While
the ringleaders were explaining the event of the
morning, and bidding him choose between death
COIN OF GORDIANUS L.
the ringleaders were explaining the event of the
morning, and bidding him choose between death
COIN OF GORDIANUS L.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
One of the commander of the army with
chus, a Dorian lyric poet, according to Meineke, which Artaxerxes II. met his brother Cyrus. (Xe-
whose light and licentious love verses were attacked noph. Anab. i. 7. & 12. )
[P. S. )
by Chionides, Cratinus, and Eupolis. . The pas- GOLGUS (róxyos), a son of Adonis and Aphro-
sages quoted by Athenaeus seem, however, to bear dite, from whom the town of Golgi, in Cyprus, was
out fully the opinion of Welcker, that Gncsippus believed to have derived its name. (Schol. ad
was a tragic poet, and that the description of his Theocrit. xv. 100. )
(L. S. ]
poetry given by Athenaeus (παιγνιαγράφου της GO'NATUS ANTIGONUS. (ANTIGONUS. )
inapās uotons) refers to his choral odes. (Athen. GOʻNGYLUS (Ponyúaos). 1. Of Eretria, was
xiv. p. 638, d. e. ; Meineke, Frag. Com. Graec. the agent by whose means Pausanias entered into
vol. ii. pp. 7, 27–29; Welcker, die Griech. Trag. communication with Xerxes, B. C. 477. To his
vol. iii. pp. 1024-1029. )
[P. S. ] charge Pausanias entrusted Byzantium after its re-
GNIPHO, M. ANTO'NIUS, a distinguished capture, and the Persian prisoners who were there
Roman rhetorician, who lived in the last century taken, and who, by his agency, were now allowed to
before the Christian aera. He was born in B. C. escape, and (apparently in their company) he also
114, and was a native of Gaul, but studied at Alex- himself went to Xerxes, taking with him the re-
andria. He was a man of great talent and extra markable letter from Pausanias, in which he pro-
ordinary memory, and was thoroughly acquainted posed to put the Persian king in possession of
with Greek as well as Roman literature, and he is Sparta and all Greece, in return for marriage with
further praised as a person of a kind and generous his daughter. (Thuc. i. 129 ; Diod. xi. 44 ; Nepos,
disposition. After his returu from Alexandria, he Paus. 2. ).
taught rhetoric at first in the house of J. Caesar, Xenophon, on his arrival in Mysia with the
who was then a boy, and afterwards set up a school Cyrean soldiers (B. C. 399), found Hellas, the
in his own house. He gave instruction in rhetoric widow of this Gongylus, living at Pergamus. She
every day, but declaimed only on the pundines, entertained him, and, by her direction, he attacked
Many men of eminence are said to have attended the castle of Asidates, a neighbouring Persian
his lectures, and among them Cicero, when he was noble. She had borne her husband two sons, Gor-
praetor. He died in his fiftieth year, and left be- gion, and another Gongylus, the latter of whom, on
hind him many works, though Ateius Capito main finding Xenophon endangered in his attempt, went
tained that the only work written by him was out, against his mother's will, to the rescue, accom-
De Latino Sermone, in two books, and that the panied by Procles, the descendant of Demaratus.
other treatises bearing his name were productions (Xen. Anab. vii. 8. SS 8, 17. ) These two sons, it
of his disciples. (Suet. De Ilustr. Gram. 7 ; Ma- further appears (Xen. Hell. iii. 1. § 6), were in
crob. Sat. iii. 12. ) Schütz, in his preface to the possession of Gambrium and Palaegambrium, My-
Rhetorica ad Herennium (p. 23, &c. ), endeavours rina and Grynium, towns given by the king to
to show that that work is the production of M. their father in reward for his treachery. On
Antonius Gnipho; but this is only a very uncertain Thibron's arrival with the Lacedaemonian forces,
hypothesis. (CICERO, p. 727. ] [L. S. ] and the incorporation, shortly after the above oc-
GNOSI'DICUS (Trwololros), the fourteenth in currence, of the Cyrean troops with them, they,
descent from Aesculapius, the elder son of Nebrus, with Eurysthenes and Procles, placed their towns
the brother of Chrysus, and the father of Hippo- in his hands, and joined the Greek cause.
crates I. , Podalirius II. , and Aeneius. He lived 2. A Corinthian captain, who in the eighteenth
probably in the sixth century B. C. (Jo. Tzetzes, year of the Peloponnesian war, B. C. 414, took
Chil. vii. Hist. 155, in Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. xii. charge of a single ship of reinforcements for Syra-
p. 680, ed. Vet. ; Poeti Epist. ad Artat. in Hip-cuse. He left Leucas after Gylippus, but, sailing
pocr. Opera, vol. iii. p. 770. ) (W. A. G. ) direct for Syracuse itself, arrived there first. It
GOBIDAS. (COBidas. ]
was a critical juncture : the besieged were on the
GO'BRYAS (TwEpúas). 1. A noble Assyrian, point of holding an assembly for discussion of
who, in Xenophon's Cyropaedeia, goes over to
terms of surrender. His arrival, and his news of
Cyrus, and renders him various important services the approach of Gylippus put a stop to all thought
(iv. 6, v. 2, vii. 5, viii. 4).
of this ; the Syracusans took heart, and presently
2. A noble Persian, one of the seven conspirators moved out to support the advance of their future
against Smerdis the Magian. When the attack deliverer. Thucydides seems to regard this as the
was made, and Smerdis fled to his chamber, he was moment of the turn of the tide. On the safe
pursued by Dareius and Gobryas. In the darkness arrival of Gongylus at that especial crisis depended
of the room Dareius was afraid to strike at the the issue of the Sicilian expedition, and with it the
Magian, lest he should kill Gobryas ; but Gobryas destiny of Syracuse, Athens, and all Greece. Gon-
perceiving his hesitation, exclaimed, “ Drive your gylus fell, says Plutarch, in the first battle on Epi-
sword through both of us. ” Dareius struck, and polae, after the arrival of Gylippus. (Thuc. vii. 2;
fortunately pierced only the Magian. (Herod. iii. Plut. Nicias, 19. )
(A. H. C. )
70, 73, 78 ; Plut. Oper. vol. ii. p. 50, e. , and GORDIANUS, the name of three Ronian em-
Wyttenbach's Note ; Justin. i. 9 ; Val. Max. iii. perors, father, son, and grandson.
TI
## p. 280 (#296) ############################################
280
GORDIANUS.
GORDIANUS.
1
1. M. ANTONIUS GORDJANUS, surnamed AFRI- upon the spot and the imperial dignity accompanied
CANUS, the son of Metius Marullus and Ulpia by distant and doubtful danger, the whole city
Gordiana, daughter of Annius Severus, traced his de had assembled at his gates, and with one voice
scent by the father's side from the Gracchi, by the saluted him as their sovereign. Gordianus, per-
mother's from the emperor Trajan, and married ceiving that resistance was fruitless, yielded to
Fabia Orestilia, the great grand-daughter of Anto- the wishes of the multitude; and all the chief
ninus. His ancestors had for three generations at cities of Africa having ratified the choice of Tisdrus,
least risen to the consulship, a dignity with which he was escorted a few days afterwards to Carthage
he himself was twice invested. His estates in the in a sort of triumphal procession, and saluted by
provinces were believed to be more extensive than the title of Africanus. From thence he despatched
those of any other private citizen: he possessed a letters to Rome, announcing his elevation, inreigh-
suburban villa of matchless splendour on the Prae- ing at the same time against the cruelty of Maximi-
nestine way, and inherited from his great grand- nus, recalling those whom the tyrant had banished,
father the house in Rome which had once belonged and promising not to fall short of the liberality
to the great Pompeius, had afterwards passed into of his predecessors in largesses to the soldiers and
the hands of M. Antonius, and still bore the nano populace.
of the Domus Rostrata, derived from the trophies The senate and all Rome received the intelli-
captured in the piratical war, which decorated its gence with enthusiastic joy, the election was at
vestibule when Cicero wrote the second Philippic. once confirmed, Gordianus and his son were pro-
Gordianus in youth paid homage to the Muses, and claimed Augusti. The hatred long suppressed now
among many other pieces composed an epic in found free vent, Maximinus was declared a public
thirty books, called the Antoninias, the theme enemy, his statues were cast down, and his name
being the wars and history of the Antonines. In was erased from all public monuments. Italy was
maturer years he declaimed with so much reputa- divided into districts, twenty commissioners were
tion that he numbered emperors among his audi- appointed to raise armies for its defence, and the
ences ; his quaestorship was distinguished by pro- most energetic measures were adopted to secure
fuse liberality; when aedile he far outstripped all the co-operation of the distant provinces. Mean-
his predecessors in magnificence, for he exhibited while, affairs at Carthage had assumed a very un-
games every month on the most gorgeous scale at expected aspect. A certain Capellianus, procurator
his own cost ; he discharged with honour the duties of Numidia, who had long been on bad terms with
of a praetorian judge ; in his first consulship, A. D. Gordianus, and had been recently suspended by his
213, he was the colleague of Caracalla ; in his orders, refused to acknowledge his authority, and
second of Alexander Severus ; and soon afterwards collecting a large body of the well-trained forces
was nominated proconsul of Africa, to the great who guarded the frontier, hastened towards the
joy of the provincials
. Nor was his popularity capital. The new prince could oppose nothing ex-
unmerited. In all things a foe to excess, of gentle cept an effeminate crowd, destitute alike of arms
and affectionate temper in his domestic relations, and discipline. Such a rabble was unable for a
he expended his vast fortune in ministering to the moment to withstand the regular troops of Capelli-
enjoyment of his friends and of the people at large, anus. The son of Gordianus, after vainly attempt.
while his own mode of life was of the most frugal ing to rally the fugitives, perished in the field ; and
and temperate description, and the chief pleasure his aged father, on receiving intelligence of these
of his declining years was derived from the study disasters, died by his own hands, after having en-
of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and Virgil.
joyed a sort of shadow of royalty for less than two
The spirit of resistance excited in every region months.
of the empire by the tyranny of Maximinus was The elder Gordianus was a man of ordinary
first kindled into open rebellion in Africa by the stature, with venerable white hair, a full face
flagrant injustice of the imperial procurator, who rather ruddy than fair, commanding respect by his
sought to gain the favour of his master by emulating eye, his brow, and the general dignity of his coun
his oppression. Some noble and wealthy youths of tenance, and is said to have borne a strong resem-
Tisdrus, whom he had condemned to pay a fine blance to Augustus in voice, manner, and gait.
which would have reduced them to indigence, col- Eckhel is very angry with Capitolinus for ex-
lecting together their slaves and rustic retainers, pressing a doubt whether the Gordians bore the
sent them forwards by night to the city, command- appellation of Antonius or Antoninus. It is certain
ing them to mix with the crowd, so as not to excite that the few medals and inscriptions in which the
suspicion, while they themselves entered the gates name appears at full length uniformly exhibited
at day-break, and boldly repaired to the presence the former; but when we recollect that Fabia Ores-
of the officer of the revenue, as if for the purpose of tilia, the wife of the elder, was a lineal descendant
satisfying his demands. Seizing a favourable mo- of Antoninus, and that the virtues of the Anto-
ment, they plunged their daggers into his heart, nines were celebrated both in prose and verse by
while the soldiers who rushed forwards to the rescue her husband, it does not appear improbable that, in
were instantly assailed by the peasants, and de- common with many other emperors, he may have
stroyed or put to flight. The conspirators, feeling
'that their offence was beyond forgiveness, deter-
mined to identify some one of conspicuous station
with their enterprise. Hurrying to the mansion
of the venerable Gordianus, now in his eightieth
year, they burst into his chamber, and before he
could recover from his surprise, invested him with
a purple robe, and hailed him as Augustus.
While
the ringleaders were explaining the event of the
morning, and bidding him choose between death
COIN OF GORDIANUS L.
DIM
maon
V
IM
. . .
## p. 281 (#297) ############################################
GORDIANUS.
28]
GORDIANUS.
BOTAS
COR
CAPMA DE
NI
assumed the designation in question during the numerons coins are extant, struck in Egypt, com-
brief period of his sway.
memorating the seventh year of his reign. But
2. M. ANTONIUS GORDIANUS, eldest son of since the Egyptians calculated the commencement
the foregoing and of Fabia Orestilia, was born in of their civil year, and consequently the years of a
A. D. i92, was appointed legatus to his father in sovereign's reign, from the 29th of August, they
Africa, was associated with him in the purple, must have reckoned some period prior to the 29th
and fell in the battle against Capellianus, as of August, A. D. 238, as the first year of the third
recorded above, in the forty-sixth year of his Gordian's reign.
age.
Hence the elevation of the first two Gordians,
Less simple in his habits, and less strict in his their death, the death of Maximinus, the accession
morality than his parent, he was nevertheless and death of Balbinus with Pupienus, and the ac-
respected and beloved both in public and private cession of the third Gordian, must all have fallen
life, and never disgraced himself by acts of osten- between the 1st of January and the 29th of
tatious profligacy, although he left upwards of August, A. D. 238.
sixty children by various mistresses, and enjoyed
the somewhat questionable distinction of being
selected by the favour of Elagabalus to fill the
office of quaestor. He became praetor under the
more pure auspices of Alexander, and acquitted
himself with so much credit as a judge, that he
was forth with, at a very early age, promoted to
the consulship. Several light pieces in prose and
verse attested his love of literature, which he im-
COIN OF GORDIANUS II.
bibed in boyhood from his preceptor, Serenus Sam-
monicus, whose father had accumulated a library of 3. M. ANTONIUS GORDIANUS, according to most
sixty thousand volumes, which the son inherited, of the authorities consulted by Capitolinus, was
and on his death bequeathed to his pupil. the son of a daughter of the elder Gordianus, al-
No period in the annals of Rome is more em- though some maintained that he was the son of the
barrassed by chronological difficulties than the younger Gordianus. Having been elevated to the
epoch of the two Gordians, in consequence of the rank of Caesar, under circumstances narrated in the
obscurity, confusion, and inconsistency which cha- life of Balbinus (BALBINUS), after the murder of
racterise the narratives of the ancient historians, in- Balbinus and Pupienus by the praetorians a few
somuch that we shall find six weeks, a hundred weeks afterwards, in July A. D. 238, he was pro-
days, six months, one year, two years, and even claimed Augustus, with the full approbation of the
six years, assigned by conflicting authorities as the troops and the senate, although at this time a mere
limits of their reign, while in like manner Balbi- boy, probably not more than fifteen years old. The
nus, with Pupienus, are variously stated to have annals of his reign are singularly meagre. In the
occupied the throne for twenty-two days, — for consulship of Venustus and Sabinus (Ă. D. 240), a
three months,—for one year,-or for two years. rebellion broke out in Africa, but was promptly
Without attempting to point out the folly of most suppressed. In 241, which marks his second con-
of these assertions, it will be sufficient to state that sulship, the young prince determined to proceed in
Eckhel has proved in the most satisfactory manner person to the Persian war, which had assumed a
that the revolt in Africa against Maximinus must most formidable aspect, but before setting out mar-
have taken place in A. D. 238, probably about the ried Sabinia Tranquillina, the daughter of Misitheus
beginning of March, and that the death of the two (MISITHEUS), a man distinguished for learning,
Gordians happened in the middle of April, after a eloquence, and virtue, who was straightway ap-
reign of six weeks, while the assassination of pointed praefect of the praetorium, and became the
Balbinus and Pupienus, with the accession of the trusty counsellor of his son-in-law in all matters of
third Gordian, could not have been later than the importance. By their joint exertions, the power of
end of the following July. Our limits do not permit the eunuchs, whose baneful influence in the palace
us to enter into a minute investigation of these, had first acquired strength under Elagabalus and
but it may be useful to indicate the nature of the been tolerated by his successor, was at once sup-
arguments which seem to establish the above con- pressed.
clusions :
In 242 Gordianus, having thrown open the
1. The accession of Maximinus is known to temple of Janus with all the ancient formalities,
have taken place in the middle of the year a. D. quitted Rome for the East. Passing through
235, and copper coins are still extant issued by the Moesia, he routed and destroyed some barbarous
senate with the usual stamp (S. c. ), struck when he tribes upon the confines of Thrace, who sought to
was tribune for the fourth time, which therefore arrest his progress ; crossing over from thence to
cannot belong to an earlier date than the beginning Syria, he defeated Sapor in a succession of engage-
of A. D. 238.
ments, and compelled him to evacuate Mesopotamia,
2. Upon receiving intelligence of the proceed the chief merit of these achievements being pro-
ings in African, the senate at once acknowledged bably due to Misitheus, to whom they were, with
the Gordians, threw down the statues of Maximi- fitting modesty, ascribed in the despatches to the
nus, and declared him a public enemy. Hence it senate. But this prosperity did not long endure:
is manifest that they would issue no money bearing Misitheus perished by disease, or, as many histo-
his effigy after these events, which must therefore rians have asserted, by the treachery of Philip, an
belong to some period later than the beginning of Arabian, who, in an evil hour, was chosen by the
A. D. 238.
prince to supply the place of the trusty friend
3. It is known that the third Gordian was whom he had lost. Philip, from the moment of
killed about the month of March, A. D. 244, and his elevation, appears to have exerted every art to
## p. 282 (#298) ############################################
282
GORDIUS.
GORGASUS.
prejudice the soldiers against their sovereign. He crifices to Zeus Bao debs at Telmissus. She bersell
contrived that the supplies destined for the use of accompanied him into the town, and gave him the
the camp should be intercepted or sent in a wrong necessary instructions respecting the sacrifices
direction, and then aggravated the discontent Gordius, in return, took her for his wife, and be
which arose among the troops by attributing these came by her the father of Midas. When Midas
disasters to the carelessness and incapacity of the had grown up to manhood, internal disturbances
einperor. At length he so roused their passions broke out in Phrygia, and an oracle informed the
by artful misrepresentations, that the legions rising inhabitants that a car would bring them a king,
tumultuously, attacked Gordianus as the cause of who should at the same time put an end to the
their sufferings; and having gained possession of disturbances. When the people were deliberating
his person, first deposed, and then put him to on these points, Gordius, with his wife and son,
death. The narrative of the circumstances attending suddenly appeared riding in his car in the assembly
this event, as recorded by Capitolinus, is evidently of the people, who at once recognised the person
largely mingled with fable, but no doubt exists as described by the oracle. According to Arrian
to the manner in which Gordian perished, nor of (Anab. ii. 3), the Phrygians made Midas their
the treachery by which the deed was accomplished. king, while, according to Justin (xi
. 7), who also
Of a lively but tractable disposition, endowed gives the oracle somewhat differently, and to others,
with high abilities, of amiable temper and winning Gordius himself was made king, and succeeded by
address, Gordian hnd gained the hearts of all, and Midas. The new king dedicated his car and the
was the idol alike of the senate, the people, and yoke to which the oxen had been fastened, to Zeus
the armies, until betrayed by the perfidy of his Baoileús, in the acropolis of Gordium, and an oracle
general. So well aware was Philip of the popu- declared thai, whosoever should untie the knot of
larity of his victim, that, instead of commanding the yoke, should reign over all Asia. It is a well-
his statues to be thrown down, and his name to be known story, that Alexander, on his arrival at
erased from public monuments, as was the common Gordium, cut the knot with liis sword, and applied
practice under such circumstances, he requested the the oracle to himself. (Comp. Curt. iii. 1. $ 15;
senate to grant him divine honours, announcing in Plut. Aler. 18; Strab. xii. p. 568 ; Aelian, V. H.
his despatch that the young prince had died a iv. 17. )
(L. S. )
natural death, and that he himself had been GO'RDIUS, a Cappadocian by birth, the instru-
chosen unanimously to fill the vacant throne. ment of Mithridates Eupator VI. in his attempts
Gordian was buried near Castrum Circesium to annex Cappadocia to Pontus. Gordius was em-
or Cercusium, in Mesopotamia, and an epitaph, ployed by him, in B. C. 96, to murder Ariarathes VI.
enumerating his exploits, was engraved upon the king of Cappadocia (ARIARATHES, No. 6). He
tomb in Greek, Latin, Persian, Hebrew, and was afterwards tutor of a son of Mithridates, whom,
Egyptian characters. The inscription itself is said after the murder of Ariarathes VII. he made king
to have been destroyed by Licinius, but the se- of Cappadocia Gordius was sent as the envoy of
pulchre, which formed a conspicuous object as Mithridates to Rome, and afterwards employed by
viewed from the surrounding country, was still to him to engage Tigranes, king of Armenia, to attack
be seen in the days of Julian (A. D. 363), as we Cappadocia, and expel Ariobarzanes I. , whom the
are told by Ammianus Marcellinus, who calls the Romans made king of that country in B. c. 93.
spot Zaithu, or the olive-tree.
Sulla restored Ariobarzanes in the following year,
(Capitolin. Marimin. duo, Gordiani tres ; He and drove Gordius out of Cappadocia Gordius
rodian, lib. vii. viii. ; Victor, de Caes. xxvi. xxvii. , was opposed to Muraena on the banks of the Halys,
Epit. xxvi. xxvii. ; Eutrop. ix. 2 ; Amm. Marc. B. C. 83--2. (Justin, xxxviii. 1-3 ; App. Mich.
xxiii. 5. S 7; Zosim. i. 14–16, 19, i. 14; Eckhel, 66 ; Plut. Sull. 5. )
(W. B. D. )
vol. vii. p. 293. )
(W. R. ] GO'RDICS, a charioteer, the companion of
Elagaba'us in his first race, and from that day for-
ward the chosen friend of the emperor, by whom
he was appointed praefectus vigilum. (Lamprid.
Elagab. 6. 12; Dion Cass. lxxix. 15. ) [W. R. ]
GORDYS (rópdus), a son of Triptolemus, who
assisted in searching after lo, and then settled in
Phrygia, where the district of Gordyaea received
its name from him. (Steph. Byz. s. v. Toplelor;
Strab. pp. 747, 750. )
(L. S. )
COIN OF GORDIANUS III.
GOʻRGASUS (rópyagos), a son of Machaon
GOʻRDIUS (rópdios), an ancient king of Phry- and Anticleia, who, together with his brother Ni-
gia, and father of Midas, is celebrated in history, comachus, had a sanctuary at Pherae, founded by
through the story of the Gordian knot. According Glaucus, the son of Aepytus. (Paus. iv. 3. § 6,
to tradition, he was originally a poor peasant, but 30. S 2.
[L. S. )
was destined to occupy a kingly throne, as GOʻRGASUS (rópaoos), one of the sons of
was indicated by a prodigy which happened to Machaon, the son of Aesculapius, by Anticleia, the
him. One day, while he was ploughing, an eagle daughter of Diocles, king of Pherae, in Messenia ;
came down and settled on his yoke of oxen, and who, after the death of his grandfather, succeeded
remained there till the evening. Gordius was sur- to the kingdom. He also followed the example of
prised at the phenomenon, and went to Telmissus his father, by practising the art of healing, for which
to consult the soothsayers of that place, who were he received divine honours after his death. (Paus,
very celebrated for their art. Close by the gates is, 30. $ 2. )
(W. A. G. )
of the town he met a Telmissian girl, who herself GOʻRGASUS, painter and modeller. [DANO-
possessed prophetic powers. He told her what he PHILUS). (See also Walz, Kunstblatt, 1841, note
had come for, and she advised him to offer up sa- | 43, p. 347. )
[P. S. )
သည်
นโย
US”
?
## p. 283 (#299) ############################################
GORGIAS.
283
GORGIAS.
GORGE (rópy), a daughter of Oeneus and I have no trace of an earlier journey, we must reject
Althaea, and the wife of Andraemon. When Ar- the statement that the great Athenian statesman
temis metamorphosed her sisters into birds, on and the historian Thucydides were among his dis
account of their unceasing lamentations about their ciples. (Philostr. Vit
.
chus, a Dorian lyric poet, according to Meineke, which Artaxerxes II. met his brother Cyrus. (Xe-
whose light and licentious love verses were attacked noph. Anab. i. 7. & 12. )
[P. S. )
by Chionides, Cratinus, and Eupolis. . The pas- GOLGUS (róxyos), a son of Adonis and Aphro-
sages quoted by Athenaeus seem, however, to bear dite, from whom the town of Golgi, in Cyprus, was
out fully the opinion of Welcker, that Gncsippus believed to have derived its name. (Schol. ad
was a tragic poet, and that the description of his Theocrit. xv. 100. )
(L. S. ]
poetry given by Athenaeus (παιγνιαγράφου της GO'NATUS ANTIGONUS. (ANTIGONUS. )
inapās uotons) refers to his choral odes. (Athen. GOʻNGYLUS (Ponyúaos). 1. Of Eretria, was
xiv. p. 638, d. e. ; Meineke, Frag. Com. Graec. the agent by whose means Pausanias entered into
vol. ii. pp. 7, 27–29; Welcker, die Griech. Trag. communication with Xerxes, B. C. 477. To his
vol. iii. pp. 1024-1029. )
[P. S. ] charge Pausanias entrusted Byzantium after its re-
GNIPHO, M. ANTO'NIUS, a distinguished capture, and the Persian prisoners who were there
Roman rhetorician, who lived in the last century taken, and who, by his agency, were now allowed to
before the Christian aera. He was born in B. C. escape, and (apparently in their company) he also
114, and was a native of Gaul, but studied at Alex- himself went to Xerxes, taking with him the re-
andria. He was a man of great talent and extra markable letter from Pausanias, in which he pro-
ordinary memory, and was thoroughly acquainted posed to put the Persian king in possession of
with Greek as well as Roman literature, and he is Sparta and all Greece, in return for marriage with
further praised as a person of a kind and generous his daughter. (Thuc. i. 129 ; Diod. xi. 44 ; Nepos,
disposition. After his returu from Alexandria, he Paus. 2. ).
taught rhetoric at first in the house of J. Caesar, Xenophon, on his arrival in Mysia with the
who was then a boy, and afterwards set up a school Cyrean soldiers (B. C. 399), found Hellas, the
in his own house. He gave instruction in rhetoric widow of this Gongylus, living at Pergamus. She
every day, but declaimed only on the pundines, entertained him, and, by her direction, he attacked
Many men of eminence are said to have attended the castle of Asidates, a neighbouring Persian
his lectures, and among them Cicero, when he was noble. She had borne her husband two sons, Gor-
praetor. He died in his fiftieth year, and left be- gion, and another Gongylus, the latter of whom, on
hind him many works, though Ateius Capito main finding Xenophon endangered in his attempt, went
tained that the only work written by him was out, against his mother's will, to the rescue, accom-
De Latino Sermone, in two books, and that the panied by Procles, the descendant of Demaratus.
other treatises bearing his name were productions (Xen. Anab. vii. 8. SS 8, 17. ) These two sons, it
of his disciples. (Suet. De Ilustr. Gram. 7 ; Ma- further appears (Xen. Hell. iii. 1. § 6), were in
crob. Sat. iii. 12. ) Schütz, in his preface to the possession of Gambrium and Palaegambrium, My-
Rhetorica ad Herennium (p. 23, &c. ), endeavours rina and Grynium, towns given by the king to
to show that that work is the production of M. their father in reward for his treachery. On
Antonius Gnipho; but this is only a very uncertain Thibron's arrival with the Lacedaemonian forces,
hypothesis. (CICERO, p. 727. ] [L. S. ] and the incorporation, shortly after the above oc-
GNOSI'DICUS (Trwololros), the fourteenth in currence, of the Cyrean troops with them, they,
descent from Aesculapius, the elder son of Nebrus, with Eurysthenes and Procles, placed their towns
the brother of Chrysus, and the father of Hippo- in his hands, and joined the Greek cause.
crates I. , Podalirius II. , and Aeneius. He lived 2. A Corinthian captain, who in the eighteenth
probably in the sixth century B. C. (Jo. Tzetzes, year of the Peloponnesian war, B. C. 414, took
Chil. vii. Hist. 155, in Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. xii. charge of a single ship of reinforcements for Syra-
p. 680, ed. Vet. ; Poeti Epist. ad Artat. in Hip-cuse. He left Leucas after Gylippus, but, sailing
pocr. Opera, vol. iii. p. 770. ) (W. A. G. ) direct for Syracuse itself, arrived there first. It
GOBIDAS. (COBidas. ]
was a critical juncture : the besieged were on the
GO'BRYAS (TwEpúas). 1. A noble Assyrian, point of holding an assembly for discussion of
who, in Xenophon's Cyropaedeia, goes over to
terms of surrender. His arrival, and his news of
Cyrus, and renders him various important services the approach of Gylippus put a stop to all thought
(iv. 6, v. 2, vii. 5, viii. 4).
of this ; the Syracusans took heart, and presently
2. A noble Persian, one of the seven conspirators moved out to support the advance of their future
against Smerdis the Magian. When the attack deliverer. Thucydides seems to regard this as the
was made, and Smerdis fled to his chamber, he was moment of the turn of the tide. On the safe
pursued by Dareius and Gobryas. In the darkness arrival of Gongylus at that especial crisis depended
of the room Dareius was afraid to strike at the the issue of the Sicilian expedition, and with it the
Magian, lest he should kill Gobryas ; but Gobryas destiny of Syracuse, Athens, and all Greece. Gon-
perceiving his hesitation, exclaimed, “ Drive your gylus fell, says Plutarch, in the first battle on Epi-
sword through both of us. ” Dareius struck, and polae, after the arrival of Gylippus. (Thuc. vii. 2;
fortunately pierced only the Magian. (Herod. iii. Plut. Nicias, 19. )
(A. H. C. )
70, 73, 78 ; Plut. Oper. vol. ii. p. 50, e. , and GORDIANUS, the name of three Ronian em-
Wyttenbach's Note ; Justin. i. 9 ; Val. Max. iii. perors, father, son, and grandson.
TI
## p. 280 (#296) ############################################
280
GORDIANUS.
GORDIANUS.
1
1. M. ANTONIUS GORDJANUS, surnamed AFRI- upon the spot and the imperial dignity accompanied
CANUS, the son of Metius Marullus and Ulpia by distant and doubtful danger, the whole city
Gordiana, daughter of Annius Severus, traced his de had assembled at his gates, and with one voice
scent by the father's side from the Gracchi, by the saluted him as their sovereign. Gordianus, per-
mother's from the emperor Trajan, and married ceiving that resistance was fruitless, yielded to
Fabia Orestilia, the great grand-daughter of Anto- the wishes of the multitude; and all the chief
ninus. His ancestors had for three generations at cities of Africa having ratified the choice of Tisdrus,
least risen to the consulship, a dignity with which he was escorted a few days afterwards to Carthage
he himself was twice invested. His estates in the in a sort of triumphal procession, and saluted by
provinces were believed to be more extensive than the title of Africanus. From thence he despatched
those of any other private citizen: he possessed a letters to Rome, announcing his elevation, inreigh-
suburban villa of matchless splendour on the Prae- ing at the same time against the cruelty of Maximi-
nestine way, and inherited from his great grand- nus, recalling those whom the tyrant had banished,
father the house in Rome which had once belonged and promising not to fall short of the liberality
to the great Pompeius, had afterwards passed into of his predecessors in largesses to the soldiers and
the hands of M. Antonius, and still bore the nano populace.
of the Domus Rostrata, derived from the trophies The senate and all Rome received the intelli-
captured in the piratical war, which decorated its gence with enthusiastic joy, the election was at
vestibule when Cicero wrote the second Philippic. once confirmed, Gordianus and his son were pro-
Gordianus in youth paid homage to the Muses, and claimed Augusti. The hatred long suppressed now
among many other pieces composed an epic in found free vent, Maximinus was declared a public
thirty books, called the Antoninias, the theme enemy, his statues were cast down, and his name
being the wars and history of the Antonines. In was erased from all public monuments. Italy was
maturer years he declaimed with so much reputa- divided into districts, twenty commissioners were
tion that he numbered emperors among his audi- appointed to raise armies for its defence, and the
ences ; his quaestorship was distinguished by pro- most energetic measures were adopted to secure
fuse liberality; when aedile he far outstripped all the co-operation of the distant provinces. Mean-
his predecessors in magnificence, for he exhibited while, affairs at Carthage had assumed a very un-
games every month on the most gorgeous scale at expected aspect. A certain Capellianus, procurator
his own cost ; he discharged with honour the duties of Numidia, who had long been on bad terms with
of a praetorian judge ; in his first consulship, A. D. Gordianus, and had been recently suspended by his
213, he was the colleague of Caracalla ; in his orders, refused to acknowledge his authority, and
second of Alexander Severus ; and soon afterwards collecting a large body of the well-trained forces
was nominated proconsul of Africa, to the great who guarded the frontier, hastened towards the
joy of the provincials
. Nor was his popularity capital. The new prince could oppose nothing ex-
unmerited. In all things a foe to excess, of gentle cept an effeminate crowd, destitute alike of arms
and affectionate temper in his domestic relations, and discipline. Such a rabble was unable for a
he expended his vast fortune in ministering to the moment to withstand the regular troops of Capelli-
enjoyment of his friends and of the people at large, anus. The son of Gordianus, after vainly attempt.
while his own mode of life was of the most frugal ing to rally the fugitives, perished in the field ; and
and temperate description, and the chief pleasure his aged father, on receiving intelligence of these
of his declining years was derived from the study disasters, died by his own hands, after having en-
of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and Virgil.
joyed a sort of shadow of royalty for less than two
The spirit of resistance excited in every region months.
of the empire by the tyranny of Maximinus was The elder Gordianus was a man of ordinary
first kindled into open rebellion in Africa by the stature, with venerable white hair, a full face
flagrant injustice of the imperial procurator, who rather ruddy than fair, commanding respect by his
sought to gain the favour of his master by emulating eye, his brow, and the general dignity of his coun
his oppression. Some noble and wealthy youths of tenance, and is said to have borne a strong resem-
Tisdrus, whom he had condemned to pay a fine blance to Augustus in voice, manner, and gait.
which would have reduced them to indigence, col- Eckhel is very angry with Capitolinus for ex-
lecting together their slaves and rustic retainers, pressing a doubt whether the Gordians bore the
sent them forwards by night to the city, command- appellation of Antonius or Antoninus. It is certain
ing them to mix with the crowd, so as not to excite that the few medals and inscriptions in which the
suspicion, while they themselves entered the gates name appears at full length uniformly exhibited
at day-break, and boldly repaired to the presence the former; but when we recollect that Fabia Ores-
of the officer of the revenue, as if for the purpose of tilia, the wife of the elder, was a lineal descendant
satisfying his demands. Seizing a favourable mo- of Antoninus, and that the virtues of the Anto-
ment, they plunged their daggers into his heart, nines were celebrated both in prose and verse by
while the soldiers who rushed forwards to the rescue her husband, it does not appear improbable that, in
were instantly assailed by the peasants, and de- common with many other emperors, he may have
stroyed or put to flight. The conspirators, feeling
'that their offence was beyond forgiveness, deter-
mined to identify some one of conspicuous station
with their enterprise. Hurrying to the mansion
of the venerable Gordianus, now in his eightieth
year, they burst into his chamber, and before he
could recover from his surprise, invested him with
a purple robe, and hailed him as Augustus.
While
the ringleaders were explaining the event of the
morning, and bidding him choose between death
COIN OF GORDIANUS L.
DIM
maon
V
IM
. . .
## p. 281 (#297) ############################################
GORDIANUS.
28]
GORDIANUS.
BOTAS
COR
CAPMA DE
NI
assumed the designation in question during the numerons coins are extant, struck in Egypt, com-
brief period of his sway.
memorating the seventh year of his reign. But
2. M. ANTONIUS GORDIANUS, eldest son of since the Egyptians calculated the commencement
the foregoing and of Fabia Orestilia, was born in of their civil year, and consequently the years of a
A. D. i92, was appointed legatus to his father in sovereign's reign, from the 29th of August, they
Africa, was associated with him in the purple, must have reckoned some period prior to the 29th
and fell in the battle against Capellianus, as of August, A. D. 238, as the first year of the third
recorded above, in the forty-sixth year of his Gordian's reign.
age.
Hence the elevation of the first two Gordians,
Less simple in his habits, and less strict in his their death, the death of Maximinus, the accession
morality than his parent, he was nevertheless and death of Balbinus with Pupienus, and the ac-
respected and beloved both in public and private cession of the third Gordian, must all have fallen
life, and never disgraced himself by acts of osten- between the 1st of January and the 29th of
tatious profligacy, although he left upwards of August, A. D. 238.
sixty children by various mistresses, and enjoyed
the somewhat questionable distinction of being
selected by the favour of Elagabalus to fill the
office of quaestor. He became praetor under the
more pure auspices of Alexander, and acquitted
himself with so much credit as a judge, that he
was forth with, at a very early age, promoted to
the consulship. Several light pieces in prose and
verse attested his love of literature, which he im-
COIN OF GORDIANUS II.
bibed in boyhood from his preceptor, Serenus Sam-
monicus, whose father had accumulated a library of 3. M. ANTONIUS GORDIANUS, according to most
sixty thousand volumes, which the son inherited, of the authorities consulted by Capitolinus, was
and on his death bequeathed to his pupil. the son of a daughter of the elder Gordianus, al-
No period in the annals of Rome is more em- though some maintained that he was the son of the
barrassed by chronological difficulties than the younger Gordianus. Having been elevated to the
epoch of the two Gordians, in consequence of the rank of Caesar, under circumstances narrated in the
obscurity, confusion, and inconsistency which cha- life of Balbinus (BALBINUS), after the murder of
racterise the narratives of the ancient historians, in- Balbinus and Pupienus by the praetorians a few
somuch that we shall find six weeks, a hundred weeks afterwards, in July A. D. 238, he was pro-
days, six months, one year, two years, and even claimed Augustus, with the full approbation of the
six years, assigned by conflicting authorities as the troops and the senate, although at this time a mere
limits of their reign, while in like manner Balbi- boy, probably not more than fifteen years old. The
nus, with Pupienus, are variously stated to have annals of his reign are singularly meagre. In the
occupied the throne for twenty-two days, — for consulship of Venustus and Sabinus (Ă. D. 240), a
three months,—for one year,-or for two years. rebellion broke out in Africa, but was promptly
Without attempting to point out the folly of most suppressed. In 241, which marks his second con-
of these assertions, it will be sufficient to state that sulship, the young prince determined to proceed in
Eckhel has proved in the most satisfactory manner person to the Persian war, which had assumed a
that the revolt in Africa against Maximinus must most formidable aspect, but before setting out mar-
have taken place in A. D. 238, probably about the ried Sabinia Tranquillina, the daughter of Misitheus
beginning of March, and that the death of the two (MISITHEUS), a man distinguished for learning,
Gordians happened in the middle of April, after a eloquence, and virtue, who was straightway ap-
reign of six weeks, while the assassination of pointed praefect of the praetorium, and became the
Balbinus and Pupienus, with the accession of the trusty counsellor of his son-in-law in all matters of
third Gordian, could not have been later than the importance. By their joint exertions, the power of
end of the following July. Our limits do not permit the eunuchs, whose baneful influence in the palace
us to enter into a minute investigation of these, had first acquired strength under Elagabalus and
but it may be useful to indicate the nature of the been tolerated by his successor, was at once sup-
arguments which seem to establish the above con- pressed.
clusions :
In 242 Gordianus, having thrown open the
1. The accession of Maximinus is known to temple of Janus with all the ancient formalities,
have taken place in the middle of the year a. D. quitted Rome for the East. Passing through
235, and copper coins are still extant issued by the Moesia, he routed and destroyed some barbarous
senate with the usual stamp (S. c. ), struck when he tribes upon the confines of Thrace, who sought to
was tribune for the fourth time, which therefore arrest his progress ; crossing over from thence to
cannot belong to an earlier date than the beginning Syria, he defeated Sapor in a succession of engage-
of A. D. 238.
ments, and compelled him to evacuate Mesopotamia,
2. Upon receiving intelligence of the proceed the chief merit of these achievements being pro-
ings in African, the senate at once acknowledged bably due to Misitheus, to whom they were, with
the Gordians, threw down the statues of Maximi- fitting modesty, ascribed in the despatches to the
nus, and declared him a public enemy. Hence it senate. But this prosperity did not long endure:
is manifest that they would issue no money bearing Misitheus perished by disease, or, as many histo-
his effigy after these events, which must therefore rians have asserted, by the treachery of Philip, an
belong to some period later than the beginning of Arabian, who, in an evil hour, was chosen by the
A. D. 238.
prince to supply the place of the trusty friend
3. It is known that the third Gordian was whom he had lost. Philip, from the moment of
killed about the month of March, A. D. 244, and his elevation, appears to have exerted every art to
## p. 282 (#298) ############################################
282
GORDIUS.
GORGASUS.
prejudice the soldiers against their sovereign. He crifices to Zeus Bao debs at Telmissus. She bersell
contrived that the supplies destined for the use of accompanied him into the town, and gave him the
the camp should be intercepted or sent in a wrong necessary instructions respecting the sacrifices
direction, and then aggravated the discontent Gordius, in return, took her for his wife, and be
which arose among the troops by attributing these came by her the father of Midas. When Midas
disasters to the carelessness and incapacity of the had grown up to manhood, internal disturbances
einperor. At length he so roused their passions broke out in Phrygia, and an oracle informed the
by artful misrepresentations, that the legions rising inhabitants that a car would bring them a king,
tumultuously, attacked Gordianus as the cause of who should at the same time put an end to the
their sufferings; and having gained possession of disturbances. When the people were deliberating
his person, first deposed, and then put him to on these points, Gordius, with his wife and son,
death. The narrative of the circumstances attending suddenly appeared riding in his car in the assembly
this event, as recorded by Capitolinus, is evidently of the people, who at once recognised the person
largely mingled with fable, but no doubt exists as described by the oracle. According to Arrian
to the manner in which Gordian perished, nor of (Anab. ii. 3), the Phrygians made Midas their
the treachery by which the deed was accomplished. king, while, according to Justin (xi
. 7), who also
Of a lively but tractable disposition, endowed gives the oracle somewhat differently, and to others,
with high abilities, of amiable temper and winning Gordius himself was made king, and succeeded by
address, Gordian hnd gained the hearts of all, and Midas. The new king dedicated his car and the
was the idol alike of the senate, the people, and yoke to which the oxen had been fastened, to Zeus
the armies, until betrayed by the perfidy of his Baoileús, in the acropolis of Gordium, and an oracle
general. So well aware was Philip of the popu- declared thai, whosoever should untie the knot of
larity of his victim, that, instead of commanding the yoke, should reign over all Asia. It is a well-
his statues to be thrown down, and his name to be known story, that Alexander, on his arrival at
erased from public monuments, as was the common Gordium, cut the knot with liis sword, and applied
practice under such circumstances, he requested the the oracle to himself. (Comp. Curt. iii. 1. $ 15;
senate to grant him divine honours, announcing in Plut. Aler. 18; Strab. xii. p. 568 ; Aelian, V. H.
his despatch that the young prince had died a iv. 17. )
(L. S. )
natural death, and that he himself had been GO'RDIUS, a Cappadocian by birth, the instru-
chosen unanimously to fill the vacant throne. ment of Mithridates Eupator VI. in his attempts
Gordian was buried near Castrum Circesium to annex Cappadocia to Pontus. Gordius was em-
or Cercusium, in Mesopotamia, and an epitaph, ployed by him, in B. C. 96, to murder Ariarathes VI.
enumerating his exploits, was engraved upon the king of Cappadocia (ARIARATHES, No. 6). He
tomb in Greek, Latin, Persian, Hebrew, and was afterwards tutor of a son of Mithridates, whom,
Egyptian characters. The inscription itself is said after the murder of Ariarathes VII. he made king
to have been destroyed by Licinius, but the se- of Cappadocia Gordius was sent as the envoy of
pulchre, which formed a conspicuous object as Mithridates to Rome, and afterwards employed by
viewed from the surrounding country, was still to him to engage Tigranes, king of Armenia, to attack
be seen in the days of Julian (A. D. 363), as we Cappadocia, and expel Ariobarzanes I. , whom the
are told by Ammianus Marcellinus, who calls the Romans made king of that country in B. c. 93.
spot Zaithu, or the olive-tree.
Sulla restored Ariobarzanes in the following year,
(Capitolin. Marimin. duo, Gordiani tres ; He and drove Gordius out of Cappadocia Gordius
rodian, lib. vii. viii. ; Victor, de Caes. xxvi. xxvii. , was opposed to Muraena on the banks of the Halys,
Epit. xxvi. xxvii. ; Eutrop. ix. 2 ; Amm. Marc. B. C. 83--2. (Justin, xxxviii. 1-3 ; App. Mich.
xxiii. 5. S 7; Zosim. i. 14–16, 19, i. 14; Eckhel, 66 ; Plut. Sull. 5. )
(W. B. D. )
vol. vii. p. 293. )
(W. R. ] GO'RDICS, a charioteer, the companion of
Elagaba'us in his first race, and from that day for-
ward the chosen friend of the emperor, by whom
he was appointed praefectus vigilum. (Lamprid.
Elagab. 6. 12; Dion Cass. lxxix. 15. ) [W. R. ]
GORDYS (rópdus), a son of Triptolemus, who
assisted in searching after lo, and then settled in
Phrygia, where the district of Gordyaea received
its name from him. (Steph. Byz. s. v. Toplelor;
Strab. pp. 747, 750. )
(L. S. )
COIN OF GORDIANUS III.
GOʻRGASUS (rópyagos), a son of Machaon
GOʻRDIUS (rópdios), an ancient king of Phry- and Anticleia, who, together with his brother Ni-
gia, and father of Midas, is celebrated in history, comachus, had a sanctuary at Pherae, founded by
through the story of the Gordian knot. According Glaucus, the son of Aepytus. (Paus. iv. 3. § 6,
to tradition, he was originally a poor peasant, but 30. S 2.
[L. S. )
was destined to occupy a kingly throne, as GOʻRGASUS (rópaoos), one of the sons of
was indicated by a prodigy which happened to Machaon, the son of Aesculapius, by Anticleia, the
him. One day, while he was ploughing, an eagle daughter of Diocles, king of Pherae, in Messenia ;
came down and settled on his yoke of oxen, and who, after the death of his grandfather, succeeded
remained there till the evening. Gordius was sur- to the kingdom. He also followed the example of
prised at the phenomenon, and went to Telmissus his father, by practising the art of healing, for which
to consult the soothsayers of that place, who were he received divine honours after his death. (Paus,
very celebrated for their art. Close by the gates is, 30. $ 2. )
(W. A. G. )
of the town he met a Telmissian girl, who herself GOʻRGASUS, painter and modeller. [DANO-
possessed prophetic powers. He told her what he PHILUS). (See also Walz, Kunstblatt, 1841, note
had come for, and she advised him to offer up sa- | 43, p. 347. )
[P. S. )
သည်
นโย
US”
?
## p. 283 (#299) ############################################
GORGIAS.
283
GORGIAS.
GORGE (rópy), a daughter of Oeneus and I have no trace of an earlier journey, we must reject
Althaea, and the wife of Andraemon. When Ar- the statement that the great Athenian statesman
temis metamorphosed her sisters into birds, on and the historian Thucydides were among his dis
account of their unceasing lamentations about their ciples. (Philostr. Vit
.
