People - Ancient Rome

Marcellus in Roman Biography

Mar-cel'lus, (Caius Claudius,) a Roman consul, who married Octavia, the sister of Octavius Caesar. He became consul in 50 B.C., before which he had attached himself to the party of Pompey. While in this office he made a motion in the senate to deprive Caesar of his command, but did not succeed. He remained in Italy during the civil war, and shared ...

Read More

Aristomĕnes in Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities

(Ἀριστομένης). A Messenian, the hero of the second war with Sparta, who belongs more to legend than to history. He was a native of Andania, and was sprung from the royal line of Aepytus. Tired of the yoke of Sparta, he began the war in B.C. 685. After the defeat of the Messenians, in the third year of the war, Aristomenes retreated to the mountain ...

Read More

Lucretius in Roman Biography

Lucretius, lu-kree'she^s, [Fr. Lucrece, Ki'kRjss'; It. Lucrezio, loo-kReYse-o; Sp. Lucrf.chi, loo-kRa'- theo,] or, to give his full name, Ti'tus Lucre'tius Ca'rus, one of the greatest Latin poets, was born in Italy in 95 B.C., and was contemporary with Cicero. The records of antiquity throw scarcely any light on his life, which was probably passed ...

Read More

Maximinius Daza in Roman Biography

Max-i-mi'nus Da'za, an Illyrian peasant, a relative of Galerius, was raised by him to the dignity of Caesar, A.D. 305. He ruled over Syria and Egypt, and persecuted the Christians. On the death of Galerius, in 311, Maximinus took possession of all the Asiatic provinces. He afterwards made war on Licinius, but was defeated, and died by poison at Tar...

Read More

Marcus Aurelius in Roman Biography

Au-re'll-us An-to-ni'nus, (Marcus,) commonly called Mar'cusAure'lius,[Fr.MARC-AuRELE,miR'korjl', 1 sometimes sumamed the Philosopher, a Roman empeior, celebrated for his wisdom, learning, and virtue, was burn at Rome in April, 121 A.D. He was a son of Annius Verus, who once held the office of praetor. His ohm original name was Marcus Annius Verus. ...

Read More

Lucullus in Roman Biography

Lu-cul'lus, (Lucius Licinius,) a celebrated Roman general, born of a patrician family about no B.C. In the year 87 he went to Asia as quajstor under Sulla, who gave him many proofs of his confidence. After an absence of several years, during which the civil war between Marius and Sulla raged at Rome, he returned, and was elected consul in 74 B.C. I...

Read More

Marcus Brutus in Roman Biography

Brutus, (Marcus Junius,) a noted Roman, son of the preceding, was born in So B.C. Cato Uticensis was his maternal uncle, and afterwards his father-in-law, Brutus having married his daughter Porcia. In the civil wars he sided with Pompey. After the battle of Pharsalia he was treated with great kindness by Caesar, and appears to have been sincerely a...

Read More

Nero in Roman Biography

Ne'ro, [Fr. Neron, na'r6N'; It. Nerone, nl-ro'na,] (Lucius Domitius,) the sixth of the Roman emperors, born in 37 A.D., was the son of Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina, daughter of Germanicus. His mother, after becoming a widow, having married her uncle the emperor Claudius, the latter adopted Nero and gave to him his daughter Octavia in marriage...

Read More

Galla Placidia in Roman Biography

Pla-cid'i-a, (Fr. Pi.acidie, pli'se'cle',1 a Roman princess, borii aliout 390 A.D., was a daughter of Theodosius the Great. She was taken captive by the Goths, ami became the wife of Ataulphus, King of the Goths, (414.) Died in 450 a.d....

Read More

Elagabalus in Roman Biography

El-a-ga-ba'lus or El-a-gab'a-lus, or He-H-o-gaba'lus, [Fr. Elagabale, a'lI'gS'bil', or Hei.iogab ale, 1'le'o'gi bSl',] (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus,) a Roman emperor, born at Antioch in 204 A.D., was supposed to be the natural son of Caracalla. His original name was Varius Avitus Bassianus ; but, having become a priest in the Temple of the Sun, (the ...

Read More