year of the first Metonic period commenced with the summer solstice of the year 432 B.C.; and if the reckoning had been continuous, what is now called the golden number of any year would have denoted the year of the Metonic cycle, if the summer solstice had continued to be the commencement of the year. On reckoning, however, it will be found that A.D. 1, which is made the first year of a period of 19 years, would have been part of the fourteenth and part of the fifteenth of a Metonic cycle. (Ideler, über den Cyclus des Meton.-Abhand. Acad., Berlin, 1814-1815, Hist. Philol. Cl., p. 230.—Encycl. Us. Knowl., vol. 15, p. 144.) “It has been suspected," observes Dr. Hale, “and not without foundation, that the celebrated lunar cycle of 19 years, which Meton introduced into Greece for the adjustment of their lunar year with the solar, was borrowed from the ancient Jewish tables. This was the opinion of the learned Anatolius, bishop of Laodicea, about A.D. 270." (Hale's Chronology, vol. 1, p. 66.)

METROCLES, a disciple of Crates. He had previously been a follower of Theophrastus and Xenocrates; but when he commenced cynic, he committed their works to the flames, as the useless dreams of idle speculation. In his old age he became so dissatisfied with the world that he strangled himself. (Enfield, Hist. Philos., vol. 1, p. 314.)

METRODORUS, I. an intimate friend of Epicurus. He first attached himself to that philosopher at Lampsacus, and continued with him till his death. He maintained the cause of his friend and master with great intrepidity, both by his discourses and his writings, against the Sophists and Dialectics, and consequently partook largely of the obloquy which fell upon his sect. (Cic., Tusc. Quæst., 2, 3.-Id., de Fin., 2, 3.) Plutarch charges him with having reprobated the folly of his brother Timocrates in aspiring to the honours of wisdom, while nothing was of any value but eating and drinking, and indulging the animal appetites. (Adv. Colot.-Op.. ed. Reiske, vol. 10, p. 624, seqq.) But it is probable that this calumny originated with Timocrates himself, who, from a personal quarrel with Metrodorus, deserted the sect, and therefore can deserve little credit. (Enfield, Hist. Phil., vol. 1, p. 456.—Jonsius, Hist. Phil., 1, 2, 6.Menage ad Ding. Laert., 10, 22.)-II. A painter and philosopher of Stratonicea, B.C. 171. He was sent to Paulus Æmilius, who, after his victory over Perseus, king of Macedonia, B.C. 168, requested of the Athenians a philosopher and a painter, the former to instruct his children, and the latter to make a painting of his triumphs. Metrodorus was sent, as uniting in himself both characters: and he gave satisfaction in both to the Roman general. (Plin., 35, 11.-Cic., de Fin., 5, 1, de Orat., 4.)

MEVANIA, a city of Umbria, on the river Tinia, in the southwestern angle of the country, and to the northwest of Spoletium. It was famous for its wideextended plains and rich pastures. (Colum., 3, 8.) Strabo mentions Mevania as one of the most consider able cities of Umbria. (Strab., 227.-Compare Liv., 9, 41) Here Vitellius took post, as if determined to make a last stand for the empire against Vespasian, but soon after withdrew his forces. (Tacit., Hist., 3, 55.) If its walls, as Pliny says, were of brick, it could not be capable of much resistance (35, 14).

MEZENTIUS, king of Cære, at the time that Eneas was fabled to have landed in Italy. He is represented by Virgil as a monster of ferocity, wantonly murdering many of his subjects, and causing others, fastened face to face unto dead bodies, to expire amid loathsomeness and famine. His subjects, exasperated by his tyranny, expelled him from the throne. He and his son Lausus took refuge in the court of Turnus, whom they assisted in his war against Æneas. They both fell by the hand of the Trojan prince. The narrative of the combat in which they were slain is justly esteemed one of the most brilliant passages in the whole Eneid. Virgil has described Lausus as eminent for beauty of person, bravery, and filial piety; a pleasing contrast to his ferocious parent. The epithet contemptor dirûm was applied to Mezentius by Virgil, because he demanded of his subjects the first fruits of their lands and their flocks, instead of appropriating them in sacrifice to the gods. (Cato, ap. Macrob., Sat., 3, 5.—Virg, En., 8, 478.—Id. ib., 10, 762, seqq.)

MICIPSA, king of Numidia, eldest son of Masinissa, shared with his brothers Gulussa and Mastanabal the kingdom of their father, which had been divided among them by Scipio Emilianus. (Vid. Masinissa.) On the death of his brothers he became monarch of the whole country, about 146 B.C. Of a pacific disposition, Micipsa enjoyed a quiet reign, and proved the mildest of all the Numidian kings. Animated by the same enlightened policy as his father, he exerted him self strenuously for the civilization of his subjects, established a colony of Greeks in his capital, and assembled there a large number of learned and enlightened men. Although he had many children by numerous concubines, still Hiempsal and Adherbal were his fa vourite sons. Unhappily, however, he adopted his nephew, the famous Jugurtha, and declared hiin, by his will, joint heir to the kingdom along with his two sons just mentioned. This arrangement brought with it the ruin of his family and kingdom. (Vid. Jugurtha.)

MICON, I. a painter and statuary, contemporary with Polygnotus, who flourished about Olymp. 80. This artist has been noticed at great length by Bottiger (Archaol. Pict., 1, p. 254, seqq.). In ancient MSS. his name is sometimes written Múkov, sometimes Mýκwv or Níkov, but the more correct form is proba bly Míkov (Micon). Varro mentions him among the more ancient painters, whose errors were avoided by Apelles, Protogenes, and others. (L. L., 8, p. 129, ed. Bip.) Pliny states, that, in connexion with Polygnotus, he either invented some new colours, or employed those in use in his paintings on a better plan than that previously adopted. (Plin., 33, 13, 56 — Id., 35, 6, 25.) A list of some of his productions is given by Sillig (Dict. Art., s. v.).-II. Another painter, distinguished from the former by the epithet of "the Younger." His age and country are uncertain. (Plin. 35, 9, 35.) Böttiger confounds him with Micon I. (Sillig, Dict. Art., s. v.)-III. A statuary of Syracuse. At the request of the children of Hiero II, king of Syracuse, he made two statues of this inonarch, which were placed at Olympia, the one representing him on horseback, the other on foot. The death of Hiero took place B.C. 215; and as the statues in question were made soon after this event, we can decide with certainty on the age of Micon. (Sillig, Dict. Arl., s. v.)

MIDAS, an ancient king of the Brygians in Thrace, son of Gordius, and whose name is connected with some of the earliest mythological legends of the Greeks. According to one account, he possessed, at the foot of