duplication of the sixth day before the calends of March was called the intercalary day, and the year in which this took place was styled Bissextile. This was the Julian year, the reckoning by which commenced 45 B.C., and continued till it gave place to something more accurate, and a still farther reformation under Pope Gregory XIII. Sosigenes was the author of a commentary upon Aristotle's book de Calo. Sosi, celebrated booksellers at Rome, in the age of Horace. (Ep, 1, 20, 2.-Ep. ad Pis., 345.) SOSTRATUS, I. a grammarian in the age of Augustus. He was Strabo's preceptor.-II. An architect of Cnidus, B.C. 284, who built the tower of Pharos, in the Bay of Alexandrea. (Vid. Pharos.)-III. A poet, who wrote a poem on the expedition of Xerxes into Greece. (Juv., 10, 178.- Lemaire, ad loc.) SOTER, a surname of the first Ptolemy. (Vid. Ptolemæus I.) SOTHIS, the Egyptian name of the star Sirius. (Vid. Sirius.) serves, " that houses were left in Sparta after the shock had ceased. (Var. Hist., 6, 7.-Compare Plut., Vit. Cim.-Ctc., de Divin., 1, 50.—Plin., 2, 79.) It continued without walls during the most flourishing period of Spartan history, Lycurgus having inspired his countrymen with the idea that the real defence of a town consisted solely in the valour of its citizens. When, however, Sparta became subject to despotic rulers, fortifications were erected, which rendered the town capable of sustaining a regular siege. By that time it had increased considerably, being forty-eight stadia in circumference, as we are informed by Polybius, who adds, that it was double the size of Megalopolis in regard to the number of its houses and inhabitants. though it did not occupy an equal extent of ground, since the circuit of the Arcadian city was fifty stadia. The remains of Sparta are about two miles distant SOTADES, I an Athenian poet of the middle come from the modern town of Misitra. Sir W. Gell obdy. (Schöll., Hist. Lit. Gr., vol. 2, p. 115.)-II. A the walls are of the lower ages, and Greek poet, a native of Maronea, whose name has de- consist of fragments and blocks taken from ancient scended to posterity covered with infamy. He was edifices. The whole city appears to have been a mile the author of Cinædologic strains, which exceeded in long, in which were included five hills; some of impurity anything that had gone before them. These these have ruins on their summits." (in. of the Mopoems, at first called Ionica, were subsequently de-rea, p. 221.-Compare Dodwell, vol. 2, p. 408.)nominated Sotadica. Having, before leaving Alex- We will now proceed to give a brief outline of Sparandrea, where he had been living some time, written a tan history. According to fable, Lacedæmon, son of very gross epigram on Ptolemy Philadelphus, that Jupiter, and of the nymph Taygeta, married Sparta, prince caused him to be pursued. Sotades was seiz- daughter of Eurotas, king of the Leleges, succeeded ed in the island of Caunus, enclosed in a case of his father-in-law on the throne, and gave the country lead, and cast into the sea. (Athen., 14, p. 620, ed. his own name, calling the city by that of his wife. Schweigh., vol. 5, p. 247.) He was probably a Hellenic prince, and one of the leaders of the Achæan colony, which Archander and Architeles led into Laconia, after their expulsion from Phthiotis. Here Lacedæmon, having persuaded the natives to receive a colony, gave his own name to the united people. Among the most celebrated of the early kings was Tyndarus, with whose sons Castor and Pollux the male line of Lacedæmon became extinct. Menelaus, between whom and Lacedæmon five kings had reigned, married Helen, the daughter of Tyndarus, and thus acquired the throne. Orestes, son of Agamemnon, who had married Hermione, the daughter of Menelaus, united Argos and Mycena with Lacedæmon. In the reign of his son and successor Tisamenes, it was conquered by the Heraclidæ, about 1080 B.C., who established a diarchy or double dynasty of two kings in Sparta. For, as neither the mother nor the Delphic oracle could decide which of the twin sons of Aristodemus, Eurysthenes and Procles, was first born, the province of Laconia was assigned to them in common; and it was determined that the descendants of both should succeed them. The Lacedæmonians, however, had little cause to rejoice at the arrival of the foreigners, whose fierce disputes, under seven rulers of both houses, distracted the country with civil feuds, while it was, at the same time, involved in constant wars with its neighbours, particularly the Argives. The royal authority was continually becoming feebler, and the popular power was increased by these divisions, until the government ended in an ochlocracy. At this time Lycur gus was born for the healing of the troubles. He was the only man in whom all parties confided; and, under the auspices of the gods, whose oracle he consulted, he established a new constitution of govern ment in Sparta (about 880 B.C.), and thus became the saviout of his country. Lacedæmon now acquired new vigour, which was manifested in her wars against her neighbours, particularly in the two long Messenian SOTIATES, a people of Gaul conquered by Cæsar. Their country, which formed part of Aquitania, extended along the Garumna or Garonne, and their chief town was Sotiatum, of which some traces still remain at the modern Sos. (Cæs., B. G., 3, 20.) SOTION, a grammarian of Alexandrea, preceptor to Seneca, B.C. 204. (Senec., Ep., 49, 50.) SozŎMEN, an ecclesiastical historian, born, according to some, at Salamis, in the island of Cyprus, but, according to others, at Gaza or Bethulia, in Palestine. He died 450 A.D. His history extends from the year 324 to 439, and is dedicated to Theodosius the Younger, being written in a style of inelegance and mediocrity. He is chargeable with several notorious errors in the relation of facts, and has incurred censure for his commendations of Theodorus of Mopsuesta, with whom originated the heresy of two persons in Christ. His history is usually printed with that of Socrates and the other ecclesiastical historians. The best edition is that of Reading, Cantab, 1720, folio. A work of Sozomen, not now extant, containing, in two books, a summary account of the affairs of the Church from the ascension of our Saviour to the defeat of Licinius, was written before his history. SPARTA, a celebrated city of Greece, the capital of Laconia. It was situated in a plain of some extent, bounded on one side by the chain of Taygetus, on the other by the less elevated ridge of Mount Thornax, and through which flowed the Eurotas. In the age of Thucydides it was an inconsiderable town, without fortifications, presenting rather the appearance of a collection of villages than of a regularly-planned and well-built city. The public buildings also were very few, and these conspicuous neither for their size nor architectural beauty so that the appearance of Lacedæ-wars, which resulted in the subjugation of the Messemon, as the historian observes, conveyed a very inadequate idea of the power and resources of the nation (1, 10). Before the Peloponnesian war, a great portion of the city had been destroyed by an earthquake, which also occasioned considerable damage in other parts of the country. Elian states that only five nians (B.C. 668). The battle of Thermopyla (B.C. 480), in which the Spartan king Leonidas successfully resisted the Persian forces at the head of a small body of his countrymen, gave Sparta so much distinction among the Grecian states, that even Athens consented to yield the command of the confederated forces, by land and sea, to the Spartans. Pausanias, guardian arose: Cleonymus, nephew of the king Areus, invited of the infant son of Leonidas, gained the celebrated Pyrrhus into the country in aid of his ambitious provictory of Platea over the Persians (B C. 479), at the jects, which were frustrated, partly by the negligence head of the allies. On the same day, the Grecian of Pyrrhus, and partly by the courage of the Spartans. army and fleet, under the command of the Spartan Luxury and licentiousness were continually growing king Leotychides, and the Athenian general Xanthip- more and more prevalent, and, though several sucpus, defeated the Persians, by land and sea, near My-ceeding kings attempted to restore the constitution of cale. With the rise of the political importance of Lycurgus, and restrain the power of the ephori, it was Sparta, the social organization of the nation was de- without success. Cleomenes, indeed, accomplished a veloped. The power of the kings was gradually limit-reform, but it was not permanent. After an obstinate ed, while that of the ephori was increased. After the war against the Achæans and Antigonus, king of MaPersians had been victoriously repelled, the Grecian cedonia, Cleomenes fled to Egypt, where he died. states, having acquired warlike habits, carried on hos- The state remained three years without a head, and tilities against each other. The jealousy of Sparta was then ruled by the tyrants Machanidas and Nabis, towards Athens rose to such a height, that the Lace- by the latter of whom the most atrocious cruelties dæmonians, under pretence that the Persians, in case were committed. The Romans and the Achæan league of a renewal of the war, would find a tenable position effected the final fall of the state, which had been upin Athens, opposed the rebuilding of its walls and the held for a short time by Nabis. Sparta was obliged fortification of the Piraus. Themistocles, discerning to join the Achæan league, with which it afterward the real grounds of this proceeding, baffled the designs passed under the dominion of the Romans. (Encyof Sparta by a stratagem, and thus contributed to clop. Americ., vol. 11, p. 529, seqq.)-This appears the increase the ill-will of that state towards Athens. proper place to make a few remarks relative to the The tyrannical conduct of Pausanias alienated the legislation of Lycurgus. The first important change other allies from Sparta; and most of them submitted introduced by this lawgiver into the Spartan constituto the command of Athens. But, while Sparta was tion was the creation of a senate, consisting of twentylearning moderation, Athens became so arrogant to- eight members, who, being, in all matters of deliberawards the confederates, that they again attached them- tion, possessed of equal authority with the kings, selves to the former power, which now began to proved an effectual check against any infringement of make preparations in secret for a new struggle. The the laws on their part, and preserved a just balance in Athenians, however, formally renounced the friend- the state by supporting the crown against the encroachship of Sparta, and began hostilities (B.C. 431). This ments of the people, and protecting the latter against war, the Peloponnesian, ended in the ascendancy of any undue influence of the regal power. It was also Sparta, and the entire humiliation of her rival (405). enacted that the people should be occasionally sumThe rivalry of the Spartan general Lysander and the moned, and have the power of deciding any question king Pausanias soon after produced a revolution, proposed to them. No measure, however, could origiwhich delivered the Athenians from the Spartan yoke. nate with them; they had only the right of approving The Spartans next became involved in a war with or rejecting what was submitted to them by the senate Persia, by joining Cyrus the Younger in his rebellion and two kings. But, as danger was to be apprehendagainst his brother Artaxerxes Mnemon. The Per-ed from various attempts subsequently made by the sian throne was shaken by the victories of Agesi- people to extend their rights in these meetings, it was laus; but Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and some of at length ordained that, if the latter endeavoured to the Peloponnesian states were instigated by Persian alter any law, the kings and senate should dissolve the gold to declare war against the Lacedæmonians, who assembly and annul the amendment. With a view of found it necessary to recall Agesilaus. The latter counterbalancing the great power thus committed to defeated the Thebans at Corona; but, on the other the legislative assembly, and which might degenerate hand, the Athenian commander, Conon, gained a vic-into oligarchy, five annual magistrates were appointed, tory over the Spartan fleet at Cnidus, and took fifty named ephori, whose office it was, like that of the galleys. This war, known as the Baotian or Co-tribunes at Rome, to watch over the interests of the rinthian war, lasted eight years, and increased the reputation and power of Athens by the successes of her admiral, Conon, and her fortunate expeditions against the Spartan coasts and the islands of the Egean. The arrogance of Athens again involved her in hostilities with Persia; and Antalcidas (B.C. 388) concluded the peace which bears his name, and which, though highly advantageous to Persia, delivered Sparta from her enemies. The ambitious designs of Sparta in concluding this peace soon became apparent: she continued to oppress her allies, and to sow dissension in every quarter, that she might have an opportunity of acting as umpire. Besides other outrages, she occupied, without provocation, the city of Thebes, and introduced an aristocratical constitution there. Pelopidas delivered Thebes, and the celebrated Theban war followed, in which Athens took part, at first against Sparta, but afterward in her favour. The latter was so much enfeebled by the war that she thenceforward ceased to act a distinguished part in Greece. No state was strong enough to take the lead, and the Macedonian king Philip at last made himself master of all Greece. Agis, king of Sparta, one of the bravest and noblest of its princes, ventured to maintain a struggle for the liberties of Greece; but he lost his life in the battle of Megalopolis, against Antipater. Archidamus IV. was attacked by Demetrius Poliorcetes, and Sparta was saved with difficulty. New troubles soon people, and protect them against the influence of the march on Rome. Had this plan been carried into effect, Rome, in all probability, must have fallen into the hands of the combined forces; but the tumultuous followers of Spartacus, longing for the pillage of the capital, compelled their leader to abandon his intention, and bend his course towards Rome. He was met and completely routed by the prætor Crassus, who thus acquired some renown in war, in addition to the influence which he possessed from his unequalled wealth. Spartacus behaved with great valour; when wounded in the leg, he fought on his knees, covering himself with his buckler in one hand, and using his sword with the other; and when at last he fell, it was upon a heap of Romans whom he had sacrificed to his fury (B.C. 71). In this battle no less than 40,000 of the followers of Spartacus were slain, and the war was thus brought to an end. (Plut., Vit. Crass. — Liv., Epit., 97.-Eutrop., 6, 2.-Paterc., 2, 30.) SPARTI (TaρTOί), a name given to the men who sprang from the dragon's teeth which Cadmus sowed. They all destroyed one another except five, who survived, and assisted Cadmus in building Thebes. The names of the five, as given by the scholiast on Euripides (Phæniss., 498), are Chthonius, Udæus, Pelorus, Hyperenor, and Echion. (Vid. Cadmus.) were not entirely remitted even after they had attained to manhood. For it was a maxim with Lycurgus, that no man should live for himself, but for his country. Every Spartan, therefore, was regarded as a soldier, and the city itself resembled a great camp, where every one had a fixed allowance, and was required to perform regular service. In order that they might have more leisure to devote themselves to martial pursuits, they were forbidden to exercise any mechanical arts or trades, which, together with the labours of agriculture, devolved upon the Helots.Till the seventh year the child was kept in the gynæceum, under the care of the women; from that age to the eighteenth year they were called boys (πрwn pes), and thence to the age of thirty youths (¿ñbot). In the thirtieth year the Spartan entered the period of manhood, and enjoyed the full rights of a citizen. At the age of seven the boy was withdrawn from the paternal care, and educated under the public eye, in company with others of the same age, without distinction of rank or fortune. If any person withheld his son from the care of the state, he forfeited his civil rights. The principal object of attention, during the periods of boyhood and youth, was the physical education, which consisted in the practice of various gymnastic exercises-running, leaping, throwing the discus, wres- SPARTANI OF SPARTIATE, the inhabitants of Sparta. tling, boxing, the chase, and the pancratium. These SPARTIANUS ELIUS, a Roman historian in the exercises were performed naked, in certain buildings reign of Dioclesian. In his life of Elius Verus, he called gymnasia. Besides gymnastics, dancing and informs us of his intention to give the biographies of the military exercises were practised. A singular cus- all the emperors and Cæsars from the time of Julius. tom was the flogging of boys (diamastigōsis) on the Whether he ever executed this project is uncertain: annual festival of Diana Orthia, for the purpose of in- we have only from his pen the lives of Hadrian, Ælius uring them to bear pain with firmness. (Vid. Bomon- Verus, Didius Julianus, Septimius Severus, Pescenicæ.) To teach the youth cunning, vigilance, and nius Niger, Caracalla, and Geta, among which the first activity, they were encouraged to practise theft in cer- part of the life of Hadrian, drawn from good sources, tain cases; but if detected, they were flogged, or obli- is the best. The first part of these biographies is ged to go without food, or compelled to dance round addressed to Dioclesian; that of Caracalla to no one; the altar, singing songs in ridicule of themselves. The the life of Geta is dedicated to Constantine. Heyne, dread of the shaine consequent on being discovered therefore, is led to conclude that the last mentioned sometimes led to the most extraordinary acts. Thus biography is not by Spartianus. Casaubon had startit is related that a boy who had stolen a young fox, ed this opinion before him.-Spartianus is not reand concealed it under his clothes, suffered it to gnaw markable for historical arrangement and method: his out his bowels rather than reveal the theft by suffer- style also bears evident marks of the decline of the ing the fox to escape. Modesty of deportment was language. His works form part of the collection also particularly attended to; and conciseness of lan-known by the name of " Scriptores Historia Augusguage was so much studied, that the term laconic is ta," the best edition of which is that from the Leystill employed to signify a short and pithy manner of den press (Lugd. Bat., 1671, 2 vols. 8vo.-Schöll, speaking. The Spartans were the only people of Hist. Lit. Rom., vol. 3, p. 153.-Bähr, Gesch. Rom. Greece who avowedly despised learning, and excluded | Lit., p. 337). it from the education of youth. Their whole instruction consisted in learning obedience to their superiors, the endurance of all hardships, and to conquer or die in war. The youth were, however, carefully instructed in a knowledge of the laws, which, not being reduced to writing, were taught orally. The education of the females was entirely different from that of the Athenians. Instead of remaining at home, as in Athens, spinuing, &c., they danced in public, wrestled with each other, ran on the course, threw the discus, &c. The object of this training of the women was to give a vigorous constitution to their children. (Encyclop. Americ., vol. 11, p. 529, seqq.-Cramer's Anc. Greece, vol. 3, p. 158, seqq.) SPERCHIUS (Tεрxɛιós), a river of Thessaly, flowing from Mount Tymphrestus, a lofty range forming part of the chain of Pindus, in the country of the Enianes. (Strabo, 433.) Homer frequently mentions this river as belonging to the territory of Achilles, around the Malian Gulf. (Il., 16, 174.—Ib., 23, 142.) The tragic poets likewise allude to it. (Esch., Pers., 492.-Soph., Philoct., 722.) The ancient name appears to have reference to its rapid course (σépxcolai, "to move rapidly"). The modern appellation is the Hellada. (Cramer's Anc. Greece, vol. 1, p. 438.) SPEUSIPPUS, an Athenian philosopher, nephew to Plato, who occupied the chair of instruction during SPARTACUS, a celebrated gladiator, a Thracian by the term of eight years from the death of his master. birth, who escaped from the gladiatorial training-school Through the interest of Plato, he enjoyed an intimate at Capua along with some of his companions, and was friendship with Dion while he was resident at Athsoon followed by great numbers of other gladiators. ens; and it was at his instigation that Dion, encourBands of desperate men, slaves, murderers, robbers, aged by the promise of support from the malcontents and pirates, flocked to him from all quarters; and he of Syracuse, undertook his expedition against Dionysoon found himself at the head of a force able to bid defi-sius the Tyrant, by whom he had been banished. ance to Rome. Four consular armies were successive-Contrary to the practice of Plato, Speusippus required ly defeated by this daring adventurer, and Rome itself from his pupils a stated gratuity. He placed statues was considered in imminent danger. But subordina- of the graces in the school which Plato had built. On tion could not be maintained in an army composed of account of his infirm state of health, he was commonsuch materials. Spartacus proposed to march into ly carried to and from the academy in a vehicle. On Gaul, invite Sertorius to join him, and then together his way thither he one day met Diogenes and saluted him; the surly philosopher refused to return the sa- | from the fruits of which it was enabled to present to lute, and told him that such a feeble wretch ought to be ashamed to live; to which Speusippus replied, that he lived, not in his limbs, but in his mind. At length, being wholly incapacitated by a paralytic stroke for the duties of the chair, he resigned it to Xenocrates. He is said to have been of a violent temper, fond of pleasure, and exceedingly avaricious. Speusippus wrote many philosophical works which are now lost, but which Aristotle thought sufficiently valuable to purchase at the expense of three talents. From the few fragments which remain of his philosophy, it appears that he adhered very strictly to the doctrines of his master. (Enfield, History of Philosophy, vol. 1, p. 243, seqq.) the temple of Delphi tithe offerings more costly than those of any other city. Afterward, however, being attacked by an overwhelming force of the surrounding barbarians, the Pelasgi were forced to quit their settlement, and finally to abandon Italy. It appears that no doubt can be entertained of the existence of a Greek city of this name, near one of the mouths of the Po, since it is noticed in the Periplus of Scylax (p. 13), and by the geographers Eudoxus and Artemidorus, as cited by Stephanus of Byzantium (s. v. Eπiva). Strabo also speaks of it as having been once a celebrated city. The same geographer adds, that Spina was still in existence when he wrote, though reduced to the condition of a mere village. (Strab., 214.—Id., 421.—Plin., 3, 6.) But the extreme antiquity which is assigned to the foundation of this city by Dionysius of Halicarnassus has been thought by some modern critics to be liable to dispute. (Consult, in particular, the dissertation of Freret, Mem. de l'Acad. des Inser., vol. 18, p. 90.)-Spina would seem to have stood on the left bank of the Po di Primaro, not far from the later town or village of Argenta. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 97, seqq.) SPINTHARUS, a Corinthian architect. By the order of the Amphictyonic council he erected a new temple at Delphi after the burning of the old one (Olymp. 58.1.-B.C. 544). Respecting the latter event, consult Philochor. fragm., p. 45. — Clinton, Fast. Hell., p. 4. The age of Spintharus may be very probably fixed about Olymp. 60. (Sillig, Dict. Art., s. v.) SPHACTERIA, an island off the coast of Mycenæ, and at the entrance of the harbour of Pylos Messeniacus, which it nearly closed. It was also known by the name of Sphagia, which it still retains. Sphacteria is celebrated in Grecian history for the defeat and capture of a Lacedæmonian detachment in the seventh year of the Peloponnesian war. (Strabo, 359.) SPHINX, a fabulous monster, an account of which will be found under the article Edipus.-The Sphinx is not mentioned by Homer; but the legend is noticed in the Theogony (v. 326), where she is called i. Though this legend is probably older than the time of the first intercourse with Egypt, the Theban monster bears a great resemblance to the symbolical statues placed before the temples of that land of mystery. In the pragmatizing days it was said (Pausan., 9, 26) that the Sphinx was a female pirate, who used SPOLETIUM, a city of Umbria, northeast of Interamto land at Anthedon, and advance to the Phicean Hill, na, in the southwestern section of the country. It whence she spread her ravages over the country. was colonized A.U.C. 512 (Vell. Paterc., 1, 14), and Edipus, according to these expounders of mythology, is famous in history for having withstood an attack came from Corinth with a numerous army, and de- from Hannibal after the battle of Thrasymene. (Liv., feated and slew her. (Keightley's Mythology, p. 22, 9.) This resistance had the effect of checking the 341, not.)- The Sphinx was a favourite emblem advance of the Carthaginian general towards Rome, among the ancient Egyptians, and served, according and compelled him to draw off his forces to Piceto some, as a type of the enigmatic nature of the num. It should be observed, however, that Polybius Egyptian theology. M. Maillet is of opinion that the makes no mention of this attack upon Spoletium; but union of the head of a virgin with the body of a lion expressly states that it was not Hannibal's intention is a symbol of what happens in Egypt when the Sun to approach Rome at that time, but to lead his army is in the signs of Leo and Virgo, and the Nile over- to the seacoast (3, 86). This city suffered severely flows. According to Herodotus, however, the Egyp-in the civil wars of Marius and Sylla, from proscriptians had also their Androsphinges, with the body of a lion and the face of a man. At the present day there still remains, about 300 paces east of the second pyramid, a celebrated statue of a sphinx, cut in the SPORADES, a name given by the Greeks to the nusolid rock. Formerly, nothing but the head, neck, and merous islands scattered (like so many seed, onɛipw, top of the back were visible, the rest being sunk in the spargo) around the Cyclades, with which, in fact, sevsand. It was, at an expense of 8001. or 9001. (con-eral of them are intermixed, and those also which lay tributed by some European gentlemen), cleared from the accumulated sand in front of it under the superintendence of Captain Caviglia. This monstrous pro- SPURINNA, an astrologer, who told Cæsar to beware duction consists of a virgin's head joined to the body of the ides of March. As he went to the senate-house of a quadruped. The body is principally formed out on the morning of the ides, Cæsar said to Spurinna, of the solid rock; the paws are of masonry, extend-" The ides are at last come." Yes," replied Spuing forward 50 feet from the body; between the paws rinna, "but not yet past." Cæsar was assassinated a are several sculptured tablets, so arranged as to form short time after. (Sueton., Vit. Jul., 81.-Dio Cass., a small temple; and farther forward a square altar 44, 18.-Val. Max., 8, 11, 2.) with horns. The length of the statue, from the forepart of the neck to the tail, is 125 feet. The face has been disfigured by the arrows and lances of the Arabs, who are taught by their religion to hold all images of men or animals in detestation. SPINA, a city of Gallia Cisalpina, near the entrance of the most southern branch of the Padus, called from it Ostium Spineticum. If we are to believe Dionysius of Halicarnassus, who derives his information apparently from Hellanicus of Lesbos (Ant. Rom., 1, 18), Spina was founded by a numerous band of Pelasgi, who arrived on this coast from Epirus long before the Trojan war. The same writer goes on to state that, in process of time, this colony became very flourish ing, and held for many years the dominion of the sea, tion. (Flor., 3, 21.—Appian, Bell. Civ., 5, 33.) The modern name is Spoleto. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 271.) towards Crete and the coast of Asia Minor. (Strabo, . 484.-Scyl., Peripl., p. 18.-Plin., 4, 12.) STABIÆ, a town of Campania, on the coast, about two miles below the river Sarnus, now Castelamare di Stabia. It was once a place of some note, but, having been destroyed by Sylla during the civil wars, its site was chiefly occupied by villas and pleasuregrounds. (Plin., 3, 5.) It was at Stabiæ, after having just left the villa of his friend Pomponianus, that the elder Pliny fell a victim to his ardent curiosity and thirst for knowledge. (Plin., Ep., 6, 16.) According to Columella (R. R., 10), this spot was celebrated for its fountains; and such was the excellence of the pas tures in its vicinity, that the milk of this district was reputed to be more wholesome and nutritious than that of any other country. (Cramer's Ancient Italy, vol. 2, p. 181.) STAGIRA, a city of Macedonia, on the upper shore of the peninsula of Mount Athos, near its junction with the mainland, and on the coast of the Sinus Strymonicus. It was a colony of Andros, as we learn from Thucydides (4, 188), and celebrated as the birthplace of Aristotle. (Diog. Laert., 5, 14, seq.) Some trace of the ancient name is apparent in that of Stauros. STASEAS, a peripatetic philosopher, who resided many years at Rome with M. Piso. (Cic., de Orat., 1, 22.-Id., Fin., 5, 3, et 25.) mer. langes. It is divided into five books, and comprehends thirty-two small poems, mostly written in hexameters. Each book has a preface in prose, and is dedicated to one of the friends of the poet. In the preface to the first book Statius informs us that these poems have been composed in haste; that no one of them occupied more than two days, and that some are the work of merely a single day. These pieces treat of various subjects: we find among them a complimentary effusion addressed to Domitian, on the occaSTASINUS, an early poet of Cyprus, the author, ac- sion of an equestrian statue being erected to him; an zording to some, of the Cyprian Epics, which others epithalamium; an ode for Lucan's birthday, &c.ascribe to Hegesias. This poem, entitled in Greek Tà Statius has also left an epic poem in twelve books, enKúжρia Eлn, was in eleven books, and comprehended titled Thebaïs ("The Thebaïd"), and the commencefor its subject the whole period from the nuptials of ment of another, called Achilleïs, which his death prePeleus and Thetis to the time when Jupiter resolved vented him from completing. The Thebaïd, addressto excite the quarrel between Achilles and Agamem- ed to Domitian, is, like the Punica of Silius Italicus, non. It would appear from a passage in Herodotus the Argonautica of Valerius Flaccus, and the Pharsa(2, 117), that this poem was ascribed by some to Ho-lia of Lucan, rather a historic than an epic poem. The The Hymn to Venus is thought to have formed principal source whence Statius borrowed was the part of the Cyprian Epics. We have only a few poet Antimachus, whose Thebaïd has not come down verses otherwise remaining of the poem. (Schöll, to us: his model was Virgil.-The subject of the TheHist. Lit. Gr., vol. 1, p. 166, seq.) baïd was well chosen; the war between the sons of Edipus offered a fable truly epic, and rich in fearful scenes. Statius, however, has spoiled it, by giving it an historical form, adorned merely with episodes and machinery. He is not wanting in imagination, and in bold and daring ideas and sentiments; in this respect, indeed, he is preferable to Valerius Flaccus; but he is ignorant of the sublime art in which Homer surpasses all poets, that of giving each hero an individual character. His diction is deficient in simplicity and native ease; he mistakes exaggeration for grandeur, and subtle refinements for proofs of talent. These defects are the characteristics of his age, as well as that of making a great display of erudition, a fault which shows itself in all the epic poets of this period. Scaliger passes rather a favourable opinion on Statius. According to this critic, he ranks next to Virgil. (Poet., 6, p. 841.)-Of the Achilleïs, Statius finished only the first book; the second remains imperfect. It is probable that this poem, had the author lived to finish it, would have presented the same beauties and the same defects as the Thebaid. The pian was defective; the poet had not attended to unity of action, but proposed to himself to give the entire life of his hero. -The best editions of Statius are, that of Gronovius, Amst., 1653, 12mo; that of Barth, Cygna, 1664, 2 vols. 4to; that of Markland (the Sylva merely), Lond., 1728, 4to; and that of Amar and Lemaire, Paris, 1825, 4 vols. 8vo. (Schöll, Hist. Lit. Rom., vol. 2, 303, seqq.) STATIRA, I. the sister and wife of Darius, taken captive by Alexander, who treated her with the utmost respect. She died in childhed, and was buried by the conqueror with great magnificence. (Plut., Vit. Alex. -Consult, however, the remarks of Bougainville, as to the accuracy of Plutarch's statement respecting the cause of her death, Mem. de l'Acad. des Inscr., vol. 25, p. 34, seqq.)-II. The eldest daughter of Darius, taken in marriage by Alexander. The nuptials were celebrated at Susa with great magnificence. She appears to have changed her name to Arsinoë after this union. This is Droysen's conjecture, which seems happily to explain the variations in the name which we find in Arrian (7, 4), compared with Photius (p. 686, seq.) and other authors. (Thirlwall's Greece, vol. 7, p. 77.) She was murdered by Roxana, who was aided in this by Perdiccas. (Plut., Vit. Alex., sub fin.)—III. A wife of Artaxerxes Mnemon, poisoned by her mother-in-law, Queen Parysatis. (Plut., Vit. Artax.)-IV. A sister of Mithradates the Great, celebrated for the fortitude with which she met her end, when Mithradates, after his defeat by Lucullus, sent Bacchides, the eunuch, with orders to put his wives and sisters to death. (Plut., Vit. Lucull.) STATOR, a surname of Jupiter, given him by Romulus, because he stopped the flight of the Romans in their battle with the Sabines, after the carrying off by the Romans of the Sabine virgins. Romulus erected a temple on the spot where he had stood when he invoked Jupiter, in prayer, to stay the flight of his forces. The name is derived a sistendo. (Liv, 1, 12.) STELLIO, a youth turned into a kind of lizard by Ceres, because he derided the goddess. (Ovid, Met., 5, 461.) STATIUS, PUBLIUS PAPINIUS, a Latin epic poet, born at Neapolis A.D. 61, and descended from a family that came originally from Epirus. His father, who was distinguished by his talent for poetry, taught at Neapolis the Greek and Latin languages and litera-p. ture. Statius received his education at Rome, his father having gone with him to this city, where he became one of the preceptors of the young Domitian. This prince fixed his attention on the son of his instructer, who had been recommended to him by Paris, a celebrated comedian, and a favourite of Domitian. Statius, who was very poor, had sold to this actor his tragedy of Agave, which Paris published as his own composition. Out of gratitude, he invited the poet to a grand imperial banquet.-Statius gained the prize three times in the Alban games, but was defeated in the Capitoline. At the age of nineteen years he married the widow of a musician; her name was Claudia; and he extols, in many of his productions, her abilities and virtues. Disgusted at last, as he himself informs us, at the luxury of the Romans, he retired, a year before his death, to a small estate in the vicinity of Naples, which the emperor, perhaps, had given him, and there died, still quite young, A.D. 96.-Statius gained many admirers at Rome by the great facility with which Nature had endowed him for composing verses, on the spur of the moment, upon all kinds of subjects. He collected these productions together in a work which he entitled Sylva, or, as we would call it, Mé STENTOR, a Grecian warrior in the army against Trov. His voice was louder than the combined voices of fifty men. He is erroneously regarded by some commentators as a mere herald. (Hom., Il., 5, 785, seg.-Heyne, ad loc.) STENTORIS LACUS, an estuary which the Hebris forms at its mouth. (Herod., 7, 58.) STEPHANUS, a grammarian, who flourished, as is conjectured, about the close of the fifth century. He was professor in the imperial college at Constantinople, and composed a dictionary containing words denoting the names of places, and designating the inhab itants of those places. Of this work there exists only an abridgment made by Hermclaus, and dedicated to |