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pare Tacit., Hist., 1, 70.-Suet., Aug., c. 20.—Plin.,
Ep., 4, 13.) But its splendour seems to have been
greatest in the time of Ausonius, who flourished to-
wards the end of the fourth century, and who assigns
it the rank of the sixth city in the Roman empire.
Procopius, who wrote a century and a half later, speaks
of Mediolanum as one of the first cities of the west,
and as inferior only to Rome in population and extent.
(Rer. Got., 2, 8.) In it was also established the gold
and silver coinage of the north of Italy. At a later
period, the frequent inroads of the barbarians of the
north compelled the emperors to select, as a place of
arms, some city nearer the scene of action than Rome
was. The choice fell on Mediolanum. Here, too,
Maximian resigned the imperial diadem (Eutrop., 9,
27), and the famous St. Ambrose established the see
of a bishopric. Although subsequently plundered by
Attila (Jornandes, c. 42), it soon revived, and under
Odoacer became the imperial residence. In its vi-
cinity was fought the battle which put Theodoric,
king of the Ostrogoths, in possession of Italy, and
Mediolanum under this prince became second only
to Rome. (Procop., Rer. Got., 2, 8.) It met with its
downfall, however, when, having sided with Belisari-
us, and having been besieged by the Goths and Bur-
gundians, it was taken by the latter, and 300,000 of
the inhabitants, according to Procopius, were put to
the sword (2, 21). It never, after this severe blow,
regained its former eminence, although in the middle
ages it became a flourishing and opulent place of trade.
(Mannert, Geogr., vol. 9, pt. 1, p. 167, seqq.-Cra-
mer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 51.)-II. A town of the
Gugerni in Germania Inferior, corresponding, as is
thought by Cluver and Cellarius, to the present village
of Moyland.-III. A city in Moesia Superior. (Cod.
Theod., 1. 8, de jur. fisc.)-IV. A town of the Ordovi-
ces in Britain, near the present town of Ellesmeere.

money. The Cossæi were defeated by Alexander, | sidered a most flourishing city. (Strabo, 213.-Combut they never appear to have been completely subdued by the Macedonians. According to Herodotus (1, 101), the Medes were originally divided into six tribes, the Buse, Paretaceni, Struchates, Arizanti, Budii, and Magi. They were originally called Arii (Herod., 7, 62); which word appears to contain the same root as Ar-tæi, the ancient name of the Persians. (Herod., 7, 61.) It is not improbable that this name was originally applied to most of the Indo-Germanic nations. Tacitus speaks of the Arii as one of the most powerful of the German tribes (Germ., 43); and India proper is called in the most ancient Sanscrit works, Arrya-varta, "holy land." The same name was retained in the province of Ariana, and is still employed in the East as the proper name of Persia, namely, Iran. (Vid. Aria.)-Media originally formed part of the Assyrian empire, but its history as an independent kingdom is given so differently by Herodotus and Ctesias, as to render it probable that the narrative of Ctesias must refer to a different dynasty in Eastern Asia. Ctesias makes the Median monarchy last 282 years; and, as Media was conquered by Cyrus about B.C. 560, it follows that the Median monarchy would commence, according to his account, about B.C. 842. Herodotus, on the contrary, assigns to the Median monarchy a period of 128 years, which, including the 28 years during which the Scythians had possession of the country, would place the commencement of the Median monarchy B.C. 716. The founder of this monarchy was Arbaces, according to Ctesias, who reckons eight kings from him to Astyages. According to the account of Herodotus, however, there were four kings of Media: 1. Dejoces, who reigned B.C. 716-657. -2. Phraortes, B.C. 657-635, greatly extended the Median empire, subdued the Persians and many other nations, but fell in an expedition against the Assyrians of Ninus (Nineveh).-3. Cyaxares, B.C. 635-595, completely organized the military force of the empire, and extended its boundaries as far west as the Halys. In an expedition against Nineveh, he was defeated by the Scythians, who had made an irruption into Southern Asia, and was deprived of his kingdom for 28 years. After the expulsion of the Scythians, he took Nineveh, and subdued the Assyrian empire, with the exception of the Babylonian district (Babvλwving μoipns).—4. Astyages, B.C. 595-560, who was dethroned by his grandson Cyrus, and Media reduced to a Persian province. The history of the rise of the Persian monarchy is related differently by Xenophon, who also makes a fifth Median king, Cyaxares II., succeed Astyages. The Medes revolted during the reign of Darius II., the father of the younger Cyrus, about B.C. 408, but were again subdued. (Herod., 1, 130.Xen., Hist. Gr., 1, 2, 19.) They do not appear, after this time, to have made any farther attempt at recovering their independence. On the downfall of the Persian empire they formed a part of the kingdom of the Seleucidæ, and were subsequently subject to the Parthians. (Encycl. Us. Knowl., vol. 15, p. 54.)

MEDIOMATRICI, a people of Gallia Belgica on the Mosella or Moselle. The Treviri were their neighbours on the north. Their chief town was Divodurum, afterward Mediomatrici, now Metz. They were a powerful nation previous to their reduction by the Romans, and their territory corresponded to what is now le pays Messin. (Cas.. B. G., 4, 10.—Plin., 4, 17. -Tacit., Ann., 1, 63.-Id., Hist., 4, 70.)

MEDITERRANEUM MARE (or Midland Sea), the Mediterranean, a sea between the Straits of Gibraltar to the west and the Dardanelles and Syria to the east. It was anciently called "The Sca," or "The Great Sea," by the Jews. The Greeks, on the other hand, do not seem to have had any general name for it. Herodotus calls it "this sea" (1, 185); and Strabo, "the sea within the columns," that is, within the Straits of Gibraltar (Strab., 491). Mela calls the whole sea “mare nostrum," "our sea," and observes that different parts had their several names. Pliny appears to have no general appellation for it. The term Mediterranean is not applied to this sea by any classical Latin writer, but, instead of Mediterraneum, they use internum, or MEDIOLANUM, Í. a city of Cisalpine Gaul, among else, with Mela, call it nostrum. We will return to the Insubres, now Milan. According to Livy (5, 34), this subject at the close of the article.-The Mediterit was founded by the Insubres, and called by them ranean is comprised between the parallels of 30° 15′ Mediolanum, from a place of the same name among and 45° 50', and the meridians of 5° 30′ W. and 36° the Ædui in Gaul. (Compare Pliny, 3, 17.-Ptol., 10' E. The distance from Gibraltar to the farthest p. 63.) This city is named for the first time in his shore of Syria is 2000 miles, and the narrowest part tory by Polybius (2, 34), in his account of the Gallic from Sicily to Africa is 79 miles across. Including wars. The capture of it by Cn. Scipio and Marcellus the islands, it occupies an area of 734,000 square was followed by the submission of the Insubres them- miles. On the shores of this sea have been transacted selves. (Oros., 4, 13.—Plut., Vit. Marcell.) It was the most important events in the history of mankind, situate on a small river, now the Olona, in a beautiful and its character seems to mark it as the theatre best plain between the Ticinus or Tesino, and the Addua adapted to the complete and rapid civilization of the or Adda. In the vicinity of this city, to the west, race. From the great diversity of soil and produc D'Anville and others locate the Raudii Campi, where tions, under a varied and favourable climate, the coloMarius defeated the Cimbri; but Mannert places them nists, from whatever points they first proceeded, would near Verona. In Strabo's time, Mediolanum was con- I soon acquire those different habits under which their

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several energies and capabilities would be developed. I placed Byzantium too far to the north, and not far The comparative shortness of the distances of the sev- enough to the east. From Alexandrea to the east eral places, rendering navigation easy and pleasant end of Crete he considered 3000 stadia, or 257 in small and imperfect vessels, would, by facilitating miles; it measures about 290. From Alexandrea to intercourse from an early period, tend to diffuse and Rhodes he made 3600 stadia, or 308 miles it measpromote civilization; while commerce, by bringing ures 320.-Many of the latitudes given by Strabo are together men of different habits, manners, and lan- very near, that is, within 10'; those of Massilia and guages, and thus circulating practical information, Byzantium excepted, the former being 3° 43′ too litwould supply the materials for the perfection of the tle, and the latter 2° 16' too much. The longitudes, arts and sciences.-The navigation of the Mediterra- which were all at that time referred to the Sacred nean must no doubt be of very early date. The story Promontory as the first meridian, and the extreme of Minos destroying pirates (Thucyd., 1, 4) takes for western point, as was believed, of the known world, granted the fact, that there must have been merchant are without exception too small; that of Carthage, the vessels carrying something worth plundering from the nearest to the truth, being 1° 9', and Alexandrea, the earliest recorded period. If, with Strabo, we allow most erroneous, 6° 40′ too small. (Encycl. Useful the accuracy of Homer's descriptions, it by no means Knowl., vol. 15, p. 59, seqq.)-The Mediterranean follows that the Greeks knew everything that could Sea afforded a very frequent topic of consideration have been known to every other nation at that time; to the ancient writers. Democritus, Diogenes, and and the stories told of the jealousy with which the others, maintained that its waters kept constantly dePhoenicians and Carthaginians guarded their discover- creasing, and would eventually all disappear. Arisies, prove at least that geographical knowledge was totle (Meteor., 2, 3) held to the opinion, that the not common property and with regard to these very Mediterranean had at one time covered a large part nations, the knowledge which the Greeks could have of Africa and Egypt, and had extended inland as had of them, among other barbarians, must have been far as the temple of Jupiter Ammon. This doctrine inferior to that which we possess in the minute ac- was maintained also by Xanthus the Lydian, Strabo, curacy of the Scriptures alone. The story of Utica and Eratosthenes. The ancients appear to have been having been established 130 years before Carthage, led to this conclusion by observing in various parts proves a regular communication between this place of Africa and Egypt manifest traces and indications and Syria, a distance of upward of 1200 miles; and of the sea. They found here shells, pebbles eviwe may conclude that occasional voyages of that en-dently rounded or worn smooth by the action of terprising people had already extended the bounds of water, incrustations of salt, and many salt lakes. knowledge far beyond these limits. If the precise Some of these appearances were particularly frequent time of the discovery of places, lying, as it were, in on the route through the desert to the temple of the thoroughfare of this sea, is so uncertain, the his- Ammon. (Herod., 2, 12.-Plut., de Is. et Os. — tory of the places in the deep bays of the northern Strab., 809.-Mela, 1, 6.- Solin., 26. — Seidel., ad shores must be still more obscure we shall therefore Eratosth., fragm., p. 28.) The ancient writers maingive at once a slight sketch of the geography of this tained, that the temple and oracle of Ammon never sea from Strabo, who wrote in the first century of our could have become so famous if the only approach to era. The stadium adopted by Strabo was that of them had always been over vast and dangerous desEratosthenes, 700 stadia making 1° of latitude or lon- erts. They insisted that the Oases had all originally gitude on the equator, or 60 nautical miles; hence a been islands in the earlier and more widely extended stadium is 0.0857 of a nautical mile, the mile being Mediterranean. In this remote period, according to about 6082 feet. The Mediterranean was divided into them, there existed as yet no communication between three basins: the first comprised the sea between the the Pontus Euxinus and Mediterranean Sea (vid. LecColumns of Hercules and Sicily; the second, between tonia), nor between the latter and the Atlantic. The Sicily and Rhodes; the third, between Rhodes and the isthmus connecting Arabia with Egypt was under washores of Syria. Strabo supposed that the parallel of latter, and Eratosthenes believed that Menelaus had sailitude of 36 passed through the Sacred Promontory ed over this narrow passage, which is now the Isth(Cape St. Vincent) between the Pillars of Hercules, di-mus of Suez. When the waters of the Euxine forced viding this part of the Mediterranean in the middle of a passage into the Mediterranean (vid. Cyanea), the its breadth, which was believed by navigators to be 5000 great influx of water opened another outlet for itself stadia, or 428 nautical miles, from the Gulf of Lyons through what were called by the ancients the Pillars to the shores of Africa, but which measures only 330. of Hercules, Spain and Africa having been previously The sea here, however, lies altogether to the north of joined. In this tremendous convulsion the ancient this parallel; and hence, as the configuration of the land of Lectonia is thought to have been inundated, European shores seems to have been tolerably good, and to have sunk in the sea, leaving merely the islands the coast of Africa must have been proportionably dis-of the Archipelago, its mountain-tops, to attest its torted. This parallel was carried through the straits of Sicily, Rhodes, and the Gulf of Issus, now the Gulf of Scanderoon. In consequence of the above supposition, he placed Massilia (Marseille) to the southward instead of the northward of Byzantium. He supposed Sardinia and Corsica to lie northwest and southeast instead of north and south, and made the distance of Sardinia from the coast of Africa 2400 stadia, or 206 miles instead of 100, which is the true distance. From the Columns of Hercules to the Straits of Sicily he considers to be 12,000 stadia, or 1028 miles: it is only about 800. From Pachynum (Cape Passaro) to the western extremity of Crete he reckoned 4500 stadia, or 386 miles; it measures 400: and he supposed the length of Crete 2000 stadia, or 171 miles, the true length being 140. He supposed that a line drawn through Byzantium, the middle of the Propontis, the Hellespont, and along the capes of the coast of Asia Minor, would coincide with the meridian: this error

former existence. According to Diodorus Siculus (5, 47), the inhabitants of Samothrace had a tradition that a great part of their island, as well as of Asia, was ravaged and laid under water by this inundation, and that, in fishing near their island, fragments of temples and other buildings were frequently rescued from the waves. (Compare Diod. Sic., 5, 82.- Strab., 85.— Plat., de Leg., 3, p. 677, Opp., ed. Bip., vol. 8, p. 106.-Plin., 2, 80.-Philon., de Mund. non corrupt., p. 959. — Lyell's Principles of Geology, vol. 1, p. 25, seqq.)-Before bringing the present article to a close, it may not be amiss to enter more fully into one part of the subject, on which we merely touched at the commencement, the different appellations, namely, which have been given to this sea. Herodotus, as we have already remarked, calls it "this sea," Tývde rìv válasσav (4, 39.- Compare Aristot., Meteor., 2, 2.-Appran, Schweigh. ad Præf., c. 1.-Wesseling, ad Diod. Sic., 4, 18). Polybius, ǹ low váλaoca (3,

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MEDUACUS. Vid. Medoacus.

MEDUANA, a river of Gallia Belgica, flowing into the Ligeris or Loire. Now the Mayenne. (Lucan, 1, 438-Theod. Aurel., 4, carm. 6.)

39.-Compare Aristot., de Mundo, c. 3.-Gellius, N. | the choice of the nobles. It is added, that the archon A., 10, 7.) Diodorus Siculus, кal' hμûç dúλaooa at this period, though holding the office for life, was (4, 18.-Compare Polyb., 3, 37.-Strab., 83.- Ap- nevertheless deemed a responsible magistrate, which pian, Bell. Mithradat., c. 93. - Marimus Tyrius, implies that those who elected had the power of de14, 2). Maximus Tyrius, ʼn devpo váλaooa (41, 1).posing him; and, consequently, though the range of Strabo, vròs váλaoσa. (Compare Marc. Heracl, his functions may not have been narrower than that Peripl., p. 65.-Agathem., 2, 4.) Aristotle, tvròs of the king's, he was more subject to control in the 'Нpakλeiwv ornλiv dúhaσoa (Meteor., 2, 1.-Com- exercise of them. This indirect kind of sway, howpare Dion. Hal., 1, 3.-Plut., Vit. Pomp., c. 25). The ever, did not satisfy the more ambitious spirits; and Latin writers in general, as we have already said, give we find them steadily, though gradually, advancing toit the appellation of Nostrum Mure (Sallust., Jug., c. wards the accomplishment of their final object—a com17.-Mela, 1, 1, 5.—Liv., 26, 4.—Cæs., B. G., 5, 1. plete and equal participation of the sovereignty. After Avien., Or. Marit., v. 56.-Compare Duker, ad Flor., twelve perpetual archonships, ending with that of Alc3, 6, 9. Cort. ad Sallust., B. Jug., c. 18). Pliny mæon, the duration of the office was limited to ten styles it Mare internum (3, proem., c. 5). Florus, years; and through the guilt or calamity of HippomaMare intestinum (4, 2). Later writers, not classical, nes, the fourth decennial archon, the house of Medon have Mare Mediterraneum. (Solin., c. 22.) Isidorus was deprived of its privilege, and the supreme magisgives the following explanation of this name: Quia tracy was thrown open to the whole body of the nobles. per mediam terram usque ad Orientem perfunditur, Eu-This change was speedily followed by one much more ropam et Africam Asiamque disterminans." (Orig., important: the archonship was reduced to a single 13, 13.-Compare Priscian., Perieg., 52.) Orosius year; and, at the same time, its branches were seversays, "Mare nostrum quod Magnum generaliter dici-ed, and were distributed among nine new magistrates. mus ;" and Isidorus remarks, "quia cetera maria in (Vid. Archontes.-Thirlwall's History of Greece, vol. comparatione ejus minora sunt." (Oros., 1, 2.-Isid., 2, p. 16.-Compare Clinton, Fast. Hell., vol. 1, p. Orig., 13, 16.-Compare Hardouin, ad Plin, 9, 18. ix., seqq.) – Burmann, ad Val. Flacc., Arg., 1, 50.) According to Polybius (3, 42), that part of the Mediterranean which lay between the Pillars of Hercules and the Rhone was called Zapdóviov méλayos, while Aristotle calls the part between the Pillars and Sardinia Lapdovikós (Meteor., 2, 1.-Id., de Mund., 3.-Eratosth., ap. Plin., 3, 10). Strabo gives the part between the Pillars and the Pyrenees the name of 'lbŋpiкòv πéλayos (122.-Compare Agathem., 1, 3.—Dionys. Perieg., v. 69.- Niceph. Blem., ed. Spohn., p. 3). Pliny remarks, "Hispanum mare, quatenus Hispanias alluit ; ab aliis Ibericum aut Balearicum" (3, 2.—Id. ibid, 4,34.-Compare Solin., c. 23.—Ampel., c. 7.—Ptol., 2, 6). According to Zonaras (Annal., 8, p. 406), the sea to the east of the Pyrenees was called the Sea of the Bebrycians. (Compare Markland., ad Max. Tyr., 32, 3.-Ukert's Geogr., vol. 2, p. 247, seqq., in notis.) MEDITRINA, the goddess of healing, whose festival, called Meditrinalia, was celebrated at Rome and throughout Latium on the 5th day before the Ides of October. (Compare the Ancient Calendar given by Gruter, p. 133.) On this occasion new and old wine were poured out in libation, and tasted, "medicamenti causa. Compare the explanatory remarks of Festus : "Meditrinalia dicta hac de causa. Mos erat Latinis populis, quo die quis primum gustaret mustum, dicere ominis gratia, vetus novum vinum bibo: veteri novo morbo medeor.' A quibus verbis Meditrina deæ nomen captum, ejusque sacra Meditrinalia dicta sunt." (Festus, s. v.-Consult Dacier, ad loc.) MEDOACI, a people of Venetia, in Cisalpine Gaul, noticed only by Strabo (216). From the affinity which their name bears to that of the Meduacus or Brenta, it seems reasonable to place them near the source of that river, and in the district of Bassano. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 125.)

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MEDOACUS OF MEDUACUS, I. Major, a river of Venetia, now the Brenta.-II. Minor, a river of Venetia, now the Bachiglione.-Both these rivers rise in the territory of the Euganei, and fall into the Adriatic below Venice. Patavium was situate between these two streams, but nearer the Medoacus Minor. (Plin., 3, 16.-Liv., 10, 2.)

MEDOBRIGA, a city of Lusitania, southwest of Norba Cæsarea; now Marvao, on the confines of Portugal. (Cas., Bell. Afric., c. 48.)

MEDON, Son of Codrus, the 17th and last king of Athens, was the first of the perpetual archons. He held the office for life, and transmitted it to his posterity; but still it would appear that, within the house of the Medontidæ, the succession was determined by

MEDUS, I. a river of Persis, falling into the Rogomanes; now the Abi-Kuren. (Strabo, 729.)-By the Medum flumen in Horace (Od., 2, 9, 21) is meant the Euphrates.-II. A son of Ægeus and Medea, who was fabled to have given name to Media, in Upper Asia. (Vid. Medea.)

MEDUSA, one of the three Gorgons, daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, and the only one of the number that was not immortal. (Apollod., 2, 4, 2.) According to one legend, Medusa was remarkable for personal beauty, and captivated by her charms the monarch of the sea. Minerva, however, incensed at their having converted her sanctuary into a place of meeting, changed the beautiful locks of Medusa into serpents, and made her in other respects hideous to the view. Some accounts make this punishment to have befallen her because she presumed to vie in personal attractions with Minerva, and to consider her tresses as far superior to the locks of the former. (Serv., ad Virg., En., 6, 289.) Apollodorus, however, gives the Gorgons snaky tresses from their birth. (Vid. Gorgones.)-Medusa had, in common with her sisters, the power of converting every object into stone on which she fixed her eyes. Perseus slew her (vid. Perseus), and cut off her head; and the blood that flowed from it produced, say the poets, the serpents of Africa, since Perseus, on his return, winged his way over that country with the Gorgon's head. The conqueror gave the head to the goddess Minerva, who placed it in the centre of her ægis or shield. (Vid. Egis.)

MEGÆRA, one of the Furies. (Vid. Furiæ.)
MEGALESIA, games in honour of Cybele.
Ludi Megalenses.)

(Vid.

MEGALIA OF MEGARIS, a small island in the Bay of Naples, near Neapolis, on which the Castle del Ovo now stands. (Plin., 3, 6.—Colum., R. R., 10.)

MEGALOPOLIS, the most recent of all the Arcadian cities, and also the most extensive, situate in the southern part of Arcadia, in a wide and fertile plain watered by the Helissus, which flowed from the central parts of Arcadia, and nearly divided the town into two equal parts. Pausanias informs us, that the Arcadians, having, by the advice of Epaminondas, resolved on laying the foundations of a city, which was to be the capital of their nation, deputed ten commissioners, selected from the principal states, to make the

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Ἐρημία μεγάλη ἐστὶν ἡ Μεγαλόπολις. (Strabo, 388. The village of Sinano has been built on the site, and amid the ruins of Megalopolis. (Dodwell, Tour, vol. 2, p. 375.-Pouqueville, Voyage de la Grece, vol. 5, p. 494.) Dodwell says that Sinano, which consists of an aga's pyrgo and a few cottages, is situated just without the ancient walls." Pouqueville, however, makes the distance one mile between Sinano and the ruins of Megalopolis. The former is undoubt edly the more accurate statement. Leondari has been erroneously regarded by some as occupying the site of this ancient city. (Cramer's Anc. Greece, vol. 3, p. 329, seqq.)

MEGANIRA, the wife of Celeus, king of Eleusis in Attica. She was mother of Triptolemus, to whom Ceres taught agriculture. Meganira received divine honours after death, and had an altar raised to her near the fountain where Ceres had first been seen when she arrived in Attica. (Pausan., 1, 39.)

necessary arrangements for conducting the new colony. (Pausan., 8, 27.) This event took place in the 1024 Olympiad, or 370-1 B.C. The territory assigned to Megalopolis was extensive, since it reached as far as the little states of Orchomenus and Caphyæ on the northeast, while to the south and southwest it adjoined Laconia and Messenia. (Pausan., 8, 25.) Diodorus affirms, that the city contained about 15,000 men capable of bearing arms, according to which calculation we may compute the whole population at 65,000. (Diod. Sic., 18, 70.) The Megalopolitans experienced no molestation from the Lacedæmonians as long as Thebes was able to protect them; but, on the decline of that city, and when it also became engaged in the sacred war against the Phocians, they were assailed by the Spartans, who endeavoured to obtain possession of their town; these attacks, however, were easily repelled by the aid of the Argives and Messenians. (Pausan., 8, 37.) To the Athe nians the Megalopolitans were likewise indebted for their protection against the attempts of Sparta, as well as for their assistance in settling some dissensions in their republic, which had led to the secession of several townships that originally contributed to the foundation of the city. (Demosth., Orat. pro Megalop., p. 202.) In order to strengthen themselves still farther against the Lacedæmonians, they formed an alliance with Philip, son of Amyntas, who conciliated the favour of the Arcadians not only towards himself, but towards-orum: in Greek, rà Méyapa), a city of Greece, the all his successors. (Pausan., 8, 27.—Polyb., 2, 48.) On the death of Alexander, Megalopolis had to defend itself against the army of Polysperchon, who was engaged in war with Cassander. This general vigorously assaulted the city, but, owing to the bravery of the inhabitants, headed by Damis, who had served under Alexander, his attacks were constantly repulsed. (Diod. Sic., 18, 70.) Subsequently we find Megalopolis governed by tyrants, the first of whom was Aristodemus of Phigalea, whose excellent character obtained for him the surname of Xpnorós. Under his reign the Spartans again invaded Megalopolis, but were defeated after an obstinate conflict; Acrotatus, the son of Cleomenes, who commanded the army, being among the slain. (Pausan., 8, 27.) Some time after the death of Aristodemus, the sovereignty was again usurped by Lydiades, a man of ignoble birth, but of worthy character, since he voluntarily abdicated his authority for the benefit of his countrymen, in order that he might unite them with the Achæan confederacy. (Pausan., 8, 27-Polyb., 2, 44.) At this period Megalopolis was assailed for the third time by the Spartans; who, having defeated the inhabitants, laid siege to the city, of which they would have made themselves masters but for a violent wind, which overthrew and demolished their engines. (Pausan., 8, 27.) Not long, however, after this failure, Cleomenes, the son of Leonidas, in violation of the existing treaty, surprised the Megalopolitans by night, and, putting to the sword all who offered any resistance, destroyed the city. Philopomen, with a considerable part of the population, escaped into Messenia. (Pob., 2, 55.Pausan., 8, 27.) Megalopolis was restored by the Achæans after the battle of Sellasia; but it never again. rose to its former flourishing condition. The virtues and talents of its great general Philopamen added materially to its celebrity and influence in the Achæan councils, and after his death its fame was upheld by the abilities of Lycortas and Polybius, who trod in the steps of their gifted countryman, and were worthy of sharing in the lustre which he had reflected on his native city. (Pausan., 8, 49.-Polyb., 2, 40. — Id., 10, 24. — Id., 24, 9. — Plut., Vit. Philopom.) In the time of Polybius, Megalopolis was fifty stadia in circumference, but its population was only equal to half that of Sparta; and when Strabo wrote, it was so reduced that a comic poet was justified in saying,

MEGARA, a daughter of Creon, king of Thebes, given in marriage to Hercules, because he had delivered the Thebans from the tribute they had bound themselves to pay to the Orchomenians. Subsequently, having been rendered insane by Juno, Hercules threw into the fire the children of whom he had become the father by Megara. (Apollod., 2, 4, 12) He afterward gave her in marriage to folaus. (Apollod., 2, 6, 1.) MEGARA (gen. -a; and also, as a neuter plural, -a, capital of a district called Megaris, about 210 stadia northwest of Athens. It was situate at the foot of two hills, on each of which stood a citadel: these were named Caria and Alcathoüs. It was connected with the port of Nisaa by two walls, the length of which was about eight stadia (Thucyd., 4, 66), or eighteen according to Strabo (391). They were erected by the Athenians, at the time that the Megareans placed themselves under their protection. (Thucyd., 1, 103.) The distance from Athens, as has been already stated, was 210 stadia. (Procop., Bell. Vand, 1, 1.) Dio Chrysostom calls it a day's journey. (Orat., 6.) Modern travellers reckon eight hours. (Dodwell, vol. 2, p. 177.) The writer just referred to states that Megara is now but a miserable place; the houses small, and flat roofed. One only of the hills is occupied by the modern town; but on the other, which is the more eastern of the two, are some remains of the ancient walls, which appear to have been massive and of great strength. Not any of the numerous temples described by Pausanias can now be identified with certainty. Altogether, there are few places in Greece where the ancient monuments have so totally disappeared. (Dodwell, vol. 2, p. 177.-Compare Gell's Itin., p. 16.)— Tradition, as Pausanias affirms, represented Megara as already existing under that name in the time of Car, the son of Phoroneus; while others have derived it from Megarus, a Boeotian chief, and son of Apollo or Neptune. (Pausan., 1, 39.-Steph. Byz., s, v. Méyapa.) Car was succeeded by Lelex, who, as was reported, came from Egypt, and transmitted his name to the ancient race of the Leleges, whom we thus trace from the Achelous to the shores of the Saronic Gulf. Lelex was followed by Cleson, and Pylas, who abdicated his crown in favour of Pandion, the son of Cecrops, king of Athens, by which event Megaris became annexed to the latter state. (Pausan., 1, 39.) Nisus, the son of Pandion, received Megaris as his share of his father's dominions. (Strabo, 392.) The history of this prince and his daughter Scylla, as also the capture of Megara by Minos, are found in all the mythological writers of Greece; but Pausanias observes (1, 39) that these accounts were disowned by the Megareans. Nisus is said to have founded Nisma, the port of Megara; whence the inhabitants of that city were surnamed Nisæi, to distinguish them from the Megareans of Sicily, their colonists. (Theocr., Idyll., 12,

to the form of an oligarchy, they formed a plan of giv ing up the city to the Athenians in the seventh year of the war. Án Athenian force was accordingly de

ting rocks, nevertheless possess the largest houses of
any people in Greece; and though they have but a
small force, and are placed between the Peloponnesians,
the Thebans, and our own city, yet they retain their in-
dependence and live in peace" (de Pace, p. 183).-Phi-
losophy also flourished in this city, Euclid, a disciple
of Socrates, having founded there a school of some
celebrity, known by the name of the Megaric sect
(Strab., 393.-Cic., Orat., 3, 17.-Id., Acad., 2, 42.)

27.) The walls of Megara, which had been destroyed by Minos, were rebuilt by Alcathoüs, the son of Pelops, who came from Elis. (Pausan., 1, 41.) In this undertaking, Apollo was said to have assisted him.spatched, which appeared suddenly before Nisæa, the (Theogn., 771.-Ovid, Met., 8, 14.) Hyperion, the port of Megara, and, having cut off the Peloponnesian son of Agamemnon, according to Pausanias, was the troops which garrisoned the place, compelled them to last sovereign of Megara; after his death, the govern- surrender. Megara itself would also have fallen into ment, by the advice of an oracle, became democrati- their hands, if Brasidas had not at this juncture arrived cal. (Pausan., 1, 43.) As a republic, however, it re- with a Spartan army before the walls of that city, mained still subject to Athens. Strabo indeed af- where he was presently joined by the Baotians and firms, that, till the reign of Codrus, Megaris had al- other allies. On his arrival, the Athenians, not feeling ways been included within the limits of Attica; and sufficiently strong to hazard an action, withdrew to he thus accounts for Homer's making no special men- Nisæa, and, after leaving a garrison in that port, returntion of its inhabitants, from his comprehending them ed to Athens. The leaders of the democratical party with the Athenians under the general denomination of in Megara, now fearing that a reaction would ensue, volIonians. (Strab., 392.) In the reign of Codrus, Me- untarily quitted the city, which then returned to an oligara was wrested from the Athenians by a Pelopon- garchical form of government. (Thucyd., 4, 66, seqq.) nesian force; and a colony having been established From this period we hear but little of Megara in Grethere by the Corinthians and Messenians, it ceased to cian history; but we are told that its citizens remainbe considered as of Ionian origin, but thenceforth be- ed undisturbed by the contest in which their more powcame a Dorian city, both in its language and political erful neighbours were engaged, and in the tranquil eninstitutions. The pillar, also, which marked the bound-joyment of their independence. "The Megareans," aries of Ionia and the Peloponnesus, was on that oc- says Isocrates, "from a small and scanty commencecasion destroyed. (Strab., 393.-Pausan., 1, 39.-ment, having neither harbours nor mines, but cultivaThe scholiast on Pindar (Nem. 7) informs us, that the Corinthians, at this early period, considering Megara as their colony, exercised a sort of jurisdiction over the city. Not long after, however, Theagenes, one of its citizens, usurped the sovereign power, by the same method, apparently, which was afterward adopted by Pisistratus at Athens. (Aristot., Rhet., 1, 2.-Id., Polit., 5, 5.- Thucyd., 1, 126.) He was finally expelled by his countrymen; after which event a moderate republican form of government was established, Plutarch reports, that the Megarcans offered to make though afterward it degenerated into a violent democ- Alexander the Great a citizen of their town, an honracy. (Plut., Quæst. Gr., 18.) This should probably our which that prince was inclined to ridicule, though be considered as the period of Megara's greatest pros- they asserted it had never been granted to any foreigner perity, since it then founded the cities of Selymbria, except Hercules. (Plut., de Monarch., p. 238.) AfMesembria, and Byzantium, on the shores of the Eux-ter the death of that monarch, Megara fell successiveine, and Megara Hyblæa in Sicily. (Strabo, 319.) It ly into the hands of Demetrius Poliorcetes, Ptolemy was at this time also that its inhabitants were engaged Soter, and Demetrius, son of Antigonus Gonatas, by in war with the Athenians for the possession of Sala- whom, according to Plutarch, the city was destroyed mis, which, after an obstinate contest, finally remained (de Instit. Puer., p. 3); but, as Pausanias mentions a in the hands of the latter. (Pausan., 1, 40.-Strabo, war waged by the Megareans against Thebes, in which 394.) The Megareans fought at Artemisium with they were assisted by the Achæans, we may infer that twenty ships, and at Salamis with the same number. it was subsequently restored (8, 50), and we know that (Herod., 8, 1, 45.) They also gained some advantage it was taken by the Romans under Metellus (Pausan., over the Persians under Mardonius, in an inroad which 7, 15) and Calenus. (Plut., Vit. Brut.) Strabo also he made into their territory (Pausan., 1, 40); and, affirms (393), that Megara still existed in his time, lastly, they sent 3000 soldiers to Platea, who deserved though much reduced, as we are assured by Sulpicius, well of their country in the memorable battle fought in the well-known passage of his letter to Cicero (ad in its plains. (Herod., 9, 21.-Plut., de defect. Orac., Fam., 4. 5). "Post me erat Egina, ante Megara, p. 186.) After the Persian war, we find Megara en-dextra Piræus, sinistra Corinthus; quæ oppida quogaged in hostilities with Corinth, and renouncing the Peloponnesian confederacy to ally itself with Athens. (Thucyd., 1, 103.-Diod. Sic., 2, 60.) This state of things was not, however, of long duration; for the Corinthians, after effecting a reconciliation with the oligarchical party in Megara, persuaded the inhabitants to declare against the Athenians who garrisoned their city. These were presently attacked and put to the sword, with the exception of a small number who escaped to Nisæa. (Thucyd., 1, 114.) The Athenians, justly incensed at this treacherous conduct, renounced MEGARIS, a small territory of Greece, lying to the all intercourse with the Megareans, and issued a decree west and northwest of Attica. Its capital was Meexcluding them from their ports and markets; a meas-gara. (Vid. Megara; under which head an historical ure which appears to have been severely felt by the sketch is given.) It was separated from Boeotia, on latter, and was made a pretence for war on the part of the north, by the range of Mount Citharon; and from their Peloponnesian allies. (Thucyd., 1, 67, 139.) Attica by the high land which descends from the Megara was, during the Peloponnesian war, exposed, northwest boundary of the latter country, and terwith the other cities of Greece, to the tumults and minates, on the west side of the bay of Eleusis, in factions engendered by violent party spirit. The par-two summits, formerly called Kerata, or the Horns, tisans of the democracy favoured, it is true, the Peloponnesian cause; but, dreading the efforts of the adverse faction, which might naturally look for support from the Lacedæmonians in restoring the government

dam tempore florentissima fuerunt, nunc prostrata et diruta ante occulos jacent." Pausanias affirms, that Megara was the only city of Greece which was not restored by Hadrian, in consequence of its inhabitants having murdered Anthemocritus, the Athenian herald (1, 36). Alaric completed the destruction of this once flourishing city. (Procop., Bell. Vand., 1, 1.— Cramer's Arc. Greece, vol. 2, p. 424, seqq.)-II. A city of Sicily, founded by a colony from Megara in Greece. (Vid. Hybla, III.)

and now Kandili. Megaris was divided from the Corinthian territory on the west by the Onean range of mountains, through which there were only two roads from Corinth into Megaris; one of these, called

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