$$ 35, the Caledonians to the
northern
part of the island,
n.
n.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
50), following Heyne of fusing bronze or copper, and casting statues
and Quatremere de Quincy, places this family (διέχεαν δε χαλκον πρώτοι και αγάλματα έχωνεύ-
of artists at the very beginning of the Olympiads, varto). . There appears here to be a difficulty as
that is, in the eighth century, B. C. The sole au- to the distinct specific meaning of the two verbs :
thority for this date is a passage of Pliny which, be- but the true meaning is, that Rhoecus and Theo-
sides being quite vague, contains a decided mistake. dorus invented the art of casting figures, and at
(H. N. xxxv. 12. s. 43. ) He says that “ the same time made improvements in the process of
relate that the first who invented the plastic art mixing copper and tin to form bronze ; as we learn
(plasticen) were Rhoecus and Theodorus, in Samos, from another passage (x. 38. $ 3. 8. 6), in which
long before the Bacchiadae were expelled from Co Pausanias states that he has already, in a former
rinth," an event which is supposed to have occurred part of his work (that is, in the passage just cited)
about the 30th Olympiad, B. c. 660; and he then mentioned Rhoecus, the son of Philaeus, and Theo.
proceeds to relate how, when Demaratus fled from dorus, the son of Telecles, as those who invented
that city into Italy, he was accompanied by the the process of melting bronze more accurately, and
modellers (fictores) Eucheir and Eugrammus, and who first cast it (Tous cupóvras Xankdv és od
so the art was brought into Italy. Now, in the axpıbéotepov tñfar kal éxóvevoav oŮtoi TPWT01).
whole of this passage, Pliny is speaking of plastice In still another passage (iii. 12. $ 8. s. 10) he
in the literal sense of the word, modelling in clay, makes the statement respecting the fusing and
not in the secondary sense, which it often bas in casting of metal, but in a slightly different form ;
the Greek writers, of casting in metal; but it is namely, that Theodorus of Samos was the first
quite in accordance with his mode of using his who discovered the art of fusing iron, and of
authorities, that he should have understood the making statues of it (os apôros diaxéai olonpov
statements of those writers who ascribed to Rhoe- | ευρε και αγάλματα απ' αυτού πλάσαι). Here
cus and Theodorus the invention of plastice in the nothing is said of Rhoecus, nor of Telecles ; and it
latter sense, as if they had been meant in the is also worth while to observe that we have here
former. Having thus fallen into the mistake of an example of the use of a doar in the sense which
making these artists the inventors of modelling, he we supposed above to have misled Pliny.
was compelled to place them considerably earlier There is another set of passages, in which various
than Eucheir and Eugrammus, by whom that art architectural works are attributed to those artists.
was said to have been brought into Italy. Even Herodotus (ii. 60), speaking of the temple of Hera
if this explanation be doubted, the statement of at Samos as the greatest known in his time, states
Pliny cannot be received, inasnıuch as it is incon- that its architect was Rhoecus, the son of Phileas,
sistent with other and better testimonies, and is a native of the island; and Vitruvius (vii. Praef.
entirely unconfirmed; for the passage in which 12), mentions Theodorus as the author of a work
Plato mentions Theodorus in common with Dae- on the same temple. Pliny (H. N. xxxvi. 13.
dalus (Ion, p. 533, a. ) has no chronological refer- s. 19. & 3), in describing the celebrated Lemnian
ence at all, but the names of eminent artists are | labyrinth, says that its architects were Smilis,
some
;
3 Y 2
## p. 1060 (#1076) ##########################################
1000
THEODORUS.
'THEODORUS.
Rhoecns, and Theodorus. (Comp. xxxiv. 8. §. 19. hardly be explained on any other supposition than
§ 22, where the common reading places the lahy. that there existed distinct traditions respecting two
rinth at Samos; but this is easily corrected by a different Samian artists of the name of Thcodorus,
change in the punctuation, proposed by Müller in the one the son of Rhoccus and the brother of
his Acginctica, p. 99, and adopted by Sillig, in his Telecles, and the other the son of Telecles. For
edition of Pliny; namely, Theodorus, qui labyrin. the forner, we have the passages in Diogenes and
thum fccit, Sami ipse ex acre fudit: it is, however, Diodorus ; for the latter, one passage of Herodutus
just as likely that the mistake is Pliny's own, and two of Pausanias ; and besides these, there is
or, that it was made by a copyist ; sce below). one passage of Herodotus, one of Plato, one of
Another architectural work, ascribed to Theodorus, Pausanins, one of Vitruvius, and four of Pliny, in
was the old Sias at Sparta, as we learn from the which Theodorus is nientioned, without his father's
same passage in which Pausanias mentions him as name, but, in nearly every instance, as a Samian,
the inventor of casting in iron (iii. 12. & 8. 8. 10). and as closely connected with Rhoecus. Of course,
He is also connected with the erection of the cele the well-known facts, of the alternate succession of
brated temple of Artemis at Ephesus by an in- names, and the hereditary transmission of art, in
teresting tradition, recorded by Diogenes Laërtius Grecian families, must not be left out of the consi-
(ii. 103), that Theodorus advised the laying down deration. On the other hand, if we suppose only
of charcoal-cinders beneath the foundation of the one Theodorus, we must assume that Diogenes has
temple, as a remedy against the dampness of the made one decided mistake, and Diodorus two,
site: here he is called a Samian, and the son of namely, in making Telecles and Theodorus sons of
Rhoec11s.
Rhoecus; or else we must have recourse to the
Lastly, the names of Theodorus and Telecles are still more arbitrary and improbable supposition,
connected with the history of the ancient wooden that this one and only Theodorus was the son of
statues in a very curious manner. Diodorus (i. 98), Telecles, and the grandson of Rhoecus. The con-
in relating the various claims set up by the Egyp. clusion adopted by Mr. Grote (Ilistory of Greece,
tians to be considered the instructors of the Greeks vol. iv. p. 132), that there was only one Theodorus,
in philosophy, science, and art, tells us that they namely, the son of Rhoecus, is the least probable
asserted that the most celebrated of the ancient of all, as it compels us to reject the positive state-
statuaries, Telecles and Theodorus, the sons of ments, which make him the son of Telecles, and
Rhoecus, lived a long time in Egypt; and that they therefore, “ the positive evidence does not enable ua
told the following story respecting the wooden to verify" his theory, as he remarks of the genealogies
statue (Jóavov) of the Pythian Apollo, which those of Müller and Thiersch. A positive argument for
Artists made for the Samians. Of this statue, Te- distinguishing the two Theodori has been derived
lecles made the one half in Samos, while the other from a comparison of the passage in which Pau-
half was made by his brother Theodorus at Ephe- sanias speaks of the bronze statue of Night, ascribed
Bus; and, when the two parts were placed toge- to Rhoecus, as being of the rudest workmansbip
ther, they agreed as exactly as if the whole body (x. 38. & 3. 8. 6), with that in which Herodotus
had been made by one person ; a result which the describes the crater made by Theodorus as a work
Egyptians ascribed to the fact, that their rules of of no common order (i. 51). Surely, it is argued,
art had been learnt by Telecles and Theodorus. there could not be so great a difference in the
With this tradition we may connect one preserved works of the father and the son, and much less can
by Pliny, that Theodorus of Samos was the in- it be accounted for, if we suppose Rhoecus and
ventor of certain tools used in working wood, Theodorus to have been strictly contemporary.
namely, the norma, libella, tornus, and clavis. (Plin. There is perhaps some force in this argument, but
H. N. vii. 56. s. 57. )
it can hardly be considered decisive.
Now, in considering the conclusions which are It may also be observed that, in none of the
to be drawn from all this evidence, it is as well passages, in which the architectural works of Theo
first to exclude the assertion of Thiersch, that dorus are referred to, is he called the son of
there were two artists of the name of Telecles, Telecles, while, on the other hand, the names of
which rests on no other ground than the necessity Rhoecus and Theodorus are closely associated in
of lengthening out the genealogy in order to suit these works ; facts which suggest the hypothesis
the too early date which he has assumed for that, while the elder Theodorus followed chietiy
Rhoecus. He makes Rhoecus, with his sons Te the architectural branch of his father's professioni
,
lecles and Theodorus, flourish at the beginning of the younger devoted himself to the development
the Olympiads, and then, nearly two centuries of the art of working in metal. Müller has at-
later, he comes to another Telecles, with his son tempted also to draw a positive conclusion respecting
Theodorus, the artist who lived in the time of the dates of these artists from the buildings on
Polycrates.
which they are said to have been engaged. The
The real questions to be determined are these, Heraeum at Samos is referred to by Herodotus in
Were Theodorus, the son of Rhoecus, and Theo- such a way as to imply, not only that it was one
dorus, the son of Telecles, different persons, or the of the most ancient of the great temples then ex-
If the former, was the one Theodorus, isting, but also that it had been, at least in part,
namely, the son of Rhoecus, the same as Theodorus, erected before the 37th lympiad; and hence
the brother of Telecles, and was this Telecles the Müller places Rhoecus about Ol. 35, which agrees
same as the father of the other Theodorus ? If very well with the time at which his supposed
these questions be answered in the affirmative, grandson Theodorus flourished, namely, in the
little difficulty remains in adopting the genealogy reigns of Croesus and Polycrates. This also agrees
of Müller, as given under RHOECUS.
with the story told by Diogenes of the connection
If the first of these questions can be satisfactorily of the first Theodorus, the son of Rhoecus, with the
Answered, the others are easily disposed of. And laying of the foundation of the temple of Artemis
here, in the first place, the above testimonies can at Ephesus, which was probably cominenced about
same?
## p. 1061 (#1077) ##########################################
THEODORUS.
1061
THEODORUS.
B. C. 600. (CHERSIPHON. ) The most probable dowoa, épyov dè K. 7. 1. ) will, we think, bear either
conclusion, then, (for anything like certainty is meaning. Of course no great weight can be
clearly unattainable,) we think to be this: that assigned to the statements of later writers, such
the genealogy and dates given under Rhoecus are as Strabo (xiv. p. 638), Pausanins (1. c. ), Pollux
tolerably correct : that Rhoecus was the inventor (v. 100), and Clemens (Protrept. iii. p. 247, ed.
of the casting of metals, and that this art was Sylburg), who assert that it was engraved, any
carried on by the family of which he was the head: more than to that of Pliny, who says that it was
that Rhoecus and bis son Theodorus erected the not, and that the art of gem-engraving was invented
Heraeum and the Lemnian labyrinth, and that the many years later. (I1. N. xxxvii. 4. ) This last
latter laid the foundation of the temple of Artemis: statement can be positively contradicted, so far as
that the younger Theodorus devoted himself more the East is concerned, by the account of Aaron's
especially to the task of perfecting the art of casting breast-plate (Exod. xxviii, 17—21), in which not
metals, and that this is the reason why he, rather only were the precious stones engraved, but they
than other members of the family, is mentioned, were “ like the engravings of a signet ;
" and other
with Rhoecus, at the head of that branch of art ; evidence might be adduced to prove the very early
and that to this younger Theodorus should be use of engraved seal-rings in the East. Some evi.
ascribed the silver crater of Croesus and the ring of dence that the art was known in the islands of the
Polycrates. We are quite aware of some minor Aegean, and particularly in Sainos, even before the
objections to this theory, which remain unanswered; time of Polycrates is furnished by the tradition
but the subject, interesting as it is, both critically that the father of Pythagoras was an engraver of
and historically, has already been pursued almost seal-rings, daktu). loy, úpos (Diog. viii. 1 ; Mne-
beyond the proper limits of this article.
SARCHUS), and there is another tradition which
Another question, important in the early history would prove that it had been introduced at Athens
of Greek art, arises out of the statements respecting in the time of Solon. (Diog. i. 57. ) Lastly, with
these Samian artists, namely, how far they were respect to bronze statues by Thcodorus, Pausanias
affected by foreign influence. The story told by expressly says that he knew of none such (x. 38.
the Egyptians, and repeated by Diodorus, must be $ 3. B. 6); but Pliny, on the contrary (H. N.
received with great caution ; but even those, who xxxiv. 8. s. 19. & 22), tells us that the same Theo-
contend most strongly for the native origin of dorus, who made the labyrinth, cast in bronze a
Greek art, admit that Telecles and Theodorus may statue of himself, which was equally celebrated for
have learnt some mechanical processes from the the excellence of the likeness and for its minute
Egyptians. But the fact is, that the point involved size. It held a file in the right hand, and a little
in the story relates not so much to mechanical quadriga in the left, the whole being so small as to
processes as to rules of proportion ; for, in order to be covered by the wings of a fly, which formed a
accomplish the result stated, the precise proportions part of the work (tantae parvitatis ut totam cam
of the human figure must have been settled by rule, currumque et aurigam integeret alis simul fucła
as well as the precise attitude; and the question is, musca). It is obvious that a work like this could
whether the Greeks, at this early period, had esta- not belong to the age of Croesus and Polycrates.
blished such rules of proportion independently of Such productions of patient ingenuity were made at
the Egyptians. On the other hand, the statements a later period, as by MYRMECIDES ; and, consider-
with respect to the invention of metal-casting ing how common a name Theodorus was, it seems
make it of purely native origin ; whereas we know very probable that there may have been, at some
that it existed long before, among the Phoenicians, | period, an artist of the name, who made such minute
for the two bronze pillars and various vessels of works, and that some thoughtless transcriber has
Solomon's temple are expressly said to have been introduced the words “qui labyrinthum fecit. ”
cast in earthen moulds by Pboenician artists. To sum up the whole, it seems probable that
(1 Kings vii. 46. ) Now, when we remember that there were two ancient Samian artists named
an extensive commerce was carried on in very early Theodorus, namely:-
times by the Phoenicians in the Levant and the 1. The son of Rhoecus, and brother of Telecles,
Aegean, and also that Samos is said to have been fourished about B. C. 600, and was an architect, a
the earliest Grecian maritime state in those parts, statuary in bronze, and a sculptor in wood. He
a strong probability is established, that arts already wrote a work on the Heraeum at Samos, in the
existing in Egypt and Phoenicia may have been erection of which it may therefore be supposed that
transferred to Samos. The full discussion of these he was engaged as well as his father. Or, con-
questions belongs to the general history of Greek sidering the time which such a building would
art: we will here only add that we believe the occupy, the treatise may perhaps be ascribed to the
Egyptian and Phoenician influence on Greece in younger Theodorus. He was also engaged, with
early times to have been lately as much undervalued his father, in the erection of the labyrinth of Lem-
as it was formerly exaggerated.
nos ; and he prepared the foundation of the temple
It only remains to explain one or two points of Artemis at Ephesus. We would also ascribe
connected with the works ascribed to these artists. to him the old Scias at Sparta. In conjunction
Besides the silver crater presented by Croesus to with his brother Telecles, he made the wooden
the Delphians, there was a golden one found by statue of Apollo Pythius for the Samians, according
Alexander among the treasures of the Persian to the fixed rules of the hieratic style.
kings, which was also said to be the work of 2. The son of Telecles, nephew of the elder
Theodorus of Samos. (Amynt. ap. Ath. xiv. p. Theodorus, and grandson of Rhoecus, flourished
515, a. )
about B. c. 560, in the times of Croesus and Poly-
With respect to the ring of Polycrates, it has crates, and obtained such renown as a statuary in
been much disputed whether the stone in it was bronze, that the invention of that art was ascribed
engraved or not. The words of Herodotus (i. 41, to him, in conjunction with his grandfather. He
σφρηγίs . . . χρυσόδετος, σμαράγδου μεν λίθου | also practised the arts of engraving metals (τορει-
3 x 3
## p. 1062 (#1078) ##########################################
1062
THEODOSIUS.
THEODOSIUS.
name:
TIKV, caelatura), and of gem-engraving; his works within their walls. After establishing order and
in those departments being the gold and silver cra- confidence, he commenced his operations against
ters mentioned above, and the ring of Polycrates. the invaders, and in two campaigns cleared the
(For the different views of modern writers respect. province of its savage enemies, and repaired and
ing these artists, see Sillig, Cul. Artif. s. vo. Tele- strengthened the military positions. He drove
cles, Theodorus ; Müller, Archäol. d. Kunst.
$$ 35, the Caledonians to the northern part of the island,
n. 1, 55, n. , 60, 70, n. 4, 80. n. i. 1, 97, n. 2, 159 ; and formed a province or provincial division of
Bähr, ad Herod. I. cc. )
Valentia, or Valentiniana, so named in honour of
There were several later artists
the same
Valentinian. This tract composed the country
between the wall of Severus and the rampart of
3. An Argive sculptor, the son of Poros, made Antoninus, which Theodosius recovered from the
a statue of Nicis, the son of Andromidas, which enemy. The history of these campaigns is re-
was dedicated by the people of Hermione, as we corded by Ammianus Marcellinus (xxvii. 8, xxviii.
learn from an extant inscription, the character of 3). Claudian leads us to infer that Theodosius
which as well as the nature of the work, an hono- also pursued the enemies of Rome on the stormy
rific statue of a private individual, lead to the con- seas of the North ; and the Orkneys and Thule
clusion that the artist lived at a comparatively late were stained with the blood of the Picts and the
period. (Böckh, Corp. Inscr. No. 1197 ; Welcker, Saxong. (In Quart. Cons. Hanor. 31, &c. )
Kunstblatt, 1827, No. 83 ; R. Rochette, Lettre à Theodosius, on his return from Britain A. D.
M. Schorn, pp. 415, 416, 2d ed. )
370, was rewarded for his services with the rank of
4. A sculptor or modeller, of unknown time, master-general of the cavalry, and being stationed
made the celebrated bas-relief, known as the Tabula on the Upper Danube, he defeated the Alemanni.
Iliaca, as appears from an inscription on its back, In A. D. 372, Firmus, a Moor, the son of Nabal or
which runs thus, EOANPHOSHITEXNH, that is, Nubal, the most powerful of the Moorish princes
codúpelos Ý Téxvn. (Lehrs, Rhein. Mus. 1843, who professed obedience to the sovereignty of Rome,
vol. ii. p. 355 ; Jahn, in Gerhard's Archäol. Zci- revolted against the Roman authority; and the
tung, vol. i. p. 302 ; R. Rochette, Lettre à M. natives, who were exasperated at the tyranny of
Schorn, p. 416, 2d ed. )
Count Romanus, the governor of Africa, joined the
5. A Theban statuary, mentioned by Diogenes standard of Firmus. The Moorish chieftain plun-
Laërtius, in his list of persons of the name (ii. 104). dered Caesarea, on the site of the modern Algiers,
Nothing more is known of him, nor of the three and made himself master of Mauritania and Nu-
other painters whose names are found in the same midia ; and he is said to have assumed the title of
list.
king. Romanus being unable to oppose this active
6. A painter mentioned by Polemon (Ding. I. c. ). enemy, Theodosius was sent to Africa about the
7. An Athenian painter, mentioned by Meno- close of 372 or the beginning of 373. He sailed
dotus. (Diog. I. c. )
from the Rhone and landed at Igilgilis, before the
8. An Ephesian painter, mentioned by Theo. Moorish chief heard of his coming. The first step
phanes, in his work on painting. (Diog. l. c. ) of Theodosius was to arrest Romanus, whose mal-
9. A painter, whose name is contained in Pliny's administration was considered to be the cause of
list of those who were primis proximi (H. N. the revolt. The campaign against Firmus is re-
xxxv. 8. s. 40. § 40), and who may very probably corded by Ammianus (xxix. 5) in a long, most
be identical with one of the three mentioned by confused, and corrupt chapter, out of which Gibbon
Diogenes. Pliny ascribed to him the following has extracted a narrative. Firmus had the cun-
works : Se inungenlem, which appears to mean ning and treachery of Jugurtha, and Theodosius
an athlete anointing himself ; the murder of Cly- displayed all the talents of Metellus, in his nego-
temnestra and Aegisthus by Orestes ; the Trojan tiations with the Moor, and in pursuit of him
War, a composition on several panels, preserved at through a country which presented unexpected
Rome in the portico of Philip ; Cassandra, also at difficulties to regular troops. Firmus at last fled
Rome, in the temple of Concord (comp. Welcker, to Igmazen, king of the Isaflenses, a people of
au Philostr. Imat. p. 459); Leontium Epicuri cogi- whose position Ammianus gives no indication.
tantem, which ought perhaps to be read like the simi- Igmazen was summoned to surrender Firmus, and
lar passage a little above (10. s. 36. § 19) Leontio after having felt the Roman power, and the con-
nem pictorem ; and king Demetrius. This last sequences of refusal, he determined to give him
work, if a portrait taken from life, would place the up. Firmus escaped by a voluntary death. He
artist's date at, or a little before, B. C. 300. first made himself drunk, and while his guards
10. A Samian painter, the disciple of Nico- were asleep, hanged himself by a rope, which he
sthenes, mentioned by Pliny in his list of those fixed to a nail in the wall. The dead body was
painters who were non ignobiles quidem, in trans. given up to Tbeodosius, who led his troops back to
cursu tamen dicendi. (H. N. xxxv. 11. s. 40. s Sitifis. ' In the reign of Valens, A. D. 376, Theo-
42. )
[P. S. ] dosius was beheaded at Carthage. The cause of
THEODOʻSIUS. This able general, from whom his execution is unknown. (Gibbon, Decline and
descended a line of Roman emperors, after having Full, vol. iv. c. 25; Tillemont, Histoire des Em-
acquired a great military reputation, was sent pereurs, vol. v. , where all the authorities are referred
A. D. 367 by Valentinian I. to drive away the to. )
[G. L. )
Picts and Scots, who were ravaging Britain. Theo- THEODO'SIUS I. , was the son of Theodosius,
dosius crossed the straits from Boulogne with his who restored Britain to the empire, and was be-
troops of Heruli, Batavians, Jovii, and Victores, headed at Carthage. The family of Theodosius
and landed at Sandwich. On his road to London was Spanish, and the future emperor was born in
he defeated several hordes of the barbarian in- Spain, about A. D. 346, as some say at Italica, the
vaders ; and the citizens of London, who were birth-place of Trajan, though other authorities say
despairing of their safety, gladly received him that he was a native of Cauca in Gallicia. His
## p. 1063 (#1079) ##########################################
THEODOSIUS.
1063
THEODOSIUS.
" The
paneg; rists derive his descent from Trajan, but a great number of captives with four thousand
this lofty lineage seems not to have been dis- waggons (Zosimus, iv. 25). In A. D. 38), Atha-
covered until Theodosius was invested with the naric was compelled to leave his forests, and to
imperial purple.
cross the Danube ; and many of those who had
Theodosius received a good education ; and he formerly acknowledged Fritigern as their leader,
learned the art of war under his own father, whom and were weary of anarchy, now yielded obedience
he accompanied in his British campaigns. During to this Gothic judge. Tillemont conjectures that
bis father's life-time he was raised to the rank of Athanaric was expelled by Fritigern, Alatheus,
Duke (dux) of Moesia, where he defeated the and Saphrax ; but Gibbon's narrative seems to
Sarmatians (A. D. 374), and saved the province. signify (for scems is all the meaning that in many
On the death of his father (a. D. 376), he retired cases can be imputed to it) that Fritigern was
before court intrigues to bis native country, where already dead. However Athanaric was too old and
he cultivated his own lande, which probably lay too prudent to carry on war with the new em-
near his native place between Segovia and Valla- peror: he listened to proposals of peace, and he
dolid. At this time he was already married to a even went to Constantinople to visit the emperor.
Spanish woman, Aelia Flacilla or Placilla, who is Theodosius left the city to meet him, and received
sometimes called Placidia, by whom he became the him with the greatest respect. The Goth was
father of Arcadius, Honorius, and a daughter Pul- struck with amazement at the magnificence of
cheria. From this peaceful retirement he was Constantinople, and exclaimed that the Roman
called in the thirty-third year of his age to receive emperor was an “ earthly God. " Athanaric fell
the imperial purple. Valens, the colleague of ill at Constantinople, and died there. Theodosius
Gratian, had recently lost his life at Hadrianople gave him a splendid funeral, and erected a monu-
(A. D. 378), where the Roman army was com- ment to his memory. This politic behaviour gained
pletely broken by the Goths, and Gratian, feeling over the whole army of Athanaric ; and the ad-
himself unable to sustain the burden of the empire, hesion of so large a body of the Visigoths was
invited Theodosius to fill the place of Valens. followed by the submission of the rest.
Theodosius was declared Augustus by Gratian at general or rather final capitulation of the Goths
Sirmium in Pannonia, on the 19th of January may be dated four years, one month, and twenty-
A. D. 379. He was intrusted with the administra- five days after the defeat and death of the emperor
tion of Thrace, Asia, and Egypt, which had been Valens. ” (Gibbon ; comp. Tillemont, Histvire des
held by Valens, together with Dacia and Macedonia. Empereurs, vol. v. p. 216. )
The new emperor of the East had the conduct of The Ostrogoths, who had retired from the
the war against the Goths.
provinces of the Danube ahout four years ago, re-
The history of Ammianus Marcellinus ends with turned (A. D. 386) to the lower course of that
the death of Valens, and the authorities on which river recruited by an army of Scythians, whom
the historian of the reign of Theodosius has to none of the inhabitants on the banks of the Danube
rely, are greatly inferior to Ammianus. Their had ever seen before (Zosimus, iv. 38). Promotus,
character is well expressed by Gibbon in a few the general on the Thracian frontier, who knew
words, and they are referred to by Tillemont that he was a match for the invaders, thought it
(Histoire des Empereurs, v. ), with his usual dili- prudent to draw them over to the south bank,
gence and accuracy.
without letting them wait for their opportunity in
The Romans were disheartened by the bloody the winter ; and by his spies he encouraged them
defcat which they had sustained on the plains of to hope that by secretly crossing the river, they
Hadrianople, and the Goths were insolent in their might destroy the Roman army. The passage was
victory. Theodosius was too prudent to lead dis made on a dark night in numerous canoes ; but
pirited troops against a successful enemy, and he the Ostrogoths discovered their mistake when they
formed his head quarters at Thessalonica, the found the south bank of the Danube guarded by a
capital of the diocese or division of Macedonia, triple row of vessels through which they could not
from whence he could watch the movements of the penetrate. At the same time the Roman galleys
Goths. In four years' campaigns (a. D. 379—descending the river, swept before them the frail
382), of which the particulars are imperfectly re- boats of the Ostrogoths, and Alatheus the king,
corded, Theodosius revived the courage of the and his bravest troops, were either drowned in the
Roman soldiers, and while he seems to have pru- Danube or destroyed by the sword. Those who
dently kept aloof from any general engagement, he escaped sued for mercy to the Romans. It is un-
took all opportunities of attacking his enemy in certain whether Theodosius had personally any
detail, and securing for his men the advantage of share in this victory. Zosimus says that after the
victory without the danger of defeat. The Goths, victory Promotus sent for Thevdosius, who was
who were not held together by any well-constituted at no great distance. If the historian Zosimus
authority, and only by the ability of their com- unjustly deprives Theodosius of all merit, the poet
mander Fritigern, became disorganised by his Claudian made amends for it by flattery and exag-
death, and were split up into numerous bands geration.
which went about seizing all that they wanted, A treaty was made with the Goths, the precise
and destroying that which they had not the pru- date and terms of which do not appear to be
dence to reserve for another time. Jealousy arose known; but they were settled within the limits of
between the Ostrogoths and the Visigoths; and the empire, in tracts which were neglected or unoc-
Theodosius by his agents added the inducement of cupied. A colony of Visigoths was established in
money to those who were discontented. Modares, Thrace, and the remains of the Ostrogoths were
a chieftain of rank, went over to the Romans, planted in Phrygia and Lydia. They were not
among whom he obtained the rank of master- scattered among the population of Thrace or Asia
general, and he earned his reward by surprising Minor, but they obtained whole districts in which
and massacring a body of Goths, and carrying off they still lived as a Gothic people, acknowledging
3. Y 4
## p.
and Quatremere de Quincy, places this family (διέχεαν δε χαλκον πρώτοι και αγάλματα έχωνεύ-
of artists at the very beginning of the Olympiads, varto). . There appears here to be a difficulty as
that is, in the eighth century, B. C. The sole au- to the distinct specific meaning of the two verbs :
thority for this date is a passage of Pliny which, be- but the true meaning is, that Rhoecus and Theo-
sides being quite vague, contains a decided mistake. dorus invented the art of casting figures, and at
(H. N. xxxv. 12. s. 43. ) He says that “ the same time made improvements in the process of
relate that the first who invented the plastic art mixing copper and tin to form bronze ; as we learn
(plasticen) were Rhoecus and Theodorus, in Samos, from another passage (x. 38. $ 3. 8. 6), in which
long before the Bacchiadae were expelled from Co Pausanias states that he has already, in a former
rinth," an event which is supposed to have occurred part of his work (that is, in the passage just cited)
about the 30th Olympiad, B. c. 660; and he then mentioned Rhoecus, the son of Philaeus, and Theo.
proceeds to relate how, when Demaratus fled from dorus, the son of Telecles, as those who invented
that city into Italy, he was accompanied by the the process of melting bronze more accurately, and
modellers (fictores) Eucheir and Eugrammus, and who first cast it (Tous cupóvras Xankdv és od
so the art was brought into Italy. Now, in the axpıbéotepov tñfar kal éxóvevoav oŮtoi TPWT01).
whole of this passage, Pliny is speaking of plastice In still another passage (iii. 12. $ 8. s. 10) he
in the literal sense of the word, modelling in clay, makes the statement respecting the fusing and
not in the secondary sense, which it often bas in casting of metal, but in a slightly different form ;
the Greek writers, of casting in metal; but it is namely, that Theodorus of Samos was the first
quite in accordance with his mode of using his who discovered the art of fusing iron, and of
authorities, that he should have understood the making statues of it (os apôros diaxéai olonpov
statements of those writers who ascribed to Rhoe- | ευρε και αγάλματα απ' αυτού πλάσαι). Here
cus and Theodorus the invention of plastice in the nothing is said of Rhoecus, nor of Telecles ; and it
latter sense, as if they had been meant in the is also worth while to observe that we have here
former. Having thus fallen into the mistake of an example of the use of a doar in the sense which
making these artists the inventors of modelling, he we supposed above to have misled Pliny.
was compelled to place them considerably earlier There is another set of passages, in which various
than Eucheir and Eugrammus, by whom that art architectural works are attributed to those artists.
was said to have been brought into Italy. Even Herodotus (ii. 60), speaking of the temple of Hera
if this explanation be doubted, the statement of at Samos as the greatest known in his time, states
Pliny cannot be received, inasnıuch as it is incon- that its architect was Rhoecus, the son of Phileas,
sistent with other and better testimonies, and is a native of the island; and Vitruvius (vii. Praef.
entirely unconfirmed; for the passage in which 12), mentions Theodorus as the author of a work
Plato mentions Theodorus in common with Dae- on the same temple. Pliny (H. N. xxxvi. 13.
dalus (Ion, p. 533, a. ) has no chronological refer- s. 19. & 3), in describing the celebrated Lemnian
ence at all, but the names of eminent artists are | labyrinth, says that its architects were Smilis,
some
;
3 Y 2
## p. 1060 (#1076) ##########################################
1000
THEODORUS.
'THEODORUS.
Rhoecns, and Theodorus. (Comp. xxxiv. 8. §. 19. hardly be explained on any other supposition than
§ 22, where the common reading places the lahy. that there existed distinct traditions respecting two
rinth at Samos; but this is easily corrected by a different Samian artists of the name of Thcodorus,
change in the punctuation, proposed by Müller in the one the son of Rhoccus and the brother of
his Acginctica, p. 99, and adopted by Sillig, in his Telecles, and the other the son of Telecles. For
edition of Pliny; namely, Theodorus, qui labyrin. the forner, we have the passages in Diogenes and
thum fccit, Sami ipse ex acre fudit: it is, however, Diodorus ; for the latter, one passage of Herodutus
just as likely that the mistake is Pliny's own, and two of Pausanias ; and besides these, there is
or, that it was made by a copyist ; sce below). one passage of Herodotus, one of Plato, one of
Another architectural work, ascribed to Theodorus, Pausanins, one of Vitruvius, and four of Pliny, in
was the old Sias at Sparta, as we learn from the which Theodorus is nientioned, without his father's
same passage in which Pausanias mentions him as name, but, in nearly every instance, as a Samian,
the inventor of casting in iron (iii. 12. & 8. 8. 10). and as closely connected with Rhoecus. Of course,
He is also connected with the erection of the cele the well-known facts, of the alternate succession of
brated temple of Artemis at Ephesus by an in- names, and the hereditary transmission of art, in
teresting tradition, recorded by Diogenes Laërtius Grecian families, must not be left out of the consi-
(ii. 103), that Theodorus advised the laying down deration. On the other hand, if we suppose only
of charcoal-cinders beneath the foundation of the one Theodorus, we must assume that Diogenes has
temple, as a remedy against the dampness of the made one decided mistake, and Diodorus two,
site: here he is called a Samian, and the son of namely, in making Telecles and Theodorus sons of
Rhoec11s.
Rhoecus; or else we must have recourse to the
Lastly, the names of Theodorus and Telecles are still more arbitrary and improbable supposition,
connected with the history of the ancient wooden that this one and only Theodorus was the son of
statues in a very curious manner. Diodorus (i. 98), Telecles, and the grandson of Rhoecus. The con-
in relating the various claims set up by the Egyp. clusion adopted by Mr. Grote (Ilistory of Greece,
tians to be considered the instructors of the Greeks vol. iv. p. 132), that there was only one Theodorus,
in philosophy, science, and art, tells us that they namely, the son of Rhoecus, is the least probable
asserted that the most celebrated of the ancient of all, as it compels us to reject the positive state-
statuaries, Telecles and Theodorus, the sons of ments, which make him the son of Telecles, and
Rhoecus, lived a long time in Egypt; and that they therefore, “ the positive evidence does not enable ua
told the following story respecting the wooden to verify" his theory, as he remarks of the genealogies
statue (Jóavov) of the Pythian Apollo, which those of Müller and Thiersch. A positive argument for
Artists made for the Samians. Of this statue, Te- distinguishing the two Theodori has been derived
lecles made the one half in Samos, while the other from a comparison of the passage in which Pau-
half was made by his brother Theodorus at Ephe- sanias speaks of the bronze statue of Night, ascribed
Bus; and, when the two parts were placed toge- to Rhoecus, as being of the rudest workmansbip
ther, they agreed as exactly as if the whole body (x. 38. & 3. 8. 6), with that in which Herodotus
had been made by one person ; a result which the describes the crater made by Theodorus as a work
Egyptians ascribed to the fact, that their rules of of no common order (i. 51). Surely, it is argued,
art had been learnt by Telecles and Theodorus. there could not be so great a difference in the
With this tradition we may connect one preserved works of the father and the son, and much less can
by Pliny, that Theodorus of Samos was the in- it be accounted for, if we suppose Rhoecus and
ventor of certain tools used in working wood, Theodorus to have been strictly contemporary.
namely, the norma, libella, tornus, and clavis. (Plin. There is perhaps some force in this argument, but
H. N. vii. 56. s. 57. )
it can hardly be considered decisive.
Now, in considering the conclusions which are It may also be observed that, in none of the
to be drawn from all this evidence, it is as well passages, in which the architectural works of Theo
first to exclude the assertion of Thiersch, that dorus are referred to, is he called the son of
there were two artists of the name of Telecles, Telecles, while, on the other hand, the names of
which rests on no other ground than the necessity Rhoecus and Theodorus are closely associated in
of lengthening out the genealogy in order to suit these works ; facts which suggest the hypothesis
the too early date which he has assumed for that, while the elder Theodorus followed chietiy
Rhoecus. He makes Rhoecus, with his sons Te the architectural branch of his father's professioni
,
lecles and Theodorus, flourish at the beginning of the younger devoted himself to the development
the Olympiads, and then, nearly two centuries of the art of working in metal. Müller has at-
later, he comes to another Telecles, with his son tempted also to draw a positive conclusion respecting
Theodorus, the artist who lived in the time of the dates of these artists from the buildings on
Polycrates.
which they are said to have been engaged. The
The real questions to be determined are these, Heraeum at Samos is referred to by Herodotus in
Were Theodorus, the son of Rhoecus, and Theo- such a way as to imply, not only that it was one
dorus, the son of Telecles, different persons, or the of the most ancient of the great temples then ex-
If the former, was the one Theodorus, isting, but also that it had been, at least in part,
namely, the son of Rhoecus, the same as Theodorus, erected before the 37th lympiad; and hence
the brother of Telecles, and was this Telecles the Müller places Rhoecus about Ol. 35, which agrees
same as the father of the other Theodorus ? If very well with the time at which his supposed
these questions be answered in the affirmative, grandson Theodorus flourished, namely, in the
little difficulty remains in adopting the genealogy reigns of Croesus and Polycrates. This also agrees
of Müller, as given under RHOECUS.
with the story told by Diogenes of the connection
If the first of these questions can be satisfactorily of the first Theodorus, the son of Rhoecus, with the
Answered, the others are easily disposed of. And laying of the foundation of the temple of Artemis
here, in the first place, the above testimonies can at Ephesus, which was probably cominenced about
same?
## p. 1061 (#1077) ##########################################
THEODORUS.
1061
THEODORUS.
B. C. 600. (CHERSIPHON. ) The most probable dowoa, épyov dè K. 7. 1. ) will, we think, bear either
conclusion, then, (for anything like certainty is meaning. Of course no great weight can be
clearly unattainable,) we think to be this: that assigned to the statements of later writers, such
the genealogy and dates given under Rhoecus are as Strabo (xiv. p. 638), Pausanins (1. c. ), Pollux
tolerably correct : that Rhoecus was the inventor (v. 100), and Clemens (Protrept. iii. p. 247, ed.
of the casting of metals, and that this art was Sylburg), who assert that it was engraved, any
carried on by the family of which he was the head: more than to that of Pliny, who says that it was
that Rhoecus and bis son Theodorus erected the not, and that the art of gem-engraving was invented
Heraeum and the Lemnian labyrinth, and that the many years later. (I1. N. xxxvii. 4. ) This last
latter laid the foundation of the temple of Artemis: statement can be positively contradicted, so far as
that the younger Theodorus devoted himself more the East is concerned, by the account of Aaron's
especially to the task of perfecting the art of casting breast-plate (Exod. xxviii, 17—21), in which not
metals, and that this is the reason why he, rather only were the precious stones engraved, but they
than other members of the family, is mentioned, were “ like the engravings of a signet ;
" and other
with Rhoecus, at the head of that branch of art ; evidence might be adduced to prove the very early
and that to this younger Theodorus should be use of engraved seal-rings in the East. Some evi.
ascribed the silver crater of Croesus and the ring of dence that the art was known in the islands of the
Polycrates. We are quite aware of some minor Aegean, and particularly in Sainos, even before the
objections to this theory, which remain unanswered; time of Polycrates is furnished by the tradition
but the subject, interesting as it is, both critically that the father of Pythagoras was an engraver of
and historically, has already been pursued almost seal-rings, daktu). loy, úpos (Diog. viii. 1 ; Mne-
beyond the proper limits of this article.
SARCHUS), and there is another tradition which
Another question, important in the early history would prove that it had been introduced at Athens
of Greek art, arises out of the statements respecting in the time of Solon. (Diog. i. 57. ) Lastly, with
these Samian artists, namely, how far they were respect to bronze statues by Thcodorus, Pausanias
affected by foreign influence. The story told by expressly says that he knew of none such (x. 38.
the Egyptians, and repeated by Diodorus, must be $ 3. B. 6); but Pliny, on the contrary (H. N.
received with great caution ; but even those, who xxxiv. 8. s. 19. & 22), tells us that the same Theo-
contend most strongly for the native origin of dorus, who made the labyrinth, cast in bronze a
Greek art, admit that Telecles and Theodorus may statue of himself, which was equally celebrated for
have learnt some mechanical processes from the the excellence of the likeness and for its minute
Egyptians. But the fact is, that the point involved size. It held a file in the right hand, and a little
in the story relates not so much to mechanical quadriga in the left, the whole being so small as to
processes as to rules of proportion ; for, in order to be covered by the wings of a fly, which formed a
accomplish the result stated, the precise proportions part of the work (tantae parvitatis ut totam cam
of the human figure must have been settled by rule, currumque et aurigam integeret alis simul fucła
as well as the precise attitude; and the question is, musca). It is obvious that a work like this could
whether the Greeks, at this early period, had esta- not belong to the age of Croesus and Polycrates.
blished such rules of proportion independently of Such productions of patient ingenuity were made at
the Egyptians. On the other hand, the statements a later period, as by MYRMECIDES ; and, consider-
with respect to the invention of metal-casting ing how common a name Theodorus was, it seems
make it of purely native origin ; whereas we know very probable that there may have been, at some
that it existed long before, among the Phoenicians, | period, an artist of the name, who made such minute
for the two bronze pillars and various vessels of works, and that some thoughtless transcriber has
Solomon's temple are expressly said to have been introduced the words “qui labyrinthum fecit. ”
cast in earthen moulds by Pboenician artists. To sum up the whole, it seems probable that
(1 Kings vii. 46. ) Now, when we remember that there were two ancient Samian artists named
an extensive commerce was carried on in very early Theodorus, namely:-
times by the Phoenicians in the Levant and the 1. The son of Rhoecus, and brother of Telecles,
Aegean, and also that Samos is said to have been fourished about B. C. 600, and was an architect, a
the earliest Grecian maritime state in those parts, statuary in bronze, and a sculptor in wood. He
a strong probability is established, that arts already wrote a work on the Heraeum at Samos, in the
existing in Egypt and Phoenicia may have been erection of which it may therefore be supposed that
transferred to Samos. The full discussion of these he was engaged as well as his father. Or, con-
questions belongs to the general history of Greek sidering the time which such a building would
art: we will here only add that we believe the occupy, the treatise may perhaps be ascribed to the
Egyptian and Phoenician influence on Greece in younger Theodorus. He was also engaged, with
early times to have been lately as much undervalued his father, in the erection of the labyrinth of Lem-
as it was formerly exaggerated.
nos ; and he prepared the foundation of the temple
It only remains to explain one or two points of Artemis at Ephesus. We would also ascribe
connected with the works ascribed to these artists. to him the old Scias at Sparta. In conjunction
Besides the silver crater presented by Croesus to with his brother Telecles, he made the wooden
the Delphians, there was a golden one found by statue of Apollo Pythius for the Samians, according
Alexander among the treasures of the Persian to the fixed rules of the hieratic style.
kings, which was also said to be the work of 2. The son of Telecles, nephew of the elder
Theodorus of Samos. (Amynt. ap. Ath. xiv. p. Theodorus, and grandson of Rhoecus, flourished
515, a. )
about B. c. 560, in the times of Croesus and Poly-
With respect to the ring of Polycrates, it has crates, and obtained such renown as a statuary in
been much disputed whether the stone in it was bronze, that the invention of that art was ascribed
engraved or not. The words of Herodotus (i. 41, to him, in conjunction with his grandfather. He
σφρηγίs . . . χρυσόδετος, σμαράγδου μεν λίθου | also practised the arts of engraving metals (τορει-
3 x 3
## p. 1062 (#1078) ##########################################
1062
THEODOSIUS.
THEODOSIUS.
name:
TIKV, caelatura), and of gem-engraving; his works within their walls. After establishing order and
in those departments being the gold and silver cra- confidence, he commenced his operations against
ters mentioned above, and the ring of Polycrates. the invaders, and in two campaigns cleared the
(For the different views of modern writers respect. province of its savage enemies, and repaired and
ing these artists, see Sillig, Cul. Artif. s. vo. Tele- strengthened the military positions. He drove
cles, Theodorus ; Müller, Archäol. d. Kunst.
$$ 35, the Caledonians to the northern part of the island,
n. 1, 55, n. , 60, 70, n. 4, 80. n. i. 1, 97, n. 2, 159 ; and formed a province or provincial division of
Bähr, ad Herod. I. cc. )
Valentia, or Valentiniana, so named in honour of
There were several later artists
the same
Valentinian. This tract composed the country
between the wall of Severus and the rampart of
3. An Argive sculptor, the son of Poros, made Antoninus, which Theodosius recovered from the
a statue of Nicis, the son of Andromidas, which enemy. The history of these campaigns is re-
was dedicated by the people of Hermione, as we corded by Ammianus Marcellinus (xxvii. 8, xxviii.
learn from an extant inscription, the character of 3). Claudian leads us to infer that Theodosius
which as well as the nature of the work, an hono- also pursued the enemies of Rome on the stormy
rific statue of a private individual, lead to the con- seas of the North ; and the Orkneys and Thule
clusion that the artist lived at a comparatively late were stained with the blood of the Picts and the
period. (Böckh, Corp. Inscr. No. 1197 ; Welcker, Saxong. (In Quart. Cons. Hanor. 31, &c. )
Kunstblatt, 1827, No. 83 ; R. Rochette, Lettre à Theodosius, on his return from Britain A. D.
M. Schorn, pp. 415, 416, 2d ed. )
370, was rewarded for his services with the rank of
4. A sculptor or modeller, of unknown time, master-general of the cavalry, and being stationed
made the celebrated bas-relief, known as the Tabula on the Upper Danube, he defeated the Alemanni.
Iliaca, as appears from an inscription on its back, In A. D. 372, Firmus, a Moor, the son of Nabal or
which runs thus, EOANPHOSHITEXNH, that is, Nubal, the most powerful of the Moorish princes
codúpelos Ý Téxvn. (Lehrs, Rhein. Mus. 1843, who professed obedience to the sovereignty of Rome,
vol. ii. p. 355 ; Jahn, in Gerhard's Archäol. Zci- revolted against the Roman authority; and the
tung, vol. i. p. 302 ; R. Rochette, Lettre à M. natives, who were exasperated at the tyranny of
Schorn, p. 416, 2d ed. )
Count Romanus, the governor of Africa, joined the
5. A Theban statuary, mentioned by Diogenes standard of Firmus. The Moorish chieftain plun-
Laërtius, in his list of persons of the name (ii. 104). dered Caesarea, on the site of the modern Algiers,
Nothing more is known of him, nor of the three and made himself master of Mauritania and Nu-
other painters whose names are found in the same midia ; and he is said to have assumed the title of
list.
king. Romanus being unable to oppose this active
6. A painter mentioned by Polemon (Ding. I. c. ). enemy, Theodosius was sent to Africa about the
7. An Athenian painter, mentioned by Meno- close of 372 or the beginning of 373. He sailed
dotus. (Diog. I. c. )
from the Rhone and landed at Igilgilis, before the
8. An Ephesian painter, mentioned by Theo. Moorish chief heard of his coming. The first step
phanes, in his work on painting. (Diog. l. c. ) of Theodosius was to arrest Romanus, whose mal-
9. A painter, whose name is contained in Pliny's administration was considered to be the cause of
list of those who were primis proximi (H. N. the revolt. The campaign against Firmus is re-
xxxv. 8. s. 40. § 40), and who may very probably corded by Ammianus (xxix. 5) in a long, most
be identical with one of the three mentioned by confused, and corrupt chapter, out of which Gibbon
Diogenes. Pliny ascribed to him the following has extracted a narrative. Firmus had the cun-
works : Se inungenlem, which appears to mean ning and treachery of Jugurtha, and Theodosius
an athlete anointing himself ; the murder of Cly- displayed all the talents of Metellus, in his nego-
temnestra and Aegisthus by Orestes ; the Trojan tiations with the Moor, and in pursuit of him
War, a composition on several panels, preserved at through a country which presented unexpected
Rome in the portico of Philip ; Cassandra, also at difficulties to regular troops. Firmus at last fled
Rome, in the temple of Concord (comp. Welcker, to Igmazen, king of the Isaflenses, a people of
au Philostr. Imat. p. 459); Leontium Epicuri cogi- whose position Ammianus gives no indication.
tantem, which ought perhaps to be read like the simi- Igmazen was summoned to surrender Firmus, and
lar passage a little above (10. s. 36. § 19) Leontio after having felt the Roman power, and the con-
nem pictorem ; and king Demetrius. This last sequences of refusal, he determined to give him
work, if a portrait taken from life, would place the up. Firmus escaped by a voluntary death. He
artist's date at, or a little before, B. C. 300. first made himself drunk, and while his guards
10. A Samian painter, the disciple of Nico- were asleep, hanged himself by a rope, which he
sthenes, mentioned by Pliny in his list of those fixed to a nail in the wall. The dead body was
painters who were non ignobiles quidem, in trans. given up to Tbeodosius, who led his troops back to
cursu tamen dicendi. (H. N. xxxv. 11. s. 40. s Sitifis. ' In the reign of Valens, A. D. 376, Theo-
42. )
[P. S. ] dosius was beheaded at Carthage. The cause of
THEODOʻSIUS. This able general, from whom his execution is unknown. (Gibbon, Decline and
descended a line of Roman emperors, after having Full, vol. iv. c. 25; Tillemont, Histoire des Em-
acquired a great military reputation, was sent pereurs, vol. v. , where all the authorities are referred
A. D. 367 by Valentinian I. to drive away the to. )
[G. L. )
Picts and Scots, who were ravaging Britain. Theo- THEODO'SIUS I. , was the son of Theodosius,
dosius crossed the straits from Boulogne with his who restored Britain to the empire, and was be-
troops of Heruli, Batavians, Jovii, and Victores, headed at Carthage. The family of Theodosius
and landed at Sandwich. On his road to London was Spanish, and the future emperor was born in
he defeated several hordes of the barbarian in- Spain, about A. D. 346, as some say at Italica, the
vaders ; and the citizens of London, who were birth-place of Trajan, though other authorities say
despairing of their safety, gladly received him that he was a native of Cauca in Gallicia. His
## p. 1063 (#1079) ##########################################
THEODOSIUS.
1063
THEODOSIUS.
" The
paneg; rists derive his descent from Trajan, but a great number of captives with four thousand
this lofty lineage seems not to have been dis- waggons (Zosimus, iv. 25). In A. D. 38), Atha-
covered until Theodosius was invested with the naric was compelled to leave his forests, and to
imperial purple.
cross the Danube ; and many of those who had
Theodosius received a good education ; and he formerly acknowledged Fritigern as their leader,
learned the art of war under his own father, whom and were weary of anarchy, now yielded obedience
he accompanied in his British campaigns. During to this Gothic judge. Tillemont conjectures that
bis father's life-time he was raised to the rank of Athanaric was expelled by Fritigern, Alatheus,
Duke (dux) of Moesia, where he defeated the and Saphrax ; but Gibbon's narrative seems to
Sarmatians (A. D. 374), and saved the province. signify (for scems is all the meaning that in many
On the death of his father (a. D. 376), he retired cases can be imputed to it) that Fritigern was
before court intrigues to bis native country, where already dead. However Athanaric was too old and
he cultivated his own lande, which probably lay too prudent to carry on war with the new em-
near his native place between Segovia and Valla- peror: he listened to proposals of peace, and he
dolid. At this time he was already married to a even went to Constantinople to visit the emperor.
Spanish woman, Aelia Flacilla or Placilla, who is Theodosius left the city to meet him, and received
sometimes called Placidia, by whom he became the him with the greatest respect. The Goth was
father of Arcadius, Honorius, and a daughter Pul- struck with amazement at the magnificence of
cheria. From this peaceful retirement he was Constantinople, and exclaimed that the Roman
called in the thirty-third year of his age to receive emperor was an “ earthly God. " Athanaric fell
the imperial purple. Valens, the colleague of ill at Constantinople, and died there. Theodosius
Gratian, had recently lost his life at Hadrianople gave him a splendid funeral, and erected a monu-
(A. D. 378), where the Roman army was com- ment to his memory. This politic behaviour gained
pletely broken by the Goths, and Gratian, feeling over the whole army of Athanaric ; and the ad-
himself unable to sustain the burden of the empire, hesion of so large a body of the Visigoths was
invited Theodosius to fill the place of Valens. followed by the submission of the rest.
Theodosius was declared Augustus by Gratian at general or rather final capitulation of the Goths
Sirmium in Pannonia, on the 19th of January may be dated four years, one month, and twenty-
A. D. 379. He was intrusted with the administra- five days after the defeat and death of the emperor
tion of Thrace, Asia, and Egypt, which had been Valens. ” (Gibbon ; comp. Tillemont, Histvire des
held by Valens, together with Dacia and Macedonia. Empereurs, vol. v. p. 216. )
The new emperor of the East had the conduct of The Ostrogoths, who had retired from the
the war against the Goths.
provinces of the Danube ahout four years ago, re-
The history of Ammianus Marcellinus ends with turned (A. D. 386) to the lower course of that
the death of Valens, and the authorities on which river recruited by an army of Scythians, whom
the historian of the reign of Theodosius has to none of the inhabitants on the banks of the Danube
rely, are greatly inferior to Ammianus. Their had ever seen before (Zosimus, iv. 38). Promotus,
character is well expressed by Gibbon in a few the general on the Thracian frontier, who knew
words, and they are referred to by Tillemont that he was a match for the invaders, thought it
(Histoire des Empereurs, v. ), with his usual dili- prudent to draw them over to the south bank,
gence and accuracy.
without letting them wait for their opportunity in
The Romans were disheartened by the bloody the winter ; and by his spies he encouraged them
defcat which they had sustained on the plains of to hope that by secretly crossing the river, they
Hadrianople, and the Goths were insolent in their might destroy the Roman army. The passage was
victory. Theodosius was too prudent to lead dis made on a dark night in numerous canoes ; but
pirited troops against a successful enemy, and he the Ostrogoths discovered their mistake when they
formed his head quarters at Thessalonica, the found the south bank of the Danube guarded by a
capital of the diocese or division of Macedonia, triple row of vessels through which they could not
from whence he could watch the movements of the penetrate. At the same time the Roman galleys
Goths. In four years' campaigns (a. D. 379—descending the river, swept before them the frail
382), of which the particulars are imperfectly re- boats of the Ostrogoths, and Alatheus the king,
corded, Theodosius revived the courage of the and his bravest troops, were either drowned in the
Roman soldiers, and while he seems to have pru- Danube or destroyed by the sword. Those who
dently kept aloof from any general engagement, he escaped sued for mercy to the Romans. It is un-
took all opportunities of attacking his enemy in certain whether Theodosius had personally any
detail, and securing for his men the advantage of share in this victory. Zosimus says that after the
victory without the danger of defeat. The Goths, victory Promotus sent for Thevdosius, who was
who were not held together by any well-constituted at no great distance. If the historian Zosimus
authority, and only by the ability of their com- unjustly deprives Theodosius of all merit, the poet
mander Fritigern, became disorganised by his Claudian made amends for it by flattery and exag-
death, and were split up into numerous bands geration.
which went about seizing all that they wanted, A treaty was made with the Goths, the precise
and destroying that which they had not the pru- date and terms of which do not appear to be
dence to reserve for another time. Jealousy arose known; but they were settled within the limits of
between the Ostrogoths and the Visigoths; and the empire, in tracts which were neglected or unoc-
Theodosius by his agents added the inducement of cupied. A colony of Visigoths was established in
money to those who were discontented. Modares, Thrace, and the remains of the Ostrogoths were
a chieftain of rank, went over to the Romans, planted in Phrygia and Lydia. They were not
among whom he obtained the rank of master- scattered among the population of Thrace or Asia
general, and he earned his reward by surprising Minor, but they obtained whole districts in which
and massacring a body of Goths, and carrying off they still lived as a Gothic people, acknowledging
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