the throne; but his own indifference on this point, and | physical subjects. He wrote also two discourses, one the measures taken by John, the son of Alexius, de-addressed to Andronicus II., the other to Irene, to feated their plans. It was on this occasion that Anna console them for the loss of a son and husband. His Comnena passionately exclaimed, that nature had mis-letters are also preserved. Disgusted with active life, taken the two sexes, and had endowed Bryennius with Nicephorus became a monk, and took the name of the soul of a woman. He died in 1137. At the Nathaniel. Creuzer (ad Plotin. de Pulcr., p. 400) order of the Empress Irene, Bryennius undertook, du- makes him a native of Philippopolis; but in this there ring the life of Alexius, a history of the house of Com- is a double error: first, in ascribing to the father a letnenus, which he entitled "Yan 'loropías, "Materialster written by his son Johannes; and, secondly, in for History," and which he distributed into four books. [reading rou díλinnovñóλews instead of rộ didiñROVHe commenced with Isaac Comnenus, the first prince Tohews. " to the Bishop of Philippopolis." (Schöll, of this line, who reigned from 1057 to 1059 A.D., | Hist. Lit. Gr., vol. 3, p. 147.)—IX. Gregoras, a native without being able to transmit the sceptre to his fam- of Heraclea, who wrote on grammatical, historical, ily, into whose hands it did not pass until 1081, when and astronomical subjects. Andronicus II. appointed Alexius I. ascended the throne. Nicephorus stops at him chartophylax of the church, and in 1325 sent him the period of his father-in-law's accession to the throne, on an embassy to the King of Servia. Gregoras did after having given his history while a private individ- not abandon his royal patron when dethroned by Anual. He had at his disposal excellent materials; but dronicus III., and it was he who, four years after this his impartiality as an historian is not very highly es-event, assisted at the deathbed of the fallen monarch. teemed. In point of diction, his work holds a very He showed himself a zealous opponent of the Palamfavourable rank among the productions of the Lower ites, a sect of fanatics who were throwing the church Empire. It was continued by Anna Comnena. (Schöll, into confusion, but was condemned for this by the Hist. Lit. Gr., vol. 6, p. 388.)-VI. Blemmida, a synod of Constantinople, A.D. 1351, at the instance of monk of the 13th century. He has left three works: the patriarch Callistus, and confined in a convent, "a Geographical Abridgment" (Tewypapia ovvoпrikń), where he ended his days.-His grammatical works which is nothing but a prose metaphrase of the Periege- are in part unedited. He wrote also a Byzantine, or, sis of Dionysius the Geographer: a work entitled "A as he calls it, Roman ('Pwμaiký) History, in thirtySecond History (or Description) of the Earth" ('Erépa eight books, of which the first twenty-four alone, exloropia Tepi Tis ync), in which he gives an account tending from 1204 to 1331 A.D., have been published: of the form and size of the earth, and of the different the other books, which terminate at A.D. 1359, remain lengths of the day and a third, " On the Heavens and still unedited. Gregoras is vain, passionate, and parEarth, the Sun, Moon, Stars, Time, and Days" (IIɛpìtial: his style is affected, and overloaded with figures, Οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς, Ἡλίου, Σελήνης, Αστέρων, Χρόνου, especially hyperboles, and full of repetitions. The lakaì 'Hμɛpv). In this last the author develops a sys- test edition of the history which had been published, tem, according to which the earth is a plane. The was, until very recently, that of Boivin, Paris, 1702, first two were published by Spohn, at Leipzig, 1818, in 2 vols. fol. It contained the first eleven books, with 4to, and by Manzi, from a MS. in the Barberini Library, the Latin version of Wolff, and the succeeding thirteen, Rom., 1819, 4to. Bernhardy has given the Metaphrase with a translation by the editor himself. It was to have in his edition of Dionysius, Lips., 1828; the third is been completed in two additional volumes, containing unedited. It is mentioned by Bredow in his Epistola the last fourteen books, but these have never appeared. Parisienses. -VII. Surnamed Xanthopulus, lived A new edition, however, of Gregoras, forms part of about the middle of the 14th century. He wrote an the Byzantine Historians at present in a course of pubEcclesiastical History in 18 books, which, along with lication at Bonn, (Schöll, Hist. Lit. Gr., vol. 6. p, many useful extracts from writers whose productions 362, seqq.) There are also several works of Gregoras are now lost, contains a great number of fables. This treating of Astronomy, but they are all unedited, except history extends from the birth of our Saviour to A.D. a treatise on the astrolabe, which appeared in a Latin 610. The arguments of five other books, which would translation at Paris in 1557, 12mo, edited by Valla. carry it down to A.D. 911, are by a different writer. (Schöll, vol. 7, p. 65.) — X. A native of ConstantiIn preparing his work, Nicephorus availed himself of nople, commonly surnamed the Patriarch, for distincthe library attached to the church of St. Sophia, and tion' sake. He was at first a notary, and afterward here he passed the greater part of his life. He has imperial secretary, which latter station he quitted for left also Catalogues, in Iambic verse, of the Greek a convent, but was subsequently elevated to the see emperors, the patriarchs of Constantinople, and the of Byzantium, A.D. 806. As one of the defenders of fathers of the church, besides other minor works. To the worship of images, he was, in 815, compelled to this same writer is likewise ascribed a work contain- take refuge in a monastery, where he ended his days, ing an account of the church of the Virgin, situate at A.D. 828. He has left behind him two works: 1. A certain mineral waters in Constantinople, and of the Chronicle or Chronographical Abridgment (Xpovomiraculous cures wrought by these.-The Ecclesias-ypapía), commencing with Adam and carried down to tical History was edited by Ducæus (Fronton du Duc), the period of the author's own death, or, rather, someParis, 1630, 2 vols. fol. The metrical Catalogues what farther, since it was continued by an anonymous are to be found in the edition of the Epigrams of The-writer: 2. An Historical Compend, 'loropía ouvrouos, odorus Prodromus, published at Bâle, 1536, 8vo. The embracing the events that occurred from A.D. 602 to account of the mineral waters, &c., appeared for the 770. The latest edition of the Greek text of the first time at Vienna in 1802, 8vo, edited by Pampe- Chronicle is that of Credner, Giessæ, 1832, 4to. It reus, VIII. Surnamed Chumnus, was Præfectus Can-was also given in Dindorf's edition of Syncellus, Bonn., iclei ('O ènì TOû kavishɛíov) under Andronicus II., 1829. The latest edition of the Compend is that of surnamed Palæologus. The canicleus (kavíkhɛios) Petavius (Petau), Paris, 1648. (Schöll, Hist. Lit was a small vessel filled with the red liquid with which Gr., vol. 6, p. 370, seqq.) the emperors used to sign their names to documents. NICER or NICAR, now the Necker, a river of Ger His daughter Irene was married in 1304 to John Pa-many, falling into the Rhine at the modern town of læologus, the eldest son of Andronicus, who, together Manheim. (Amm. Marcell., 28, 2.- Cluv., Germ., with his younger brother Michael, had been associated 3, 225.-Pertz, Mon. Germ. Hist., 1, 361.) with him in the empire by their father, A.D. 1295, NICERATUS, a physician mentioned by Dioscorides and who died A.D. 1308, without issue. Nicephorus (Præf., lib. 1, p. 2, ed. Spreng.) as one of the followers composed a number of works, which still remain un- of Asclepiades, and who attended particularly to mate. edited. They treat of rhetorical, philosophical, andria medica. None of his writings remain, but his pre

scriptions are several times mentioned by Galen (Op., | dread of responsibility. Nicias, however, signalized ed. Kuhn, vol. 12, p. 634; vol. 13, p. 96, 98, 110, 180, &c.; vol. 14, p. 197), and once by Pliny (32, 31). We learn from Cælius Aurelianus (Morb. Chron., 1. 2, c. 5) that he wrote also on catalepsy. He flourished about 40 B.C. (Encycl. Us. Knowl., vol. 16, p. 207.)

himself on several occasions. He took the island of Cythera from the Lacedæmonians, subjugated many cities of Thrace which had revolted from the Athenian sway, shut up the Megarians within their city-walls, cutting off all communication from without, and taking their harbour Nisaa. When the unfortunate expedition against Syracuse was undertaken by Athens, Nicias was one of the three commanders who were sent at its

He had previously, however, used every effort to prevent his countrymen from engaging in this affair, on the ground that they were only wasting their resources in distant warfare, and multiplying their enemies. After the recall of Alcibiades, the natural indecision of Nicias, increased by ill-health and dislike of his command, proved a principal cause of the failure of the enterprise. In endeavouring to retreat by land from before Syrathenes (the latter had come with re-enforcements), were pursued, defeated, and compelled to surrender. The generals were put to death; their soldiers were con fined at first in the quarry of Epipolæ, and afterward sold as slaves. We have a life of Nicias by Flutarch. (Thucyd., lib. 3, 4, 5, seqq.-Plut., Vit. Nic.)-II, An Athenian artist, who flourished with Praxiteles, Ol. 104, and assisted him in the decoration of some of his productions. (Plin., 35, 11.-Consult Sillig, Dict. Art., s. v.)-III. The younger, an Athenian painter, son of Nicomedes, and pupil of Euphranor. He begah to practice his art Ol. 112. (Sillig, Dict. Art., s. v.) Nicias is said to have been the first artist who used burned ochre in his paintings. (Plin., 35, 6, 20.)

Nico, an architect and geometrician, father of Galen, who lived in the beginning of the second century of our era. (Suid., s. v. Taλŋvós.)

NICĒTAS, I. Eugenianus, author of one of the poorest of the Greek romances that have come down to us. He appears to have lived not long after Theodore Pro-head, the other two being Alcibiades and Lamachus. dromus, whom, according to the title of his work as given in a Paris manuscript, he selected for his model. He wrote of the Loves of Drosilla and Chariclea. Boissonade gave to the world an edition of this romance in 1819, Paris, 2 vols. 12mo, respecting the merits of which, consult Hoffmann, Lex. Bibliogr., vol. 3, p. 137.-II. Acominatus, surnamed Choniates, from his having been born at Chonæ, or Colossæ, in Phrygia. He filled many posts of distinction at Constanti-cuse, the Athenian commanders, Nicias and Demosnople, under the Emperor Isaac II. (Angelus). About A.D. 1189, he was appointed by the same monarch governor of Philippopolis, an office of which Alexius V. deprived him. He died A.D. 1216, at Nicæa, in Bithynia, to which city he had fled after the taking of Constantinople by the Latins. He wrote a History of the Byzantine Emperors, in twenty-one books, commencing A.D. 1118 and ending A.D. 1206. It forms, in fact, ten different works of various sizes, all imbodied under one general head.-Nicetas possessed talent, judgment, and an enlightened taste for the arts, and would be read with pleasure if he did not occasionally indulge too much in a satirical vein, and if his style were not so declamatory and poetical. The sufferings of Constantinople, which passed under his own eyes, appear to have imbittered his spirit, and he is accused of being one of the writers who contributed most to kindle a feeling of hatred between the Greeks and the nations NICOCLES, I. king of Paphos, in the island of Cyof the West.-We have a life of Nicetas by his broth-prus. He owed his throne to the kindness of Ptoleer Michael Acominatus, metropolitan of Athens. It my I., king of Egypt, who continued thereafter to beis entitled Monodia, and has never yet been published stow upon him many marks of favour. Having learnin the original Greek; a Latin translation of it is given ed, however, at last, that Nicocles, forgetful of past in the Biblioth. Patrum Maxim. Lugd., vol. 22.-The benefits, had formed an alliance with Antigonus, Ptollatest edition of Nicetas was that of Paris, 1647, fol. emy sent two of his confidential emissaries to CyA new edition, however, has lately appeared from prus, with orders to despatch Nicocles in case his the scholars of Germany, as forming part of the Byzan- traitorous conduct should be clearly ascertained by tine collection, now in a course of publication at Bonn. them. These two individuals, having taken with -III. An ecclesiastical writer, who flourished during them a party of soldiers, surrounded the palace of the the latter half of the eleventh century. He was at first King of Paphos, and making known to him the orders bishop of Serræ in Macedonia (whence he is sometimes of Ptolemy, compelled him to destroy himself, although surnamed Serrariensis), and afterward metropolitan of he protested his innocence. His wife Axiothea, when Heraclea in Thrace. He is known by his commentary she heard of her husband's death, killed her maiden on sixteen discourses of St. Gregory Nazianzen, and by daughters with her own hand, and then slew herself. other works connected with theology and sacred criti- The other female relatives followed her example. The cism. He was the author, likewise, of some gram- brothers of Nicocles, also, having shut themselves up matical productions, of which, however, only a small in the palace, set fire to it, and then fell by their own remnant has come down to us, in the shape of a trea- hands. (Diod. Sic., 20, 21.-Wesseling, ad loc.tise "on the Names of the Gods" (Eiç тà òvóμara Tv Polyan., 8, 48.)-II. King of Cyprus, succeeded his ewv), an edition of which was given by Creuzer, in father Evagoras B.C. 374. He celebrated the funer1187, from the Leipzig press.-IV. David, a philoso-al obsequies of his parent with great splendour, and enpher, historian, and rhetorician, sometimes confound-gaged Isocrates to write his eulogium. Nicocles had ed with the preceding, but who flourished two centu- been a pupil of the Athenian rhetorician, and recomries earlier. He was bishop of Dadybra in Paphlago- pensed his services with the greatest liberality. (Vid. nia, and wrote, among other things, an explanatory Isocrates.) work on the poems of St. Gregory Nazianzen, and a paraphrase of the epigrams of St. Basil. An edition of these works appeared at Venice in 1563, 4to.

NICOCREON, a tyrant of Cyprus in the age of Alexander the Great. A fabulous story is related of his having caused the philosopher Anaxarchus to be pounded alive in a mortar. (Vid. Anaxarchus.)

NICIA, a small river of Cisalpine Gaul, rising in the territory of the Ligures Apuani, and falling into the Po NICOLAUS, I. a comic poet whose era is unknown. at Brixellum. The Emilian Way crossed it a little be- He belonged to the New Comedy according to some. fore Tanetum. It is now the Leuza. Mannert, how-Stobæus has a fragment of his in 44 verses, which he ever, gives the modern name as Crostolo; and Reichard, Ongino.

NICIAS, I. son of Niceratus. He was a man of birth and fortune; but in whom a generous temper, popular manners, and considerable political and military talent, were marred by unreasonable diffidence and excessive

ascribes, however, to Nicolaus Damascenus.-II. Surnamed Damascenus (Νικόλαος ὁ Δαμασκηνός), a native of Damascus of good family. He was the friend of Herod the Great, king of the Jews, and in the year 6 B.C. was sent by that monarch on an embassy to Augustus, who had taken offence at Herod because

NICOMACHUS, the father of the philosopher Aristotle. (Vid. Aristoteles.)

NICOMEDES, I. king of Bithynia, succeeded his father Ziphates, B.C. 278. His succession was disputed by his brother, and he called in the Gauls to support his claims, B.C. 277. With their assistance he was successful: but his allies became his masters, and the whole of Asia Minor was for a long time overrun by these barbarians. He probably died about B C. 250, and was succeeded by his eldest son Zielas.-II. The second of the name, surnamed Epiphanes, suc

he had led an army into Arabia to enforce certain | p. 210.)-IV. (or Laonicus) Chalcondylas, a native claims which he had upon Syllæus, the prime-minister of Athens, and one of the Byzantine historians. He of the King of Arabia, and the real governor of the wrote a history of the Turks, and of the fall of the country. (Joseph., Ant. Jud., 16, 9.) Nicolaus, hav- Eastern empire, from A.D. 1297 down to 1462, in ten ing obtained an audience of the emperor, accused Syl- books. It was continued by an anonymous writer to læus, and defended Herod in a skilful speech, which is A.D. 1565. The narrative of Chalcondylas is rich in given by Josephus (Ant. Jud., 16, 10). Syllæus was facts, but the author sometimes displays great credusentenced to be put to death as soon as he should lity. The first edition of the text is that of Fabrot, have given satisfaction to Herod for the claims which Paris, 1650, fol., which was reprinted in 1750 at the latter had upon him. This is the account of Jose- Venice, fol.-V. Bishop of Methone, about A.D. 1190, phus, taken probably from the history of Nicolaus him- author of a commentary on the Eroxεiwois Deohoyiký self, who appears to have exaggerated the success of of Proclus. It remains unedited.-VI. Cabasila, was his embassy; for Syllæus neither gave any satisfac- bishop of Thessalonica about 1350 A.D. He was a tion to Herod, nor was the sentence of death executed learned man, and famed for his eloquence. We have upon him. (Joseph., Ant. Jud., 17, 3, 2.) We find a commentary by him on the third book of the AlmaNicolaus afterward acting as the accuser of Herod's gest, printed at the end of the Basle edition of Ptoleson Antipater, when he was tried before Varus for mai Syntaxis, 1538, fol. plotting against his father's life, B.C. 4 (Joseph., Ant. Jud., 16, 5, 4, seqq.-Id., Bell. Jud., 1, 32, 4); and again as the advocate of Archelaus before Augustus, in the dispute for the succession to Herod's kingdom. (Joseph., Ant. Jud., 17, 9, 6.—Id. ib., 11, 3.—Id., Bell. Jud., 2, 2, 6.)-As a writer, Nicolaus is known in several departments of literature. He composed tragedies, and, among others, one entitled Ewoavvis ("Susanna"). Of these nothing remains. He also wrote comedies, and Stobæus has preserved for us what he considers to be a fragment of one of these, but what belongs, in fact, to a different writer. (Vid. Ni-ceeded his father Prusias II., B.C. 149. He accomcolaus I.) He was the author, also, of a work on the panied his parent to Rome, B.C. 167, where he apRemarkable Customs of various nations (Evvaywyn pears to have been brought up under the care of the πapadó§wν howν); of another on Distinguished Ac- senate. (Liv., 45, 44.) Prusias, becoming jealous of tions (IIepì Twv Ev Tois пpakTikois Kahwv); and also the popularity of his son, and anxious to secure the of several historical works. Among the last-mention- succession of his younger children, formed a plan for ed class of productions was a Universal History ('Io. his assassination; but Nicomedes, having gained inTоρía Kaboλiký), in 144 books (hence called by Athe- telligence of his purpose, deprived his father of the næus оλvbibλos, 6, p. 249, a.), a compilation for throne, and subsequently put him to death. Nicomewhich he borrowed passages from various historians, des remained during the whole of his long reign a faithwhich he united together by oratorical flourishes. As ful ally, or, rather, obedient subject, of the Romans. he has drawn his materials in part from sources which He assisted them in their war with Aristonicus, brothno longer exist for us, the fragments of his history er of Attalus, king of Pergamus, B.C. 131; and he which remain make us acquainted with several facts was applied to by Marius for assistance during the of which we should otherwise have had no knowledge. Cimbrian war, about B.C. 103. During the latter part This history included the reign of Herod; and Jose- of his reign he was involved in a war with Mithradaphus gives the following character of the 123d and tes, of which an account is given in the life of that 124th books: "For, living in his kingdom and with monarch. (Vid. Mithradates VI.)-III. The third of him (Herod), he composed his history in such a way the name, surnamed Philopator, succeeded his father as to gratify and serve him, touching upon those things Nicomedes II., B.C. 91. During the first year of his only which made for his glory, and glossing over many reign, he was expelled from his kingdom by Mithradaof his actions which were plainly unjust, and conceal- tes, who placed upon the throne Socrates, the younger ing them with all zeal. And wishing to make a spe- brother of Nicomedes. He was restored, however, to cious excuse for the murder of Mariamne and her chil- his kingdom in the following year by the Romans, who dren, so cruelly perpetrated by the king, he tells false-sent an army under Aquilius to support him. At the hoods respecting her incontinence, and the plots of breaking out of the Mithradatic war, B.C. 88, Nicomthe young men. And throughout his whole histo-edes took part with the Romans; but his army was ry he eulogizes extravagantly all the king's just actions, while he zealously apologizes for his crimes." (Ant. Jud., 16, 7, 1.) Nicolaus wrote also a life of Augustus, of which a fragment, marked too strongly with flattery, still remains. He was the author, too, of some metaphysical productions on the writings of Aristotle. As regards his own Biography, which has likewise come down to us, we may be allowed to doubt whether he ever wrote it.-The latest and most complete edition of the remains of Nicolaus Damascenus is that of Orellius, Lips., 1804, with a supplement published in 1811, and containing the result of the labours of Bremi, Ochsner, and others, in collecting the scattered fragments of this writer. (Schöll, Hist. Lit. Gr., vol. 4, p. 101.)-III. surnamed the Sophist, a disciple of Proclus and a New-Platonist, lived during the latter half of the fifth century. Suidas makes him to have been the author of Progymnasmata and Declamations. One MS. assigns to Nicolaus the Sophist a portion of the Progymnasmata, which have been published under the name of Libanius. (Schöll, Hist. Lit. Gr., vol. 6,

completely defeated by the generals of Mithradates, near the river Amnias, in Paphlagonia (Strabo, 562), and he himself was again expelled from his kingdom, and obliged to take refuge in Italy. At the conclusion of the Mithradatic war, B.C. 84, Bithynia was restored to Nicomedes. He died B.C. 74, without children, and left his kingdom to the Romans. (Memnon., ap. Phot.-Appian, Bell. Mithrad.—Clinton, Fast. Hell, vol. 3, Append., 7.-Encycl. Us. Knowl., vol. 16, p. 213.)-IV. A celebrated geometrician. He is famous for being the inventor of the curve called the conchoid, which has been made to serve equally for the solution of the two problems relating to the duplication of the cube, and the trisection of an angle. It was much used by the ancients in the construction of solid problems. It is not certain at what period Nicomedes flourished, but it was probably at no great distance from the time of Eratosthenes.

NICOMEDEA (Nikoμndeia), a city of Bithynia, situate at the northeastern extremity of the Sinus Astacenus. It was founded by Nicomedes I. (B.C. 264), who

transferred to it the inhabitants of the neighbouring ony to the highest rank among the cities of Greece, city of Astacus. (Memnon, ap. Phot., c. 21, p. 722.) that he caused it to be admitted among those states This city was much frequented by the Romans, and which sent deputies to the Amphictyonic assembly. by Europeans generally, as it lay directly on the route (Pausan., 10,8.) He also ordered games to be celebra from Constantinople to the more eastern provinces, ted with great pomp every five years, which had been and contained, in its fine position, its handsome build-previously triennial. Suetonius states that he enlarged ings, and its numerous warm baths and mineral waters, a temple of Apollo, and consecrated to Mars and Nepvery strong attractions for travellers. Under the Ro- tune the site on which his army had encamped before mans, Nicomedea became one of the chief cities of the the battle of Actium, adorning it with naval trophies. empire. Pausanias speaks of it as the principal city (Aug., 18.-Strab., l. c.) Having afterward fallen to in Bithynia (6, 12, 5); but under Dioclesian, who decay, it was restored by the Emperor Julian. (Mamchiefly resided here, it increased greatly in extent and ert., Paneg.-Niceph., 14, 39.) Hierocles terms it populousness, and became inferior only to Rome, Al- the metropolis of Old Epirus (p. 651). St. Paul, in exandrea, and Antioch. (Liban., Orat., 8, p. 203. — his Epistle to Titus (3, 12), speaks of his intention Lactant., de morte persec., c. 17.) Nicomedea, how- of wintering at Nicopolis: it is probable he there alever, suffered severely from earthquakes. Five of ludes to this city, though that is not quite certain.→→ these dreadful visitations fell to its lot, and it was al- Modern travellers describe the remains of Nicopolis most destroyed by one in particular in the reign of as very extensive: the site which they occupy is now Julian; but it was again rebuilt with great splendour known by the name of Prevesa Vecchia. (Hughes's and magnificence, and recovered nearly its former Travels, vol. 2, p. 412.-Holland's Travels, vol. 1, p. greatness. (Amm. Marcell, 17, 6.-Id., 22, 13.- 103.-Cramer's Anc. Greece, vol. 2, p. 135, seqq.) Malala, 1. 13.)-The modern Is-Mid occupies the NICOSTRATUS, one of the sons of Aristophanes, and site of the ancient city, and is still a place of consid-ranked among the poets of the Middle Comedy. The erable importance and much trade. The modern name titles of some of his own and his brothers' comedies is given by D'Anville and others as Is-Nikmid. (Man-are preserved in Athenæus. The names of his brothnert, Geogr., vol. 6, pt. 3, p. 582.)

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ers were Araros and Philippus. None of the three appear to have inherited any considerable portion of their father's abilities. (Theatre of the Greeks, p. 115, 4th ed.)

NICOPOLIS ("City of Victory," víkn and róλis), I. a city of Palestine, to the northwest of Jerusalem, the same with Emmaus. It received the name of Nicopolis in the third century from the Emperor Heliogaba- NIGER, CAIUS PESCENNIUS, appears to have been of lus, who restored and beautified the place. (Chron. humble origin, but his great military talents recomPasch. Ann., 223.) Josephus often calls the city mended him successively to the notice of Marcus AuAmmaus. (Bell. Jud., 1, 9.— Ibid., 2, 3.) It must relius, Commodus, and Pertinax, by whom he was not be confounded with the Emmaus of the New employed in offices of trust and honour. He was conTestament (Luc., 24, 13), which was only eight miles sul together with Septimius Severus, and obtained the from Jerusalem. (Mannert, Geogr., vol. 6, pt. 1, p. government of Syria. On the murder of Pertinax, 283.)—II. A city of Cilicia, placed by Ptolemy in the A.D. 193, the empire was exposed for sale by the northeastern corner of Cilicia, where the range of prætorian guards, and was purchased by Didius JuliaTaurus joins that of Amanus. D'Anville puts it too nus, whom the senate was compelled to acknowledge low down on his map.-III. A city of Armenia Minor, as emperor. The people, however, did not tamely on the river Lycus, near the borders of Pontus. It submit to this indignity, and three generals, at the was built by Pompey in commemoration of a victory head of their respective legions, Septimius Severus, gained here over Mithradates. (Appian, Bell. Mith- who commanded in Pannonia, Clodius Albinus in Britrad., 101, 105.-Strabo, 555.-Pliny, 6, 9.) The ain, and Pescennius Niger in Syria, refused to acmodern Devrigni is supposed to occupy its site, the knowledge the nomination of the prætorians, and Tephrice of the Byzantine historians probably. (Man- claimed each the empire. Of these Niger was the nert, Geogr., vol. 6, pt. 2, p. 318.)-IV. A city in most popular, and his cause was warmly espoused by Masia Inferior, on the river Iatrus, one of the tribu- all the provinces of the East. But he did not possess taries of the Danube. It was founded by Trajan in the energy and activity of his rival Severus. Instead commemoration of a victory over the Dacians, and was of hastening to Italy, where his presence was indisgenerally called, for distinction' sake, Nicopolis ad pensable, he quietly remained at Antioch, while Sev Istrum or ad Danubium. The modern name is given erus marched to Rome, dethroned Didius, and made as Nicopoli. (Amm. Marcell., 24, 4.-Id., 31, 5.)- active preparations for prosecuting the war against V. A city of Moesia Inferior, southeast of the prece-Niger in Asia. Roused at length from his inactivity, ding, at the foot of Mount Hæmus, and near the Niger crossed over to Europe, and established his sources of the Istrus. It was called, for distinction' headquarters at Byzantium; but he had scarcely arsake, Nicopolis ad Hæmum, and is now Nikub.-VI. rived at this place, before his troops in Asia were deA city of Egypt, to the northeast, and in the immedi-feated near Cyzicus by the generals of Severus. He ate vicinity, of Alexandrea. Strabo gives the inter- was soon, however, able to collect another army, vening space as 30 stadia. (Strab., 794.) It was which he commanded in person; but, being defeated founded by Augustus in commemoration of a victory successively near Nicea and at Issus, he abandoned gained here over Antony, and is now Kars or Kiasse- his troops, and fled towards the Euphrates, with the (Dio Cass., 51, 18.—Joseph., Bell. Jud., 4, 14.) intention of seeking refuge among the Parthians. But -VII. A city of Thrace, on the river Nessus, not far before he could reach the Euphrates, he was overtaken from its mouth, founded by Trajan. It is now Nicop-by a detachment of the enemy, and put to death on oli. The later name was Christopolis. (Ptol. - the spot. (Spartian., Vit. Nig.-Aurel. Vict., c. 20. Hierocl., p. 635. - Wesseling, ad Hierocl., l. c.)——Eutrop., 8, 10.-Encycl. Us. Knowl., vol. 16, p. VIII. A city of Epirus, on the upper coast of the Am- 223.) bracian Gulf, and near its mouth. It was founded by NIGER, or rather NIGIR, a name which has been Augustus, in honour of the victory at Actium, which given till lately to a large river, mentioned by ancient place lay on the opposite or lower shore. Nicopolis as well as modern geographers as flowing through the may be said to have risen out of all the surrounding cities of Epirus and Acarnania, and even as far as Ætolia, which were compelled to contribute to its prosperity. (Strab., 325.-Pausan., 5, 23.— Id., 7, 18.) So anxious was Augustus to raise his new col

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interior of Libya or Central Africa. Herodotus (2, 32) gives an interesting account of five young men of the Libyan nation of the Nasamones, which dwelt on the coast of the greater Syrtis, who proceeded on la journey of discovery into the interior. After traver