accident that befell him. We have some fragments | garded as a kind of funeral offering to those who had of his writings remaining, an edition of which was committed suicide by hanging.-There is evidently given by Gumpert, with a preface by Grüner, Vimar., some analogy, in both form and meaning, between the 1794, 8vo. Asclepiades was the founder of a school, Latin term oscilla and the Greek dowλia, and the which enjoyed great celebrity among the ancients. common derivations given in either case cannot be Stephanus of Byzantium gives the names of several correct. (Consult the etymology given by Servius, ad of his pupils (s. v. Avрpúxov). A scholar of his, Virg., l. c.) not mentioned by the latter, namely, Themisto, was the chief of the sect of the Methodists, as they were termed. (Biogr. Univ., vol. 2, p. 564.-Sprengel, Hist. Med., 2, p. 3, seqq.)

ASCONIUS Pedianus, a grammarian, born at Patavium, a little before the commencement of our era (Madvig, de Pediani Comment. Disp. Crit., p. 16), and who is known to modern times by his commentary ASCLEPIODORUS, I. an Athenian painter, contempora- on the orations of Cicero. The statement of Philarry with Apelles, who praised the former for the symme-gyrius, that Asconius had heard Virgil in his youth, try of his productions, and yielded him the palm in delin- deserves no credit whatever (ad Virg., Eclog., 3, eating the relative distances of objects. Mnaso, a tyrant 106), since it is contradicted in effect by the remark of of antiquity, employed him to paint the twelve deities St. Jerome, who informs us, that Asconius, in the 73d (Dii majores), and paid him 300 minas (over $5277) year of his age, and in the 7th of Vespasian's reign, for each. (Pliny, 35, 10.)—II. A statuary, one of suffered the loss of his sight, but still lived for twelve those, according to Pliny (34, 8), who excelled in rep-years after this. (Hieron., in Chronic. Euseb., ad resenting the philosophers. (Sillig, Dict. Art., s. v.) Olymp. ccxiii., 3.) Just as little credit is due to the ASCLEPIODOTUS, a native of Alexandrea, the disci- supposition of there having been two individuals named ple of Jacobus in medicine and of Proclus in eclectic Asconius, an earlier one, who was the friend of Livy philosophy, in both of which he acquired a distinguish- and Virgil, and wrote a commentary on Cicero's oraed reputation. Damascius gave a long account of him tions, and a later one, who was an historical writer. in the Life of Isidorus, of which Suidas and Photius All antiquity knows but one Asconius Pedianus. have preserved fragments. In medicine he surpassed (Jos., Scal. Animadv. ad Euseb. Chron., p. 183, ed. his instructer, and is said to have re-established the 1.-p. 200, ed. 2.)—Few particulars have reached us use of white hellebore, with which he made some very relative to Asconius. He composed a work in desuccessful cures. He was well acquainted also with fence of Virgil, now lost (Donat., in Vit. Virg., 16, the virtues of plants, and with the history of animals; 64), and another on the life of Sallust, which also has and made great progress also in the musical art. not reached us. He wrote likewise a commentary on Some wonderful stories are likewise related of him, the Orations of Cicero, for the use of his own son (ad which would seem to place him in the class of Thau- Orat. pro Milon., 6), some portions of which have maturgists. He wrote a commentary on the Timæus reached our day. The importance of these makes of Plato, which is now lost. (Photius, Cod., 242, vol. us feel the more sensibly the loss of the other parts. 2, p. 343, seqq.) (Madvig, p. 72, seqq.) We have fragments of the commentary on nine orations of Cicero: the Divinatio, three of those against Verres, the oration for Cornelius, the oration in tog. candid., that against Piso, and those for Scaurus and for Milo. The character of this commentary is in general historical, and Asconius appears in it as a man well acquainted with the history and earlier constitution of Rome. Frequently he is our only authority for certain facts, since the sources from which he has drawn, in such cases, no longer exist. His Latinity is tolerably pure and correct, and comparatively free from the barbarisms of a declining tongue; always excepting the commentaries on the Verrine orations, which are thought by the learned to have been the work of a later writer, who lived shortly after Servius and Donatus, and who prob ably derived his materials from some commentary of Asconius, now lost. It is to this same later writer, and not to Asconius, that Niebuhr assigns the scholia found by Mai, in 1814, in the Ambrosian palimpsest. (Nieb., ad Front. Op., ed. Berolin., p. xxxiv.-Bähr, Gesch. Röm. Lit., vol. 1, p. 539, seqq.)

ASCOLIA, a festival in honour of Bacchus, celebrated by the Athenian husbandmen, who generally sacrificed a goat to the god, because that animal is a great enemy to the vine. They made a bottle or bag with the skin of the victim, which they filled with wine, smearing at the same time the outer surface with oil. On this they endeavoured to leap with one foot, and he that first fixed himself was declared victor, and received the bottle as a reward. This was called άokwλiáše, Tapà TOU ¿nì Tòv ảoкòv äλλeoßai, from leaping upon the bottle, whence the name of the festival is derived. It was also introduced into Italy under the name of Vinalia, on which occasion the rustics put on hideous masks of bark, and invoked Bacchus in joyful strains. They also hung up, at the same time, little images on a lofty pine. These images they called Oscilla. (Schol. ad Aristoph., Plut., 1129.-Virg., Georg., 2, 387, seqq.) Spence gives engravings from several gems, on which figures are represented, called oscilla or aiúpa. They are found also in the paintings at Herculaneum, and in Mercurialis (Art. Gymn., 3, 8, p. 217). Spence attributes the origin of this rite to the popular belief, that when Bacchus turned his face towards the fields, their fertility was assured. Hence they exposed these small figures to the winds, that they might be free to turn in any direction. Some writers think that the oscilla were the same with phallic symbols (compare Serv., ad Virg., l. c.), but this opinion now finds few, if any, supporters. (Turneb., Adv., 3, 20.-Rolle, Recherches sur le culte de Bacchus, vol. 1, p. 312.) The Athenians had their festi val of oscilla, which they termed alúpa, and which was said to have been instituted in memory of Erigone; and hence Varro (ap. Serv. ad En., 12, 603) gives another singular explanation to the custom of suspending oscilla. According to him, a rope was suspended at either extremity from a beam or tree, and in this way a swing was formed, to which a little image or oscillum was suspended. The movement of this swing to and fro, with the image attached, was re

ASCRA, a town of Boeotia, situate on a rocky summit belonging to Helicon. It could boast of considerable antiquity, having been founded, as the poet Hegesinous, quoted by Pausanias (9, 29), asserts, by Ephialtes and Otus, sons of Aloeus. What rendered the place, however, most remarkable, was its having been the residence of Hesiod. The poet was not a native of Cyme, but his father came from Cyme to Ascra, his native city, as he himself informs us (Op. et D., v. 635, seqq.). He does not give us a very favourable idea of the climate of the place. From his birthplace Ascra, Hesiod is commonly called the Ascrean bard. Pausanias reports, that in his day only one tower remained to mark the site of Ascra (9, 29). Dr. Clark imagined that the village of Zagora represents Ascra; but Sir W. Gell is inclined to identify it with an ancient tower he observed on a lofty, bare, conical rock; which agrees with the topography of Strabo, who places it to the right of Helicon, and

about forty stadia from Thespiæ. Greece, vol. 2, p. 207, seqq.)

(Cramer's Ancient | from the east or rather southeast, and mention is made of a country called Asa-land, and its metropolis AsASCULUM, I. Picenum, a city of Picenum, so named gard, in the vicinity, or to the east, of the Tanaïs, to distinguish it from the Asculum of Apulia. It was from which Odin and the Asæ are said to have come situate in the interior, on the river Truentus, and some into Europe. (Saga Olafs Trygg. Ed. Skalh., 2, distance to the southwest of Firmum. Strabo de- 49.-Havn., 2, 183.-Append. Ed Jun., ed. Rask., scribes it as a place of great strength, surrounded by p. 354.-Magnusen, p. 287, 293) We see here, at walls and inaccessible heights. It was the first city once, the striking analogy between Asen-land and to declare against the Romans when the Social war Asia, and may easily suppose that by the former is broke out, and its example was followed by the whole meant merely a part of the latter, and that the name of Picenum. Asculum sustained, in the course of Asia itself means nothing more than the "land of the that war, a long and memorable siege against Pompey, Asi," or "the Holy Land." ("ASA, ASIA, solum who finally, however, compelled the place to surren- divinum, sacra terra."-Hickes, Thes. Ling. Sepder, and caused several of the chiefs of the rebels to be tentr., 1, p. 193.) As Odin and Buddha are the same beheaded. (Liv., Epit., 76.-Vell. Paterc., 2, 21.- deity (vid. Odinus), the worship of the Asi is to be Florus, 3, 18.-Appian, Bell. Civ., 1, 38.-Plut., Vit. referred to the remote East as its native home, and Pomp.) We learn from Pliny (3, 13) that Asculum Asgard near the Tanaïs must be regarded as merely was a Roman colony, and regarded as the chief city one of many sacerdotal stations where this worship of the province. It is now Ascoli.-II. Apulum, a was observed, and whence colonies were sent forth. city of Apulia, to which the epithet Apulum was Traces of the root from which these names are derived attached to distinguish it from Asculum in Picenum. may be found in several geographical appellations conIt was situate in the interior of Daunia, near the connected with the country around the Tanais. Thus we fines of Samnium, and is supposed to be represented have Caucasus (Cauc-asos, i. e., the mountain of the by the modern town of Ascoli, which is about six miles Asi), the river Phasis (Ph-asis, i. e., the holy stream), to the southwest of Ordona. It was under the walls the name Amazonius, sometimes applied to the Taof this place that Pyrrhus encountered a second time naïs (Am-azonius, i. e., Am-azon), and we find it rethe Roman army, after having gained a signal victory tained even in the modern term Az-oph. (Ritter, in Lucania. The action was attended with no advan- Vorhalle, p. 465.)-Many other curious analogies pretage to either side. (Florus, 1, 18.- Plut., Vit. sent themselves. Pausanias (3, 2, 45) makes mention Pyrrh-Frontin., Strateg., 1, 3.) Frontinus, who of an ancient city in Laconia, named Las (L-as), classes it among the colonies of Apulia, terms it Aus- which had succeeded a still earlier city of the same clum. This is probably the correct orthography, as name, that had stood on Mount Asia (As-ia), and amid may be seen from coins, the inscription on which is the ruins of this latter place were the remains of a AYCAION, and AYCKA. (Cramer's Ancient Italy, temple of Minerva Asia (As-ia, i. e., Asynia). Pauvol. 2, p. 288.) sanias adds that Minerva Asia had also a temple among the Colchians. We may compare with this the Doric form of the name of the goddess, as appearing in Aristophanes, 'Aoavā (Asana, i. e., Asa-na or Asynia). There was also in Crete a very ancient sanctuary of Jupiter Asius. (Steph. Byz., p. 181, ed. Berk.) The Greek adjective oσlos (hos-ios), cred," may be traced to the same source, as well as the earlier form of the Latin term ara, 'an altar," namely, asa (as-a.—Aul. Gell., 4, 3.) We may even carry our speculations into the Hebrew tongue, and connect with our subject the term Az, "mighty" or "strong," and the appellation Azazel (Asa-el), given to an idol or false deity. (Consult Gesen., Lex. Hebr., s. v.)-If an etymology be sought for the name Asi, we may find it in the Sanscrit verb as, “to be,” the participle of which, namely, sant, is analogous to the Greek v, and reminds us of Záv, one of the old Greek names for Jupiter or the Supreme Being. The Asi, then, are the "Beings," KAT' ¿žoxýv.

ASDROBAL. Vid. Hasdrubal.

to some,

Asi, or As (in the old Scandinavian Æsir or Esir, the plural form of As), a general appellation given, in the mythology of northern Europe, to the deities that came in with Odin from the East. Including this latter divinity they were twelve in number, according thirteen (Magnusen, Boreal. Mythol. Lex, p. 720), and there was the same number of female deities or Asynia.-While some are inclined to see in the Asi merely an Asiatic colony, wandering in from the vicinity of the Don, others, with much more propriety, find in the name a curious chain of connexion between the early religions of the Eastern and European worlds. The term As, in fact, appears to have been an old appellation for deity, and meets us in numerous quarters, under various though not very dissimilar forms. Thus, in the Coptic, Os is said to signify "Lord" or "Deity;" in the old Persian, good deities or spirits were called Ized, while by Berosus the gods are termed Isi. (Kanne, System der Ind. Myth., p. 228.) Again, in Sanscrit we have Isha, "a lord" or "master," the feminine of which, Ishana, reminds us at once of Asynia, a female deity, or Asa. Among the ancient Gauls, the supreme Being was denominated Esus or Hesus, a name that connects the Druidical worship with the East; while among many nations of Finnish origin, in Asiatic Russia, we have such terms for deity as Eis, Ess, Essi, and Oss. (Magnusen, p. 719, note. Heyd, Etymol. Versuch., Tubingen, 1824.) It is curious to connect with this the account given by the Roman writers, that in the Etrurian language Esar signified "God." (Sueton., Aug., 97.Dio Cass., 56, 29.-Hesych., s. v. Aloor.-Müller, Etrusk., vol. 2, p. 81.) We may compare with this the old augural doctrine among the Etrurian priesthood, that the gods had their home or dwelling in the north, by which we see Scandinavia and Etruria brought singularly into contact. (Serv., ad Æn., 2, 693.--Dion. Hal., 2, 5. Plut., Quæst. Rom., 78.-Müller, Etrusk., vol. 2, p. 126.)-Again, the traditions in the north of Europe are uniform, that the Asi came in

sa

ASIA, I. one of the three parts of the ancient world, separated from Europe by the Ægean, the Euxine, the Palus Mæotis, the Tanaïs or Don, and the Dwina; from Africa by the Red Sea and Isthmus of Suez. Asia is in its extent the largest continent, and in its situation the most favoured by nature. Its square contents amount to 14,000,000 miles. In comparison with other countries it has advantages, and especially over Africa. These advantages consist in the character of its broken shore, the fruitful islands which lie around it, its numerous gulfs that enter far into the land, its large rivers, and its few deserts in the interior. There are two principal chains of mountains extending from west to east. In the north, the Altai, which in antiquity was still without a name; in the south, the range of Taurus. Branches of both are the Caucasus, between the Black and Caspian Seas; the Imaus, along the golden desert (the desert of Cobi); the Paropamisus, on the northern side of India; the Uralian chain, in antiquity still without a name, unless these are the Rhiphæan mountains of the ancients. Of the chief rivers, four flow from

north to south; the Euphrates and Tigris into the Bochart, in modern days, has traced the appellation to Persian Gulf, the Indus and Ganges into the Indian Asi, a Phoenician word according to him, signifying Sea: two flow from east to west, the Oxus, now Gi-"a middle part," or something intermediate, and hence hon, and the laxartes, now Sirr.-Asia may therefore he makes Asia mean the continent placed between be divided into Northern Asia, the country north of Europe and Africa. (Geogr. Sacr., 4, 33, p. 298.) the Altai range: Middle Asia, the country between The true derivation, however, would seem to be that the ranges of Altai and Taurus: and Southern Asia, given in the preceding article. (Vid. Asi.)-Homer the country south of Taurus.-Northern Asia lies be- applies the name of Asia to a small district of Mæotween 76° and 50° of latitude (Asiatic Russia and nia or Lydia, situated near the Cayster. (I., 2, 461.) Siberia). This in antiquity was very little known, yet Euripides, also, evidently restricts the appellation to not entirely unknown. Dark but true traditions re- a portion of Lydia, in a passage of the Bacchæ (v. specting it may be found in the father of history, He- 64.-Compare Dionys. Perieg, 386, and Eustath., rodotus-Middle Asia, the country between 50° and ad loc.). It would appear, indeed, that the Ionian 40° north latitude, comprehending Scythia and Sar- Greeks, on their first arrival on the banks of the Mæmatia Asiatica (the Great Tartary and Mongolia), is ander and Cayster, found the name of Asia attached almost one immeasurable unproductive prairie, with- to this part of the continent, and communicated it out agriculture and forests, and, therefore, a mere pas- to their European countrymen, who in process of ture-land. The inhabitants leading pastoral lives (No-time applied it to all the countries situated to the east mades), are without cities and fixed places of abode; of Greece. It would be wrong, however, to suppose, and therefore, instead of political union, have merely that the name in question originally belonged merely the constitution of tribes.-Southern Asia, comprising to that part of the continent with which the Ionian the lands from 40° north latitude to near the equator, colonists first became acquainted. It would seem, is entirely different in its character from the countries on the contrary, to have been given at an early peof Middle Asia: it is, both in soil and climate, pos- riod to various spots connected with the worship of sessed of advantages for agriculture, and, in compari- the Asi, all pointing, however, to some region of the reson with the other countries of the earth, it is rich in mote East where the name most probably originated.the costliest and most various products.-The early Herodotus employs the division of Upper and Lower commerce of the world, especially of the east, was Asia. The latter of these answers in fact to what we originally through Asia. The natural places of de- now call Asia Minor, while the former denotes the pôt in the interior were on the banks of the large vast tract of country situated to the east of the Eurivers; on the Oxus, in Bactria; on the Euphrates, phrates. It is not exactly known when the peninsula at Babylon. The natural places of depôt on the coast came to be designated by the name of Asia Minor; were the western coast of Asia Minor and Phoenicia, but it does not appear in any author prior to Orosius, where arose the series of Grecian and Phoenician cit- who employs it (1, 2), as well as Constantine Porphyies.-Asia from the first, as at present, contained in rogenetes (de Themat., 1, 8). The term Anadoli, its interior empires of immense extent, by which they used by the Turks to denote this portion of the Ottoare distinguished from those of cultivated Europe, as man empire, is a corruption of Anatolia, and this last well as by their constitution. They often underwent is derived from the Greek ávaroλń (the rising of the revolutions, but their form remained the same. For sun, i. e., the east), and answers to the Frank word this causes must have existed, lying deep and of wide Levant.-Few countries present such a diversity of influence, and which, notwithstanding these frequent soil and climate as the peninsula of Asia Minor. Iorevolutions, still continued to operate, and always gave nia, Lydia, Caria, and, indeed, generally speaking, the to the new empires of Asia the organization of the whole of Western Asia, were remarkable for their geeld ones. The great revolutions of Asia (with the nial temperature and extreme fertility; while the exception of that of Alexander) were occasioned by mountainous districts of Lycia, Pisidia, Cilicia, and the numerous and powerful nomadic nations which oc- Cappadocia were very thinly inhabited, from the cupied a great part of that continent. Compelled by coldness of the climate and the unproductiveness of accident or necessity, they left their places of abode, the soil. Many parts of Phrygia and Galatia were and founded new empires, while they passed through also nearly deserted from the barrenness of the and subjected the fruitful and cultivated countries of ground, which was strongly impregnated with salt, Southern Asia, until, unnerved by luxury and effemi- and exhibited, besides, many traces of volcanic agennacy, consequent on the change in their habits of life, cy. The whole country, in fact, appears to have been they in their turn were in like manner subjected. subject at an early period to violent earthquakes, From this common origin may be explained in part which destroyed or damaged many flourishing cities. the great exter.t, in part the rapid rise and the usually (Strab., 578.) Nevertheless, Asia Minor, taken colshort continuance, of these empires. The develop- lectively, was one of the most productive and opulent ment of their internal form of government must, for countries of which antiquity has left us any account; the same reason, have had great resemblance; and and we have the authority of Cicero for stating, that the constant re-appearance of despotism in them is to the Roman treasury derived its largest and surest revbe explained partly from the rights of conquerors, and enues from this quarter. (Or. pro Leg. Man., 2, 6.) partly from their great extent, which rendered a gov- Some idea of its various productions will be given emment of satraps necessary. To this we must add, in the remarks under each particular province. (Vid. that the custom of polygamy, prevailing among all the Mysia, Bithynia, Phrygia, &c.) Asia Minor was furgreat nations of inner Asia, ruined the mutual rela- nished also with numerous excellent harbours along tions and obligations of domestic life, and thus ren- its coast. Nor was any country more favoured by nadered a good constitution impossible. For a domes-ture, or more calculated to become the centre of a tic tyrant is formed instead of a father of a family, mighty and perhaps universal empire. But the moral and despotism at once gains its foundation in private character of its population has never kept pace with life. (Heeren's History of the States of Antiquity, the resources of the country; and this will probably P. 14, seqq.-Bancroft's transl.)—As early as the always be the case as long as the softness of the clitime of Herodotus, we find the name of Asia em- mate and the fertility of the soil continue to exercise ployed to designate this vast continent. The Greeks, an enervating influence over the character of the peoas we learn from that historian, pretended that it was ple. (Cramer's Asia Minor, vol. 1, p. 1, seqq.)derived from Asia, the wife of Iapetus. The Lyd- II. Provincia, or Asia Proconsularis, the Roman ians, on the other hand, deduced the name from province of Asia, comprising Mysia, Lydia, Caria, Asius, one of their earliest kings. (Herod., 4, 45.) and Phrygia, with the exception of Lycaonia. This is

ASIA PALUS (the "Aotos λequiv of Homer), a marsh in Lydia, formed by the river Cayster, near its mouth. It was the favourite haunt of swans and other waterfowl. (Hom., Il., 2, 470.-Virg., Geog., 1, 483. Id., En., 7, 699.-Ovid, Met., 5, 386.) Near it was another marsh or lake, formed in like manner by the river, and called Selinusia Palus. Both belonged to the temple of Ephesus, and were a source of consid-into the Corinthian gulf a little below Sicyon. The erable revenue. (Cramer's Asia Minor, vol. 1, p. 361.)

of Aspendus has not yet been explored, but it would
easily be discovered by ascending the banks of the
Eurymedon. (Mannert, Geogr., vol. 6, pt. 2, p. 125.)
ASPHALTĪTES LACUS. Vid. Mare Mortuum.
ASPIS, I. a town of the Contestani, in Hispania
Tarraconensis, northwest of Ilicis, which lay above
Carthago Nova on the coast. It is now Aspe, a vil-
lage in Valencia.-II. An island on the coast of Io-
nia, opposite Lebedus. It was called by some Ar-
connesus. (Strab., 643.) The modern name is Car-
abash.-III. A town of Africa Propria. (Vid. Clupea.)

brought against Pericles, this is that which it is the most | goddess whom the Persians called Anaïtis. This stadifficult clearly to refute. But we are inclined to be- tion required her to pass the rest of her days in chaslieve, that it may have arisen from the peculiar nature tity. (Plut., Vit. Artax.) Justin, however, says of Aspasia's private circles, which, with a bold neg- that Artaxerxes made her one of the priestesses of lect of established usage, were composed not only the sun. (Just., 10, 1.-Ælian, V. H., 12, 1.—Plut., of the most intelligent and accomplished men to be Vit. Artax-Xen., Anab., 1, 10.—Athen., 15, p. found at Athens, but also of matrons, who, it is said, 576.) were brought by their husbands to listen to her con- ASPENDUS, a city of Pamphylia, lying for the most versation. This must have been highly instructive part on a rocky precipice, on the banks of the river as well as brilliant, since Plato did not hesitate to de- Eurymedon. (Arrian, 1, 27.—Zosim., 5, 16.—Scyscribe her as the preceptress of Socrates, and to as lax, p. 39.) Straho makes it to have been well-peosert that she both formed the rhetoric of Pericles, and pled, and founded by an Argive colony. On this lat composed one of his most admired harangues, the ter head, however, Scylax is silent. The city of Ascelebrated funeral oration. (Plat., Menex., 4,-vol. 6, pendus was a flourishing place even before the expedip. 148, ed. Bekk.) The innovation, which drew wom- tion of the younger Cyrus. (Xen., Anab., 1, 2, 12.› en of free birth and good condition into her company It was here that the Athenian patriot Thrasybulus ter for such a purpose, must, even where the truth was minated his life. Being off the coast, he levied con understood, have surprised and offended many; and tributions from the Aspendians, who, seizing an opit was liable to the grossest misconstruction. And if portunity when he was on shore, surprised him in his her female friends were sometimes seen watching the tent at night, and slew him. (Xen., Hist. Gr., 4, 8. progress of the works of Phidias, it was easy, through -Corn. Nep., Thrasyb., c. 4.) Hierocles (p. 682) his intimacy with Pericles, to connect this fact with a makes mention of Aspendus under the name of Tricalumny of the same kind. There was another ru-mupolis, where we must read Primupolis. The site mour still more dangerous, which grew out of the character of the persons who were admitted to the society of Pericles and Aspasia. No persons were more welcome at the house of Pericles than such as were distinguished by philosophical studies, and especially by the profession of new philosophical tenets. The mere presence of Anaxagoras, Zeno, Protagoras, and other celebrated men, who were known to hold doctrines very remote from the religious conceptions of the vulgar, was sufficient to make a circle in which they were familiar pass for a school of impiety. Such were the materials out of which the comic poet Hermippus, laying aside the mask, formed a criminal prosecution against Aspasia. His indictment included two heads: an offence against religion, and that of corrupting Athenian women to gratify the passions of Pericles. The danger was averted; but it seems that Pericles, who pleaded her cause, found need of his most strenuous exertions to save Aspasia, and that he even descended, in her behalf, to tears and entreaties, which no similar emergency of his own could ever draw from him. (Athen., 12, p. 589.)-After the death of Pericles, Aspasia attached herself to a young man of obscure birth, named Lysicles, who rose through her influence in moulding his character to some of the highest employments in the republic. (Thirlwall's Greece, vol. 3, p. 87, seqq.-Compare Plut., Vit. Pericl.—Xen., Mem., 2, 6.—Max. Tyr., 24, p. 461.-Harpocr., p. 79.—Aristid., 2, p. 131.) -II. Daughter of Hermotimus, and a native of Phocæa in Asia Minor. She was so remarkable for her beauty, that a satrap of Persia carried her off and made her a present to Cyrus the Younger. Her modest deportment soon won the affections of the prince, who lived with her as with a lawful spouse, and their ASSYRIA, a country originally of small extent, but union became celebrated throughout all Greece. Her afterward greatly enlarged. It was bounded, accordname at first was Milto (vermilion), which had been ing to Ptolemy, on the north by part of Armenia and given her in early life on account of the brilliancy of Mount Niphates; on the west by the Tigris; on the her complexion. Cyrus, however, changed it to As- south by Susiana; and on the east by part of Media pasia, calling her thus after the female companion of and the mountains Choatra and Zagros. The country Pericles. (Vid. Aspasia I.) After the death of the within these limits is called by some of the ancients prince, she fell into the hands of Artaxerxes, who for Adiabene, and by others Aturia or Atyria. Assyria a long time vainly sought to gain her affections. She is now called Kurdistan, from the descendants of the only yielded at last to his suit through absolute ne- ancient Carduchi, who occupied the northern parts. cessity. When the monarch declared his son Darius The Assyrian was one of the first and greatest empires his successor, the latter, as it was customary in Per- of Asia. It is generally supposed to have been foundsia for an heir to ask a favour of him who had decla- ed by Ashur or Assur, son of Shem, who went out red him such, requested Aspasia of his father. As- of Shinar, driven out, as it appears, by Nimrod, and pasia was accordingly sent for, and, contrary to the founded Nineveh, not long after Nimrod had estabking's expectation, made choice of Darius. Arta-lished the Chaldean monarchy and fixed his residence xerxes therefore gave her up, in accordance with established custom, but soon took her away again, and made her a priestess of Diana at Ecbatana, or of the

ASFLEDON, a town of Boeotia, about twenty stadia to the northeast of Orchomenus. It derived its name from Aspledon, the son of Neptune, according to Pausanias (9, 38), and is mentioned by Homer. (Il., 2, 511.) The name, at a later period, was changed to Eudielos, from its advantageous situation: (Strabo, 416.) Pausanias, however, affirms that in his time it was deserted on account of the scarcity of water. Dodwell is of opinion, that the site of Aspledon is marked by a tower, on an insulated hill, about two miles and a half to the northeast of Orchomenus, near the range of hills which enclose the lake and plain on that side (Dodwell's Tour, vol. 1. p. 233.)

ASSA, a town of Macedonia, on the Sinus Singiticus. (Herodot., 7, 122.) ASSARICUS, a Trojan prince, son of Tros by Callirhoë. He was father to Capys, the father of Anchises. (Homer, Il., 20, 239.)

Assos, a town of Mysia, on the coast, west of Adramyttium, founded by a colony from Lesbos. It was the birthplace of Cleanthes, the stoic; and is mentioned also in the Acts (20, 13). The modern site is called Beriam Kalesi. (Leake, p. 128.)

at Babylon. This is the commonly received account of the origin of the Assyrian empire, founded on the Mosaic history as given in the text of our Bible; but