He was a soldier as well as a physician. He was wounded dangerously in the shoulder in a sally which the Trojans had made. Nestor immediately brought him back to his tent. Scarce are they entered there, before Machaon took a drink mixed with wine, in which they had put the scrapings of cheese and barley-flour. (Il., 11, 506, seqq.) What ill effects must not this mixture produce, since wine alone is very opposite to the healing of wounds! The meats which Machaon afterward used (Il., 11, 629) do not appear in any way proper for the state in which he found himself. In another part of the Iliad (4, 218) Menelaus is wounded with an arrow: they make Machaon immediately come to heal him. The son of Esculapius, after having considered the wound, sucks the blood, and puts on it a dressing to appease the pain. Homer does not specify what entered into that dressing. It was only composed, according to all appearances, of some bitter roots. This conjecture is founded on the following circumstance: in the description which the poet gives of the healing of such a wound, he says expressly that they applied to the wound the juice of a bitter herb bruised (11, 845). It appears that this was the only remedy which they knew. The virtue of these plants is to be styptic." To what is here said may be added the remarks of an eminent physician of our own country. "It appears that the practice of Machaon and Podalirius was very much confined to the removal of the darts and arrows with which wounds had been inflicted, and afterward to the application of fomentations and styptics to the wounded parts; for, when the heroes recorded by Homer were in other respects severely injured, as in the case of Æneas, whose thigh-bone was broken by a stone thrown by Diomede, he makes no mention of any other than supernatural means employed for their relief." (Hosack's Medical Essays, vol. 1, p. 38.) Macedonia. According to the "Epitomizer" of Stra- | Eng. transl.), "was himself a very able physician. bo (lib. 7), it was bounded by the Adriatic on the west; on the north by the mountains of Scardus, Orbelus, Rhodope, and Hamus; on the south by the Via Egnatia; while on the east it extended as far as Cypsela and the mouth of the Hebrus. But this statement with respect to the southern boundary of Macedonia cannot be correct, since we know that the province of Macedonia was bounded on the south by that of Achaia; and although it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fix the precise boundaries of these provinces, yet it does not appear that Achaia extended farther north than the south of Thessaly.-Macedonia now forms part of Turkey in Europe, under the name of Makedonia or Filiba Vilajeti, and contains about 700,000 inhabitants, consisting of Walachians, Turks, Greeks, and Albanians. The southeastern part is under the pacha of Saloniki; the northern under beys or agas, or forms free communities. The capital Saloniki, the ancient Thessalonica, is a commercial town, and contains 70,000 inhabitants.-Ancient Macedonia was a mountainous and woody region, the riches of which consisted chiefly in mines of gold and silver; the coasts, however, produced corn, wine, oil, and fruits. Modern Macedonia is said to possess a soil more fruitful than the richest plains of Sicily, and there are few districts in the world so fertile as the coast of Athos or the ancient Chalcidice. The land in the valleys of Panomi and Cassandria, when grazed by the lightest plough, yields, it is said, a more abundant harvest than the finest fields in the department between the Eure and the Loire, or the granary of France; if the wheat in its green state be not browsed by sheep or cut with the scythe, it perishes by too much luxuriance. Maceconia is also famous for its cotton and tobacco, and its wines are some of them equal to those of Burgundy. (Malte-Brun, Geogr, vol. 6, p. 156, seqq., Eng. transl. -Cramer's Anc. Greece, vol. 1, p. 164, seqq.-Encycl. Us. Knowl., vol. 14, p. 241.)--For a list of the ancient kings of Macedonia, with remarks on their reign, consult Clinton's Fasti Hellenici, p. 221, seqq., 2d ed. MACRA, a river flowing from the Apennines, and dividing Liguria from Etruria, now the Magra. (Lucan, 2, 426.-Liv., 39, 32.) The Arnus formed the southern boundary of Liguria until the reign of Augustus. (Plin., 3, 5.) MACRIANUS, Titus Fulvius Julius, a Roman, who, from a private soldier, rose to the highest command in the army, and proclaimed himself emperor when Valerian had been made prisoner by the Persians, A.D. 260. He is one of the so-called "thirty tyrants" of later Roman history, but appears to have been, as far as we can judge from his brief period of authority, an able prince. Macrianus was proclaimed emperor along with his two sons Macrianus (Junior) and Quietus. When he had supported his dignity for a year in the MACER, I. a Latin poet, a native of Verona. He was the author of a poem on birds, entitled Ornithogonia, and of another on snakes, under the title of Theriaca. This last was an imitation, in some degree, of the Theriaca of Nicander. (Quint., Inst. Or., 10, 1, 56.-Spalding, ad Quint., Inst. Or., 6, 3, 96.) We have no remains of either of these works. The poem De Herbarum virtutibus, commonly ascribed to him, is now regarded as a production of the middle ages. (Gyrald, Dial., 4, p. 217, seqq. - Broukhus., ad Tibull, p. 274.-Veesenmyer, Bibliogr. Analekt., p. 84.)-II. A friend of Ovid's, who wrote a continu-eastern parts of the world, Macrianus marched toation of the Iliad, and also an Antehomerica. He has been frequently confounded with the preceding, but flourished, in truth, at a later period. The former died in Asia, B.C. 17. (Compare the remarks of Wernsdorff, Poet. Lat. Min., vol. 4, p. 579, seqq.) MACHANIDAS, a powerful tyrant of Sparta, whose views at one time extended to the subjugation of all Peloponnesus. He was defeated and slain by Philopomen in battle near Mantinea. (Plut., Vit. Philop.) MACHAON, a celebrated physician, son of Esculapius, and brother to Podalirius. He went to the Trojan war, where his skill in surgery and the healing art proved of great service to his countrymen. Machaon was one of those shut up in the wooden horse, and is by some supposed to have fallen on the night that Troy was taken. He received divine honours after death, and had a temple erected to him. (Hom., Il., 2, 731.Virg., Æn., 2, 263.)-Schwenck derives the name from the old verb μúxw, the root of unxavn, and makes it denote one who is skilful with the hand. (Andeut., p. 206.) "Machaon," observes the President Goguet (Origin of Laws, &c., vol. 2, p. 267, wards Rome to crush Gallienus, who had been proclaimed emperor. He was defeated in Illyricum by the lieutenant of Gallienus, and put to death with his elder son, A.D. 262. (Treb. Poll., Vit. Macrian.) MACRINUS, I. M. Opilius Severus, a native of Mauritania, was prætorian prefect under Caracalla, whom he accompanied in his expedition against the Parthians, and caused to be murdered on the march. Macrinus was immediately proclaimed emperor by the army, A.D. 217, and his son Diadumenianus, who was at Antioch, was made Cæsar; both elections were confirmed by the senate. Macrinus, after a battle with the Parthians near Nisibis, concluded peace with them. On his return to Antioch he reformed many abuses introduced by Caracalla. But his excessive severity displeased the soldiers, and an insurrection, excited by Mosa, the aunt of Caracalla, broke out against Macrinus, who, being defeated near Antioch, fled as far as Chalcedon, where he was arrested and put to death, A.D. 218, after a reign of about 14 months. His son Diadumenianus shared his fate. He was suc ceeded by Heliogabalus. (Jul. Capitol, Vit. Macrin. -Herodian, 4, 12, 2, seqq.)-II. A friend of the poet | Library at Paris, by Hess, Hal., 1833, 8vo. Some Persius, to whom his second satire is inscribed. They critics have thought that the commentary we have had been fellow-students under Servilius Numanus. (Lemaire, ad Pers., Sat., 2, 1.) just been considering ought to be regarded as a part of the second work of this writer, of which we are goMACROBII, a people of Ethiopia, highly celebrated ing to speak, and from which it has been detached in antiquity, and whom Herodotus has copiously de- through the carelessness of the early editors. There scribed. An expedition was undertaken against them seems no good reason for this opinion.-2. Saturnaby Cambyses, and in this way they have obtained a lium conviviorum libri septem. Likewise addressed name in history. A rumour of the vast quantity of to his son. This is a compilation after the manner of gold which they possessed determined Cambyses to the Attic Nights of Aulus Gellius: it has, however march against them. He sent, however, beforehand the dialogue form, and is supposed to be the transcript some spies into their country, from the nation of the of a conversation which took place at table during the Ichthyophagi, as they understood their language. The celebration of the Saturnalia. The principal interloaccounts, which the neighbouring people gave, repre- cutors are a certain Vectius Prætextatus, Q. Aurelius sented the Macrobii as a tall and beautiful race, who Symmachus and his brother Flavianus, Cæcinna Dehad their own laws and institutions, and elected the cius Albinus, Avienus, a physician, a grammarian, &c. tallest among them to the dignity of king. The Ich- It contains discussions of a great variety of historical thyophagi, on asking the monarch of the Macrobians, and mythological topics, explanations of many pasto whom they brought presents as if ambassadors from sages of ancient authors, remarks on the manners and Cambyses, for what length of time his subjects lived, customs of the Romans, &c. An idea of the general were told for the space of 120 years, and sometimes nature of the work may be formed from the titles of longer. Hence the name given them by the Greek some of the chapters: Of the origin of some Roman writers of Macrobii (Maxpóliot, “long-lived"). Gold words.—Of the origin of the Saturnalia.—Of the Rowas the metal in commonest use among them, even man year and its divisions.-Proof that all the gods for the fetters of their prisoners. Herodotus adds, of fable were originally symbols of the sun.-Of Cithat Cambyses, on the return of his spies, immediately cero's bons mots.-Of Augustus.-Of Julia.-Details marched against the Macrobii, but was compelled to re- on the luxury of the Romans.-Observations on the turn, from want of provisions, before he had proceeded Eneid, and a comparison between Virgil and Homer. a fifth part of the way. (Herod., 3, 17, seqq.)-Bruce Why those who turn round are attacked with vertitakes the Macrobii for a tribe of the Shangallas, dwell- goes. Why women have softer voices than men.- -Why ing in the lower part of the gold countries, Cuba and shame makes one blush.-Why bodies plunged in waNuba, on both sides of the Nile, to the north of Fazuk-ter appear larger than they really are, &c. Many la. (Travels, vol. 2, p. 554, seqq.) Heeren, how ever, more correctly thinks, that the people in question are to be sought for farther south, in another region. None of the Shangallas, that we know of, live in cities, or have reached that degree of civilization imputed to the Macrobii. He thinks it probable, therefore, that the Macrobii of Herodotus should be sought for on the coast, or in one of the ports of Adel, and in the vicinity of Cape Guardefui. This would place them in the country of the Somaulies, who are, perhaps, their descendants. (Heeren, Ideen, vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 333, seqq.) MACROBIUS, I. a Latin writer, who flourished in the first half of the fifth century, under Theodosius the Younger. His full name is Aurelius Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius. (Funcc., de veget. L. L. senect., 4, 27.- Fabric., Bib. Lat., vol. 3, p. 180.) As he was not a Roman by birth, and seeks in this an excuse for his Latin style (Sat., 1, 1), he has been regarded by some critics as a native of Greece. (Fabric., l. c., in notis.) In the manuscripts he bears the title of Vir Consularis et illustris; and from this some have concluded, that he is the same with the Macrobius mentioned in a law of the Theodosian code (lib. 6, tit. 8) as Præfectus sacri cubiculi, or chamberlain of the royal bedchamber. Other critics have re- MACRONES, a nation of Asia, occupying the northmarked, however, that this office was commonly given ern parts of Armenia, probably between the town of to eunuchs, and that Macrobius the writer had a son. Arze and the coast of the Euxine. They are mentionIt is also uncertain whether Macrobius was a Chris-ed in the Anabasis as one of the nations through whose tian or not. The supposition that he held the office of chamberlain under a Christian emperor has been the chief, or, perhaps, the only ground for imagining him to have been a Christian, since the language of his writings and the interlocutors in the dialogues are entirely heathen. (Consult Mahul, Dissertation sur la Vie, &c., de Macrobe.- Class. Journ., vol. 20, p. 110.) The works of Macrobius are three in number: 1. Commentariorum in Somnium Scipionis libri duo. This work is addressed to his son Eustathius. Besides an explanatory view of the Somnium Scipionis of Cicero, it contains much information respecting the opinions of the later Platonists on the laws which govern the earth and the other parts of the universe. There is a Greek version by Maxumus Planudes, which was first published, from the MS in the King's things in Macrobius are drawn from Aulus Gellius, territories the Greeks marched. The Macrones are called Macrocephali by Scylax (p. 33), but Pliny seems to distinguish them as two different people (6, 4). Herodotus informs us that the Macrones used circumcision, having, as they themselves reported, derived the practice from the Colchians. (Herod., 2, 104.) The natural inference to be drawn from this passage is, that the Macrones were of Colchian origin. Strabo affirms, that this people were in his time no longer called by their ancient appellation, but were named Sanni (Strab., 548); and Eustathius, who confirms this statement, writes the word Tzani, according to the more modern Greek orthography (ad Dionys. Perieg., 766). Cramer thinks, that the modern name of Djanik is a corruption of Sannice. (Asia Minor, vol. 1, p. 286.) MADAURA, a city of Numidia, near Tagaste, and | deni, Gadeni, Selgovæ, Novantæ, and Damnii. (Dio northwest of Sicca. It appears to have been a place Cass., 76, 12.) of some importance, and, in the Notitia Numidia, Pru- MECENAS, CAIUS CILNIUS, was descended, it is dentius Metaurensis is named as its bishop. It is com- said, from Elbius Volterrenus, one of the Lucumones monly regarded as the birthplace of Apuleius, though of Etruria, who fell in the battle at the lake VadimoMannert is in favour of the Roman colony Ad Medera. nis, A.U.C. 445, which finally brought his country No traces of Madaura remain. In an inscription of under total subjection to the Romans. His immeGruter's (p. 600, n. 10), the name of the city is given diate ancestors were Roman knights, who, having been as Medaura. (Mannert, Geogr., vol. 10, pt. 2, p. at length incorporated into the state, held high com321.) mands in the army (Horat., Sat., 1, 6, 3), and Mæce- : MEANDER, a river of Asia Minor, rising near Cele-nas would never consent to leave their class to be ennæ in Phrygia, and, after forming the common bound-rolled among the senators: but he was proud (as may ary between Lydia and Caria, falling into the Ægean below the promontory of Mycale. It was remarkable for the winding nature of its course (oxoλiòç av és Væεрbokýv.-Strabo, 577), and hence all obliquities or windings took the name of Mæander. (Strab., l. c.) | It received the waters of various streams, the Marsyas, Orgas, &c., but was not remarkable for its size as far as regarded breadth, though a deep river, and fordable only in a few places in the early part of its course. According to Xenophon (Anab., 1, 2), the Mæander rose in the palace of Cyrus, flowing from thence through his park and the city of Celana. In the vicinity rose the Marsyas, which formed a junction with the Mæander in the suburb of Celana, where afterward stood the city of Apamea. (Compare the remarks of Leake, Tour, p. 158, seqq.) According to Strabo (663), the common boundary of Caria and Phrygia, on the Mæander, was at Carura. After the river had reached Lydia and Caria, it widened, and entered upon what the ancients denominated the plain of the Mæander, which extended from the borders of Phrygia to the sea, nearly 100 miles. This plain varied in breadth from 5 to 10 miles, and was ornamented with a number of fine cities and towns. Great changes have taken place on the coast, at the mouth of the Mæander, by the great deposition of mud and earth in the course of ages: changes that have so completely altered the face of things as described by the ancients, that the first of modern geographers was totally misled in his estimate of the ancient geography, by attempting to reconcile it with the modern, on the ground of the imperfect descriptions of it in the ancient books. D'Anville had no conception that the Gulf of Latmus received the Meander, but supposed a considerable space to exist between them. Nor was he aware that the gulf itself no longer existed; that its wide opening to the sea was closed up by alluvions; and that the island of Lade, so often mentioned as a rendezvous in the history of the naval warfare of ancient times, had become a part of the main land, rising, like the rock of Dumbarton, from the marshy soil; and, moreover, that the inner part of the gulf was transformed into a fresh-water lake. The mud of the Mæander, having been deposited across the southeast arm of the gulf, formed its upper part into a lake; which soon became fresh, when the access of the seawater was barred out, as it receives a great quantity of land waters from the surrounding mountains. It is named the Lake of Bafi, from a town at the southeast corner: it is about 12 miles in length, and from 3 to 5 in breadth. Chandler represents the water as insipid and not drinkable. The modern name of the Mæander is Minder. (Rennell, Geogr. of Western Asia, vol. 2, p. 30, seqq.) Mr. Turner describes the Mæander in a part of its course as about seventy feet wide, and having a current towards the sea of about a mile an hour: he observes, however, that this must be much more rapid, when the streams, formed by rain and melted snow, pour into it from the mountains. He describes the water as very thick and muddy; and the mud in particular at the bank as extremely deep. (Tour in the Levant, vol. 3, p. 96.) MÆITE, a people in the north of Britain, near the vallum Severi or wall of Severus, comprising the Ota be conjectured from its frequent mention by the poets) of his supposed descent from the old Etrurian princes. It is not known in what year he was born, or in what manner he spent his youth; but Meibomius (Macenas, L. Bat., 1653, 4to) conjectures that he was educated at Apollonia, along with Augustus and Agrippa; and that this formed the commencement of their memorable friendship. He is not mentioned in the history of his country till we hear of his accompanying Augustus to Rome after the battle of Mutina. He was also with him at Philippi, and attended him during the whole course of the naval wars against Sextus Pompey, except when he was sent at intervals to Rome, in order by his presence to quell those disturbances, which, during this period, frequently broke out in the capital. In the battle of Actium he commanded the light Liburnian galleys, which so greatly contributed to gain the victory for Augustus, and he gave chase with them to Antony when he fled after the galley of Cleopatra. During the absence of Augustus in Egypt, Mæcenas, in virtue of his office of prefect, was intrusted with the chief administration of affairs in Italy, and particularly with the civil government of the capital. (Pedo Albinov., Epiced. Macen.) After Augustus had returned from Egypt without a rival, and the affairs of the empire proceeded in a regular course, Mæcenas shared with Agrippa the favour and confidence of his sovereign. While Agrippa was intrusted with affairs requiring activity, gravity, and force, those which were to be accomplished by persuasion and address were committed to Mæcenas. The advice which he gave to Augustus in the celebrated consultation with regard to his proposed resignation of the empire, was preferred to that of Agrippa: Mæcenas having justly represented that it would not be for the advantage of Rome to be left without a head to the government, as the vast empire now required a single chief to maintain peace and order; that Augustus had already advanced too far to recede with safety; and that, if divested of absolute power, he would speedily fall a victim to the resentment of the friends or relatives of those whom he had formerly sacrificed to his own security. (Dio Cassius, 52, 14, seqq.) Having agreed to retain the government, Augustus asked and obtained from Macenas a general plan for its administration. His minister laid down for him rules regarding the reformation of the senate, the nomination of magistrates, the collection of taxes, the establishment of schools, the government of provinces, the levy of troops, the equalization of weights and measures, the suppression of tumultuous assemblies, and the support of religious observances. His measures on all these points, as detailed by Dio Cassius, show consummate political wisdom, and knowledge in the science of government. Mæcenas had often mediated between Antony and Augustus, and healed the mutual wounds which their ambition inflicted. But when his master had at length triumphed in the contest, the great object of his attention was to secure the permanence of the government. For this purpose he had spies in all cor ners, to pry into every assembly, and to watch the motions of the people. By these means the impru dent plots of Lepidus (Vell. Paterc., 2, 88) and Muræna were discovered and suppressed without danger or disturbance; and at length no conspiracies were | mimes, with Bathyllus at their head. These were formed. At the same time, and with a similar object, strangely intermingled in his palace with tribunes. he did all in his power to render the administration clerks, and lictors. But there, too, were Horace, and of Augustus moderate and just; and, as he perfectly Varius, and Valgius, and Virgil! Of these distinunderstood all the weaknesses and virtues of his char- guished poets, and of many other literary men, Mæacter, he easily bent his disposition to the side of mer- cenas was, during his whole life, the patron, protector, cy. While he himself, as prefect of the city, had re- and friend. Desert in learning never failed, in course tained the capital in admirable order and subjection, of time, to obtain from him its due reward; and his he was yet remarkable for the mildness with which he friendship, when once procured, continued steady to exercised this important office, to which belonged the the last. Among the distinguished men who frequentmanagement of all civil affairs in the absence of the ed the house of Mæcenas, a constant harmony seems emperor, the regulation of buildings, provisions, and to have subsisted. They never occasioned uneasicommerce, and the cognizance of all crimes committed ness to each other; they were neither jealous nor within a hundred miles of the capital. Seneca, who envious of the favour and felicity which their rivals is by no means favourable, in other respects, to the enjoyed. The noblest and most affluent of the numcharacter of Maecenas, allows him a full tribute of ber were without insolence, and the most learned praise for his clemency and mildness. (Epist., 114.) without presumption. Merit, in whatever shape it So sensible was Augustus of the benefits which his appeared, occupied an honourable and unmolested government derived from the counsels and wise ad- station. Maecenas is better known to posterity as a ministration of Mæcenas, and such was his high opin-patron of literature than as an author; but, living ion of his sagacity, fidelity, and secrecy, that every-in a poetical court, and surrounded with poets, it was thing which concerned him, whether political or do- almost impossible that he should have avoided the mestic, was confided to this minister. Such, too, contagion of versification. He wrote a tragedy called were the terms of intimacy on which they lived, that Octavia, a poem entitled De Cultu, and some Phathe emperor, when he fell sick, always made himself læcian and Galliambic verses. All these have perishbe carried to the house of Mæcenas; so difficult was ed except a few fragments cited by Seneca and the it to find repose in the habitation of a prince! During ancient grammarians. To judge from these extracts, the most important and arduous periods of his admin- their loss is not much to be regretted; and it is a cuistration, and while exercising an almost unremitting rious problem in the literary history of Rome, that assiduity, Mæcenas had still the appearance of being one who read with delight the works of Virgil and sunk in sloth and luxury. Though he could exert Horace, should himself have written in a style so obhimself with the utmost activity and vigilance when scure and affected. The effeminacy of his manners these were required, yet in his hours of freedom he appears to have tainted his language: though his indulged himself in as much ease and softness as the ideas were sometimes happy, his style was loose, flormost delicate lady in Rome. (Vell. Paterc., 2, 88.) id, and luxuriant (Senec., Epist., 19): and he always He was moderate in his desires of wealth or honours; aimed at winding up his periods with some turn of he was probably indolent and voluptuous by nature thought or expression which he considered elegant and inclination; and he rather wished to exhibit than or striking. These conceits were called by Augustus conceal his faults. The air of effeminate ease which his calamistri: and in one of that emperor's letters, he ever assumed, was perhaps good policy in ref- which is preserved in Macrobius, he parodies the luxerence both to the prince and people. Neither could uriant and sparkling style affected by his minister. be jealous of a minister who was apparently so care- Mæcenas continued to govern the state, to patronise less and indifferent, and who seemed occupied chiefly good poets, and write bad verses, for a period of with his magnificent villas and costly furniture. He twenty years. During this long space of time, the usually came abroad with a negligent gait and in a only interruption to his felicity was the conduct of loose garb. When he went to the theatre, forum, or his wife Terentia. This beautiful but capricious senate, his ungirt robe trailed on the ground, and he woman was the sister of Proculeius, so eminent for wore a little cloak, with a hood like a fugitive slave in his fraternal love (Horat., Od., 2, 2, 5), as also of Lia pantomime. Instead of being followed by lictors or cinius Muræna, who conspired against Augustus. tribunes, he appeared in all public places attended by The extravagance and bad temper of this fantastical two eunuchs. (Senec., Epist., 114.) He possessed yet lovely female, were sources of perpetual chagrin a magnificent and spacious villa on the Esquiline Hill, and uneasiness to her husband. Though his existto which a tower adjoined remarkable for its height.ence was imbittered by her folly and caprice, he conThe gardens of Mecenas, which surrounded the villa, tinued, during his whole life, to be the dupe of the were among the most delightful in Rome or its vicin- passion which he entertained for her. He could neiity. Here, seated in the cool shade of his green ther live with nor without her; he quarrelled with her spreading trees, whence the most musical birds con- and was reconciled almost every day, and put her stantly warbled their harmonious notes, he was accus-away one moment to take her back the next; which tomed to linger, and pay at idle hours his court to the has led Seneca to remark, that he was married a muses. Being fond of change and singularity, the thousand times, yet never had but one wife. Teren style of Mecenas's entertainments varied. They were tia vied in personal charms with the Empress Livia, sometimes profuse and magnificent, at others elegant and is said to have gained the affections of Augustus. and private; but they were always inimitable in point The umbrage Mæcenas took at the attentions paid by of taste and fancy. He was the first person who in- his master to Terentia, is assigned by Dio Cassius. as troduced at Rome the luxury of young mule's flesh; the chief cause of that decline of imperial favour which his table was served with the most delicious wines, Mæcenas experienced about four years previous to among which was one of Italian growth and most ex- his death. For, although he was still treated exterquisite flavour, called from his name Macenatianum nally with the highest consideration, though he re(Plin., 8, 43); and hence, too, the luxurious Trimal- tained all the outward show of grandeur and interest, chio, who is the Magister Convivii in the Satyricon and still continued to make a yearly present to the of Petronius Arbiter, is called Macenatianus, from emperor on the anniversary of his birthday, he was his imitating the style of Mæcenas's entertainments. no longer consulted in state affairs as a favourite or (Plin., 14, 6.) His sumptuous board was thronged confidant. Others have supposed that it was not the with parasites, whom he also frequently carried about intrigue of Augustus with Terentia which diminished to sup with his friends, and his house was filled by his influence, but a discovery made by the emperor, musicians, buffoons, and actors of mimes or panto- that he had revealed to his wife some circumstances nis, noticed by Thucydides in his narrative of the expedition of Sitalces into Macedonia, but of whom Herodotus seems to have had no knowledge. (Thucyd., 2, 98.) MÆLIUS, a Roman, slain by Ahala, master of the horse to the dictator Cincinnatus, for aspiring to supreme power. (Liv., 4, 13, seqq.) MENADES (Maivádes), a name applied to the Bacchantes or priestesses of Bacchus, and alluding to their phrensied movements. It is derived from μαίνομαι, concerning the conspiracy in which her brother Muræna had been engaged. Suetonius informs us, that he had felt some displeasure on that account; but Muræna's plot was discovered in the year 732, and the decline of Mæcenas's political power cannot be placed earlier than 738. The disgust conceived by masters when they have given all, and by favourites who have nothing more to receive, or are satiated with honours, may partly account for the coldness which arose between Augustus and his minister. But the declining health of Mæcenas, and his natural indolence, increas-"to rave." ing by the advance of years, afforded of themselves MENALUS (plur. Mænala), I. a mountain in the sufficient cause for his gradual retirement from public south-southeastern part of Arcadia, sacred to the god affairs. His constitution, which was naturally weak, Pan, and considered, on account of its excellent pashad been impaired by effeminacy and luxurious living. tures, to be one of the favourite haunts of that rural He had laboured from his youth under a perpetual deity. (Theocr., Idyl., 1, 123.—Virg., Georg., 1, 17. fever (Plin., 7, 51); and for many years before his-Ovid, Met., 1, 216.) The modern name is Roino. death he suffered much from wakefulness, which was Dodwell says that its height is considerable, and that, greatly aggravated by his domestic chagrins. Mæce- like the other Peloponnesian mountains of the first ornas was fond of life and enjoyment; and of life even der, it is characterized by intersecting glens and valwithout enjoyment. Hence he anxiously resorted to leys, watered by numerous rivulets, and cultivated with different remedies for the cure or relief of this distress- sylvan scenery. It is not, however, as he remarks, to ing malady. Wine, soft music sounding at a dis- be compared with Taygetus either for grandeur or beautance, and various other contrivances, were tried in ty. Mænalus extends far to the northeast, bounding vain. At length, Antonius Musa, the imperial physi- the western side of the plains of Mantinea and Orchocian, who had saved the life of Augustus, but accel- menus, and occupying a tract of country anciently callerated the death of Marcellus, obtained for him some ed Mainalia (Pausan, 8, 9), to which the Delphic oraalleviation of his complaint by means of the distant cle gives the epithet of "cold" (dvoxeiμɛpos.-Pau murmurings of falling water. The sound was artifi-san., l. c.-Dodwell, vol. 2, p. 418).-II. A town of cially procured at his villa on the Esquiline Hill. Du- Arcadia, in the vicinity of Mount Mænalus, which took ring this stage of his complaint, however, Mæcenas its name, according to Pausanias (8, 3), from one of resided principally in his villa at Tibur, situated on the sons of Lycaon, its founder. It was in ruins in the banks of the Anio, and near its celebrated cas- the time of Pausanias, and its situation has not been cades. This was indeed a spot to which Morpheus clearly investigated by modern travellers. (Dodwell, might have sent his kindest dreams; and the pure air vol. 2, p. 418.) of Tibur, with the streams tumbling into the valley through the arches of the villa, did bestow on the worn-out and sleepless courtier some few moments of repose. But all these resources at length failed. The nervous and feverish disorder with which Macenas was afflicted increased so dreadfully, that for three years before his death he never closed his eyes. In his last will, he recommended Horace, in the most affectionate terms, to the protection of the emperor: "Horatii Flacci, ut mei, memor esto." He died in 745, in the same year with Horace, and was buried in his own gardens on the Esquiline Hill. He left no child, and in Mecenas terminated the line of the ancient Etrurian princes. But he bequeathed to posterity a name, immortal as the arts of which he had been through life the generous protector, and which is deeply inscribed on monuments that can only be destroyed by some calamity fatal to civilization. Mæcenas had nominated Augustus as his heir, and the emperor thus became possessed of the Tiburtine villa, which had formed the principal residence of the minister during the close of his life, and in which the monarch passed a great part of the concluding years of his reign. The death of his old favourite revived all the esteem which Augustus had once entertained for him; and, many years afterward, when stung with regret at having divulged the shame of his daughter Julia and punished her offence, he acknowledged his irreparable loss by exclaiming, that he would have been prevented from acting such a part had Mecenas been still alive. So difficult was it to repair the loss of one man, though he had millions of subjects under his obedience. "His legions," says Seneca, "being cut to pieces, he recruited his troops-his fleets, destroyed by storms, were soon refitted-public edifices, consumed by the flames, were rebuilt with greater magnificence; but he could find no one capable of discharging the offices which had been held by Macenas with equal integrity and ability." (Dunlop's Roman Literature, vol. 3, p. 26, seqq, Lond. ed.) MADI, a people of Thrace, above the Palus Bisto MENUS or MENUS, a river of Germany, falling into the Rhine at Moguntiacum (Mayence or Mainz), and now the Main. The Romans first became acquainted with it on getting possession of Moguntiacum. Ptolemy makes no mention of this river, but would seem to have been acquainted with its sources. It is worthy of remark, that the inhabitants on the Main, in the vicinity of Wurtzburg, still call the river, after the Roman fashion, the Mon. The name Mænus is a later form than the other. (Eumen., Paneg. Const., c. 13. -Mannert, Geogr., vol. 3, p. 423.) MAEONIA. Vid. Lydia. The Etrurians, supposed to have derived their civilization, or, according to others, to have sprung, from a Lydian colony, are often called Maonida (Virg., Æn., 11, 759), and the Lake Trasymenus in their country is styled by Silius Italicus Mæonius Lacus. (Sil. Ital., 15, 35.) MÆONIDES, a surname of Homer, in allusion to his supposed Lydian or Mæonian origin. (Vid. Homerus.) MEONIS, I. an epithet applied to Omphale as queen of Lydia or Mæonia. (Ovid, Fast., 2, 310, 352.)—II. The same epithet is also applied to Arachne as a na tive of Lydia. (Id., Met., 6, 103.) MAOTE, a general name for the tribes dwelling along the Palus Mæotis. (Plin, 4, 12.-Strab., 495.) Mela (1, 2) uses the epithet Maotici, and Vopiscus calls them Maotida. MÆOTIS PALUS, or Sea of Azof, a large marshy lake between Europe and Asia, northeast of the Euxine, and connected with it by the Cimmerian Bosporus, or Straits of Jenicali. It is formed by the Tanaïs (Don) and other rivers. Its waters are brackish; they are well stored with fish, but are shallow to a great distance from the banks. No rock has been observed in any part of it. The surface is about twelve inches higher in spring than in the rest of the year. (MalteBrun, vol. 6, p. 405, Am. ed.)—The Palus Mæotis is said by Herodotus to have been also called Maetis (n Maiñriç Te Kahéɛrat.-4, 86, 45), and the Mother of the Pontus Eurinus (ή Μήτηρ τοῦ Πόντου.—4, 86). This name, Mactis, is the earlier and general form. |