People - Ancient Rome

Paulus in Roman Biography

Paulus, (Lucius ^milius,) a son of the preceding, was born about 230 B.C., and was the most celebrated member of his family. He was a fine specimen of the old Roman aristocracy, and was a brother-in-law of Scipio Africanus, the conqueror of Hannibal. Elected praetor for the year 191 B.C., he obtained as his province Farther Spain, where he defeated...

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Pliny in Roman Biography

Plln'y [Fr. Punk, plen ; It. Plinio, plee'ne-o] THE Elder, (or, more fully, Ca'ius Plin'ius Secun'dus,) a celebrated Roman naturalist, was born at Verona, or, according to some authorities, Novum Comum, (the modern Como,) in 23 a.d. He served in the army in Germany, under Lucius Pomponius, and returned to Rome about the age of thirty. He studied la...

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Autocrates in Wikipedia

Autocrates was an Ancient Athenian poet of the old comedy. One of his plays is mentioned by Suidas and Aelian.[1] He also wrote several tragedies. [2] The Autocrates quoted by Athenaeus[3] seems to have been a different person....

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Pelagius in Roman Biography

Pe-la'gl-us, [Gr. IbAayioc ; Fr. Pelage, pl'lSzh',] the founder of the sect of Pelagians, or rather the chief advocate of a system of doctrines called Pelagianism, was born probably in Britain. He began to propagate his doctrines at Rome about 400 A.D., and formed a friendship with Celestius, who became his ardent disciple. He was an admirer of Ori...

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Pertinax in Roman Biography

Per'ti-nax, (Helvius,) a Roman emperor, born at Alba Pompeia, on the Tanaro, in 126 a.d., was a son of a dealer in charcoal. He was a teacher of grammar before he entered the army. As prefect of a cohort, he served with distinction against the Parthians. He was admitted into the senate, and obtained command of a legion in the reign of Marcus Aureli...

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Autolycus of Pitane in Wikipedia

Autolycus of Pitane (c. 360 BC – c. 290 BC) was a Greek astronomer, mathematician, and geographer. The lunar crater Autolycus was named in his honour. Life and work Autolycus was born in Pitane, a town of Aeolis within Western Anatolia. Of his personal life nothing is known, although he was a contemporary of Aristotle and his works seem to have be...

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Aristeas in Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities

(Ἀριστέας). An epic poet of Proconnesus, of whose life we have only fabulous accounts. His date is quite uncertain. He is represented as a magician, whose soul could leave and re-enter its body according to its pleasure. He was connected with the worship of Apollo, which he was said to have introduced at Metapontum. He wrote an epic poem on the Ari...

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Aristippus in Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities

(Ἀρίστιππος). A Greek philosopher, a native of Cyrené and a pupil of Socrates, after whose death in B.C. 399 he travelled about the Greek cities, imparting instruction for money. He was founder of the Cyrenaic School, or the system of Hedonism (from ἡδονή, pleasure). His doctrine was that as a basis for human knowledge the only things real and true...

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Numa Pompilius in Roman Biography

Nu'ma Pom-pil'i-us, the second king of Rome, celebrated in Roman legends or fables as the author of the religious ceremonies of the Romans. According to these legends, Numa was a Sabine, and was elected king as successor to Romulus. Instructed by the Camena Egeria, he prescribed the rites of public worship, and appointed pontiffs, augurs, flainens...

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Maecenas in Roman Biography

Maecenas, me-see'nas, [It. Mecknate, ma-cha-na'tl, orMECENATO; Fr. Mecenk, ma'sjn',] (Caius Cii.nius,) a celebrated patron of literature at Rome, was born probably about 70 li.c. He was descended from an ancient and royal Etruscan family, and belonged to the equestrian order. (Horace, Carm. I. 1-20.) He was the friend of Octavius before his accessi...

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