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still attended to business, just as if he had been in
A great disturbance at Alexandria (A. D. 73) is perfect health ; and on feeling the approach of
recorded by Eusebius, but little about it appears death he said that an emperor should die standing;
in other writers, It was at this time that Achaea, and in fact he did die in this attitude on the 24th
Lycia, Rhodes, Byzantium, Cilicia, and other of June A. D. 79, being 69 years of age, seven
places, which were up to this time either con. months and seven days. He reigned ten years all
sidered as free states or governed by kings, were but six days, for his reign is dated from his pro.
all subjected to a Roman governor, on the ground clamation as emperor at Alexandria on the first of
that their liberty was only used for the purposes of July A. D. 69.
disturbance. (Pausan. vii. 17. & 4. )
The wife of Vespasian died before her husband's
The execution of Helvidius Priscus (Priscus] elevation to the imperial dignity, and also her
took place under the reign of Vespasian, and by daughter Domitilla. After his wife's death he co-
his order ; but the extravagant behaviour of Priscus habited with a freed woman named Caenis, whom,
and the mild temper of Vespasian justify us in con- after he became emperor, he had, says Suetonius,
cluding that the emperor's conduct in this affair almost as a lawful wife. A marriage with Caenis
nay have had a reasonable justification. Priscus would not have been a Roman marriage, and she
was a Stoic, who carried his doctrines to an absurd was a concubine, in the Roman sense. Caenis is
excess ; and he and others of the same sect seem accused of selling places under the emperor. (Sue-
to have aimed at exciting insurrection. Vespasian tonius, Vespasianus ; Tacitus, Hist. ; Dion Cas-
banished the philosophers, as they were called, sius, lxvi. ; Tillemont, Histoire des Empereurs,
from Rome, with the exception of Musonius Rufus. vol. ii. )
[G. L. )
Demetrius, one of these rabid sages, tried the em-
peror's patience by insulting him in the streets of
Rome. (Sueton. Vespas. 13. ) In A. D. 74 Ves-
pasian and Titus made a census or enumeration of
the Roman citizens, the last that was made. The
conversation which is the subject of the Dialogus
de Oratoribus (Tacitus] is represented as having
taken place in the sixth year of Vespasian, A. D.
75.
In the year A. D. 77, the eighth consulship of
Vespasianus and the sixth of Titus Caesar, Plinius VESPA'SIUS POʻLLIO. [Pollio. ]
addressed to Titus his great compilation, intitled VESPILLO, the name of a family of the Lui.
Naturalis Historia. In the same year Eusebius cretia gens. 1. LUCRETIUS VESPILLO, aedila
records a pestilence at Rome.
B. c. 133, is said to have thrown the corpse of Tib.
the consulship
clined the hon
accordingly
B. c. 19. (Ca
Val Mar, vi.
VESTA,
identical with
import. She
therefore ins
for Aeneas *
fire of l'esta.
the Penates
tors, before
sacrificed no
at Larinig
744; Mac
house, the
it all the
mon meal
taken was
annong the
time an a
sacrifice
305 ; Vi
Erery do
a temple
but a pu
state into
in the
tine bil
Pedates
with a
bouses,
for as
Fast.
deas a
but the
vas b
tende
each
hadis
she
crific
Tbe
pare
COIN OF VESPASIANUS,
U 3


## p. 1249 (#1265) ##########################################

to Brizz, and the
1249
VESTA.
VETRANIO.
als and the ad
ve been fotected by
wide the so
Tte faloragrey
Er of an act of
with a smine
be title of Cassa
0. 70, was a: das 13
cealment, and love
enim. Ite for
These rears of
sed her name. Il ne
*28an, se torbe
ITO chcirea mese
wborn sie used to rest
rasan, thrash govega
Tribus a3d Esrite to de
Freserved. (Taci He
steld at Sergio Pa
arcelas, boti nf bzhi
paras ar, corspeed 2023
said to be compleza
whom he had stead
tim, and as he was larg
him to be put i det
ng, whatever har ane bez
s a reproach to the Best
er. Marcellus ruta
ced He cat la tira
this year l'escasas, v
ent to spend some ti 13
mountains of the go
cold water be damanis
already disorderet. the
Gracchus into the Tiber and thus to have obtained might enter it. (Ov. Fast. vi. 227, &c. ; Fest. p. 344,
the sumame of Vespillo. (Aurel. Vict. de Vir. II. ed. Müller. ) The day on which this took place
64 ; respecting the Vespillones, see Dict. of Antiq. was a dies nefustus, the first half of which was
P. 559, 2, 2d ed. )
thought to be so inauspicious, that the pricstess of
2. Q. LUCRETIUS VESPILLO, an orator and a Juno was not allowed to comb her hair, to cut her
jurist, was proscribed by Sulla and put to deuth. nails, or to approach her husband, while the second
(Cic. Brut. 48 ; Appian, B. C. iv. 44. )
half was very favourable to contracting a marriage
3. Q. LUCRETIUS VESPILLO, the son of No. 2, or entering upon other important undertakings.
served in the Pompeian fleet in B. C. 48. He was A few days before that solemnity, on the 9th of
proscribed by the triumvirs in B. C. 43, out more June, the Vestalia was celebrated in honour of the
fortunate than his father, was concealed by his goddess, on which occasion none but women walked
wife Thuria in his own house at Rome, till his to the temple, and that with bare fect. On one of
friends obtained his pardon. In B. C. 20, he was these occasions an altar had been dedicated to Ju-
one of the deputation which the senate sent to piter Pistor. (Ov. Fust. vi. 3. 50 ; comp. Hartung,
Augustus at Athens to request the latter to assume Die clip. der kön. vol. ii. p. 111, đc. ) (L. S. ]
the consulship for the following year, but he de- VE'STIA OʻPPIA. (Orpia, No. 2. )
clined the honour, and nppointed Vespillo, who was VESTI'LIUS, SEX. , a man of prctorian rank,
accordingly consul with C. Sentius Saturninus in put to death, A. D. 32. (Tac. Ann. vi. 9. )
B. c. 19. (Cacs. B. C. iii. 7 ; Appinn, B. C. iv. 44; VESTI'NUS ATTICUS. (ATTICU8. ]
Val. Max. vi. 7. & 2 ; Dion Cass. liv. 10. )
VESTI'NUS, JUʻLIUS, a sophist, niade an
VESTA, one of the great Roman divinities, abridgment of the lexicon of Pamphilus (Pam-
identical with the Greek Hestia both in nan and PHILUS, No. 4], and a selection of words from
import. She was the goddess of the hearth, and Demosthenes, Thucydides, Isaeus, Isocrates and
therefore inseparably connected with the Penates, others. (Suidas, s. v. Ounotivos. ) The name of
for Aeneas was believed to have brought the eternal Julius Vestinus ought to be substituted for that of
fire of Vesta from Troy, along with the images of Julius Justinus, which is prefixed as the name of
the Penates ; and the praetors, consuls, and dicta- one of the lexicographers to the work of Suidas.
tors, before entering upon their official functions, C. VESTO'RIUS, of Puteoli, a money-lender,
sacrificed not only to the Penates, but also to Vesta with whom Cicero had large dealings, and who
at Lavinium. (Virg. Aen. ii. 296, &c. , X. 259, v. was also a friend of Atticus. (Cic. ad Att. iv. 6,
744; Macrob. Sat. iii. 4. ) In the ancient Roman 14, 16, vi. 2, v. 2, ad Att. xiv. 9, 12, 14, et alibi. )
house, the hearth was the central part, and around VESTRITIUS SPURINNA. (SPURINNA. ]
it all the inmates daily assembled for their com- P. VE'STRIUS, a Roman eques and a Pom.
mon meal (coena, koivń), and every meal thus peian, was taken prisoner in Africa in B. C. 46,
taken was a fresh bond of union and affection and pardoned by Caesar. (Hirt. B. Afr. 64. )
among the members of a family, and at the same VETI'LIUS. 1. C. or M. VETILius, praetor
time an act of worship of Vesta combined with a B. c. 147, was defeated in Spain by Viriathus,
sacrifice to her and the Penates. (Ov. Fast. vi.
taken prisoner and put to death. For an account
305 ; Virg. Georg. iv. 384 ; Serv. ad Aen. i. 734. ) of his defeat, and the authorities, see VIRIATHUS.
Every dwelling house therefore was, in some sense, 2. Verilius, a leno, was refused by Q. Me.
a temple of Vesta (August. De Civ. Dei, iv. 11), tellus, the praetor, the bonorum possessio in accord-
but a public sanctuary united all the citizens of the ance with the will of Juventius, on account of his
state into one large family. This sanctuary stood infamous mode of life. (Val. Max. vii. 7. $ 7. )
in the Forum, between the Capitoline and Pala- 3. P. VETILIUS, a relation of Sex. Aebutius,
tine hills, and not far from the temple of the and a witness in the case of Caecina. (Cic. pro
Penates. (Dionys. ii. 65. ) That temple was round Caecin. 9. )
with a vaulted roof, like the impluvium of private VETRANIO, an officer far advanced in years,
houses, so that there is no reason to regard that who had long served with high reputation, and who
form as an imitation of the vault of heaven (Ov. was much and generally beloved on account of his
Fast. vi. 269, &c. , 282 ; Plut. Num. 11. ) The god- simple manners and amiable temper, commanded
dess was not represented in her temple by a statue, the legions in Illyria and Pannonia, at the period
but the eternal fire burning on the hearth or altar (4. D. 350), when Constans was treacherously de-
was her living symbol, and was kept up and at- stroyed, and his throne seized by Magnentius.
tended to by the Vestals, her virgin priestesses. As The first impulse of the veteran induced him to
each house, and the city itself, so also the country write a letter to Constantius promising firm alle-
had its own Vesta, and the latter was worshipped giance, and urging him to advance with all speed
at Lavinium, the metropolis of the Latins, where that he might in person chastise the usurper.
she was worshipped and received the regular sa- Soon afterwards, however, he was prevailed upon
crifices at the hands of the highest magistrates. by the solicitations of his troops, and by the
The goddess herself was regarded as chaste and pressing representations of the notorious Constantina
pure like her symbol, the fire, and the Vestals, [CONSTANTINA), eldest sister of Constantine the
who kept up the sacred fire, were likewise pure Great, himself to assume the purple at Sirmium,
maidens. Respecting their duties and obligations, about the beginning of March, A. D. 350. Being
see Dict. of Ant. s. v. Vestales. As regards her now courted by both of the contending parties, he
worship, it is stated, that every year, on the 1st of concluded a treaty with Constantius whom he
March her sacred fire, and the laurel tree which soon abandoned ; he next entered into close alli-
shaded her hearth, were renewed (Macrob. Sat. ance with Magnentius, and finally, as detailed in
i. 12; Ov. Fast. iii. 143), and that on the 15th a former article [Constantius), was constrained
of June her temple was cleaned and purified. The by dextrous management at the famous confer-
dirt was carried into an angiportus behind the ence held on the 25th December near Sardica to
temple, which was locked by a gate that no one abdicate the power which he had exercised for
VOL. IL
4 L
iness, just as if he had been i
d on feeling the approach
emperor só old die serein
die in this attitude an 18:41
69 years of 24, UTE
dars. He reigned ten van zi
uis reign is dated from his po
eror at Alexandria on ile ist
being
em
spasian died before bar lasteae)
imperial dignity, and is be
Via After bis wife's death in a
Teed woman maped Csers, FS
emperor, he had, sare des
fal wife. A marriage sub (2005
been a Roman parte, 91
me, in the Roman sense (esi
ng paces under the empent,
spunus ; Tacitas, Hist; Dhee Live
Tiemont, Histoire des Enteras
(GL
1-6
COIN OF VESPASIANTX
ASIUS POʻLLIO. [POLLM]
TLLO, the name of a fire the
1. LUCRETIS l'ispilla de
is said to hare shown the curpee als


## p. 1250 (#1266) ##########################################

1250
VETTIUS.
VETTIUS.
ac.
COIN OP VETRANIO.
less than ten months, and to resign all his preten- of a L. Vettio judice. ) He was an unprincipled
sions in favour of Constantius, by whom he was fellow, who was ready to sell his services to any
treated with great kindness, and permitted to re- one who would pay him well. He again appears
tire to Prusa, in Bithynia, where he passed the in B. C. 59 as an informer. In that year he
remaining six years of his life in contented tran-cused Curio, Cicero, L. Lucullus, and many other
quillity, practising the virtues of the Christian distinguished men, of having formed a conspiracy
faith which he professed. It is tolerably clear, as to assassinate Pompey. Dion Cassius, who al.
far as we can pretend to draw any conclusion from ways thinks the worst about every man, asserts
the confused and contradictory accounts transmitted (xxxviii
. 9) as a positive fact that Vettius had
to us regarding the above transactions, that the been purchased by Cicero and L. Lucullus to
extraordinary conduct of Vetranio must be ascribed murder Caesar and Pompey ; but this statement is
to natural indecision or to the vacillating imbecility in opposition to all other authorities, and deserves
of old age, rather than to a system of complicated no credence. It seems almost certain that the
treachery altogether foreign to his character, which conspiracy was a sheer invention for the purpose
is painted in very favourable colours by almost all of injuring Cicero, Curio, and others; but there is
the historians of this epoch, except Aurelius Victor more difficulty in determining who were the in-
who describes him as little better than a mis- ventors of it. Cicero regarded it as the work of
chievous idiot. [CONSTANS; MAGNENTIUS; Con Caesar, who remained in the background while
STANTIUS. ] (Jnlian. Orat. i. i. ; Themist. Orat. its success was uncertain, and who used the tri-
iii. iv. ; Amm. Marc. xv. 1. $ 2, xxi. 8. $ 1 ; Aurel. bune Vatinius as his instrument. At a later pe-
Vict. de Cacs. 41, 42, Epit. 41; Eutrop. x. 6; riod, when Cicero had returned from exile, and
Zosim. ii. 43, 44 ; Zonar. xiii. 7; Chron. Alexandr. ; feared to provoke the triumvir, he threw the whole
Chron. Idat. ; Socrat. H. E. ii. 28 ; Sozomen. H. E. blame upon Vatinius. However this may be, the
iv. 3 ; Philostorg. H. E. iii. 22. ) [W. R. ] history of the affair is briefly as follows. Vettius
was said to have insinuated himself into the
friendship of Curio, and then to have informed
him that he intended, along with his slaves, to
kill Pompey, hoping to elicit from Curio an ap-
proval, if not a promise, of co-operation in the
plot. Curio, however, did not fall into the snare,
but disclosed what he had heard to his father.
The latter informed Pompey. Vettius, therefore,
was apprehended and brought before the senate,
where he stated that Curio was at the head of a
conspiracy which had been formed against Pom-
VE'TTIA or VECTIA GENS, plebeian, is pey's life, in which some of the most distinguished
not mentioned till the latter end of the republic, young men of the state had a share ; among
but obtained considerable eminence under the others, L. Aemilius Paulus, M. Brutus, and L.
empire, where its name frequently appears in the Lentulus. The senate ordered him to be cast into
consular Fasti. In many editions and some MSS. prison. On the following day Vatinius brought
of the ancient writers, the name occurs in the form him before the assembly of the people, that he
of Vectius ; but Vettius is the true orthography, as might confirm what he had already said before
we see from coins. We find coins of the Vettii the senate ; but he now contradicted himself, and
of the republican period, bearing the cognomen his evidence became much more suspicious than it
Judex Sabinus, a specimen of which is given had been on the previous day.
Some names
under JUDEX.
which he mentioned in the senate, he now passed
VETTIE'NUS, or VECTIENUS, a friend of over entirely, but he added many others of still
Cicero and Atticus, was a money-lender. (Cic. greater celebrity, such as Lucullus and L. Do-
ad Att. x. 5, 11, 13, 15, xii. 3, xv. 13. )
mitius Ahenobarbus. He did not mention Cicero
VE'TTIUS, or VE'CTIUS. 1. P. VETTIUS, by name, but he said that an eloquent consular,
quaestor of C. Verres in Sicily, is spoken of by who lived near the consul Caesar, bad said to him
Cicero as an honourable man. (Cic. Verr. v. 44. ) that the state needed a Servilius Ahala, or a
2. T. VETTIUS, praetor B. c. 59, presided at the Brutus. He was sent back to prison, and on
trial of L. Flaccus, whom Cicero defended. (Cic. the following morning was found strangled in his
pro Flacc. 34. )
cell. It was given out that he had committed
3. VETTIUS, one of the lovers of Clodia, gave suicide ; but the marks of violence were visible
her some copper coins instead of silver, and was on his body, and Cicero at a later time charged
in consequence shamefully treated by two other Vatinius with the murder. Suetonius says (Caes.
lovers of Clodia. (Cic. pro Cael. 30 ; Plut. Cic. 20) that Vettius was poisoned, but this is in oppo-
29. )
sition to the direct statement of Cicero, who must
4. Vertius, of whom Cicero purchased a honse. have known the manner of his death, and could
(Cic. ad Att. iv. 5. & 2. )
have bad no reason for giving a false account on
5. Sex. Vetrius, a friend of Atticus, and a this point at least. (Dion. Cass. xxxvii. 41 ; Suet.
coheres of Cicero. (Cic.