A
treatise
on accents.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
[L.
S.
) who was now at the head of five legions.
His au-
PRIA'PUS, a maker of fictile vases, whose thority however was shared by two generals of
name occurs on a cup in the Durand collection, consular rank, T. Ampius Flavianus, the governor
found at Vulci. (Cab. Durand. n. 882, p. 281 ; of Pannonia, and Aponius Saturninus, the go-
R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn, p. 57. ) (P. S. ) vernor of Moesia ; but an insurrection of the sol-
PRIMIGENIA, a surname of Fortuna, under diers delivered him from these rivals, and obliged
which she had a celebrated sanctuary at Praeneste, them to flee from the camp. Antonius affected
and at Rome on the Quirinal. (Cic. de Div. ii. great indignation at these proceedings, but it was
41; Liv. xxxiv. 53. )
[L. S. ) believed by many that the mutiny had been insti-
PRIMUS, a Roman freedman, whose name gated by himself that he might obtain the sole
appears on ari inscription in the Museum at Naples, command. The army of Caecina meanwhile had
in the form M. ARTORIUS M. L. PRIMUS ARCH:- been thrown into great confusion by the treason of
M. Raoul-Rochette has copied and prib- their general Caecina, who had endeavoured to
lished the inscription ; and he states that he was persuade his troops to desert Vitellius and espouse
assured by M. C. Bonucci, that the stone came the cause of Vespasian ; but not succeeding in his
from the great theatre at Pompeii, of which, there attempt, he had been thrown into chains, and new
fore, if this statement be correct, Primus was the generals elected by the soldiers in his stead. An-
architect. (R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn, p. tonius resolved to avail himself of these favourable
441. )
[P. S. ] circumstances for making an immediate attack
PRIMUS, M. ANTOʻNIUS, was born at To upon the army of Vitellius. He accordingly broke
losa in Gaul, and received in his boyhood the up from his quarters at Verona, and advanced as
surname of Becco, which signified in the Gallic lan- far as Bedriacum, a small town at no great distance
guage a cock's beak. (Suet. Vitell. 18; Martial, ix. from Cremona At Bedriacum the decisive battle
100. ) He afterwards went to Rome, and rose was fought. The imprudence of Arrius Varus, who
to the dignity of a senator ; but having been had charged the enemy too soon and was driven
condemned of forgery (falsum) under the lex back with loss, threw the army of Antonius into
Cornelia in the reign of Nero, he was expelled confusion, and nearly caused the loss of the battle.
from the senate, and banished from the city. Antonius only arrested the flight by killing one of
(Tac. Ann. xiv. 40; Dion Cass. lxv. 9). After his own standard-bearers who was in the act of
the death of Nero (A. D. 68), he was restored flying, and by leading the men against the enemy
to his former rank by Galba, and appointed to with the standard in his hand. Victory at length
the command of the seventh legion, which was declared for Antonius, and the enemy fed in core
stationed in Pannonia It was believed that he fusion to Cremona, from which town they had
subsequently wrote to Otho, offering to take the marched to Bedriacum. In the night Antonius
command of his forces ; but as Otho would was attacked by another army of Vitellius, consist-
not employ him, he gave him no support in his ing of six legions, which had been stationed at
struggle with Vitellius. When the fortunes of the Ilostilia, thirty miles distant and which had im-
TECTUS
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624
PRIMUS.
PRISCIANUS.
à
:
1
mediately set out against Antonius upon hearing of, but his rule lasted only for a short time. Mucia-
the defeat of their comrades. The skill and valournus reached Rome soon after the death of Vitellius,
of Antonius again secured the victory for his and was immediately received by the senate and
troops after another hard-fought battle. In the the whole city, as their master. But though An-
morning he marched against Cremona, which was tonius was thus reduced to a subordinate position
at length obliged to submit to him after a vigorous in the state, Mucianus was still jealous of him.
defence. The unhappy city was given up to plun- He, therefore, would not allow him to accompany
der and flames ; and at the end of four days of in. Domitian in his expedition into Germany ; at which
cessant pillage, during which the most horrible Antonius was so indignant that he repaired to Ves-
atrocities were perpetrated, the entire city was le pasian, who was at Alexandria. He was not re-
velled to the ground.
ceived by Vespasian in the distinguished manner
Hitherto Antonius had acted with moderation which he had expected, and to which he thought
and caution ; but, as frequently happens, success that he was entitled ; for though the emperor
revealed his cruel character, and brought forth to treated him with kindness and consideration on
public view the avarice, pride, and other vices account of the great services he had rendered him,
which were inherent in his nature. Henceforth he secretly regarded him with dislike and sus-
he treated Italy like a conquered country ; and in picion, in consequence of the accusations of Mu-
order to maintain his popularity with the soldiers, cianus, and the haughty conduct of Antonius him-
allowed them every kind of licence. Mucianus, self. (Tac. Hist. ii. 86, libb. iii. -iv. ; Dion
who was jealous of his success, and who wished to Cass. Ixv. 9-18 ; Joseph. B. J. iv. 11. ) This is
reserve to himself the glory of putting an end to the last time that Antonius is mentioned by Ta-
the war, wrote to Antonius, recommending caution citus ; but we learn from Martial, who was a friend
and delay, though he worded his letters in such a of Antonius, that he was alive at the accession of
manner that the responsibility of all movements Trajan. In an epigram of the tenth book, which
was thrown upon Antonius. But to the officers of was probably published in A. D. 100, the second
Antonius he expressed himself with more openness, year of Trajan's reign (see Vol. II. p. 965, b. ),
and thus endeavoured to keep Antonius in the north Antonius is said to be in his sixtieth year. (Mart. s.
of Italy. Antonius, however, was not of a temper 23, comp. x. 32, ix. 100. )
to brook such interference, and he therefore wrote to PRISCA, MUTI'LIÁ, a friend of Livia, the
Vespasian, extolling his own exploits, and covertly mother of the emperor Tiberius, and the mistress
attacking Mucianus. Without troubling himself of Julius Postumus. (Tac. Ann. iv. 12. )
about the wishes of the latter, he crossed the PRISCA, PU'BLIA, the wife of C. Geminius
Apennines in the middle of winter, and marched Rufus, who was put to death in A. d. 31, in the
straight upon Rome. Upon reaching Ocriculum, reign of Tiberius. Prisca was also accused and
however, he halted for some days. His soldiers, summoned before the senate, but stabbed herself
whose appetites had been whetted by the plunder in the senate-house. (Dion Cass. lviii. 4. )
of Cremona, and who were patient to glut them- PRISCIANUS, one of the most celebrated
selves with the spoils of Rome, were indignant at grammarians of the later period of Roman litera-
this delay, and accused their general of treachery, ture. From the surname Caesariensis which is
It is probable that Antonius, who saw that it would given to him, we gather that he was either born at
be difficult to restrain his soldiers, feared the general Caesareia, or at least was educated there. The
odium, as well as the displeasure of Vespasian, if time at which he lived cannot be fixed with any
his troops were to sack the imperial city. But great precision. He is spoken of as a contempo-
whatever were his motives or intentions, circum- rary of Cassiodorus, who lived from A. D. 468 to
stances occurred which put an end to his inactivity. at least A. D. 562. (Paulus Diaconus, de Gest.
News arrived that Flavius Sabinus had taken re- Longob. i. 25. ) According to a statement of Ald-
fuge in the Capitol, and that he was there besieged helm (ap. Mai, Auct. Class. vol. v. p. 501, &c. ),
by the Vitellian troops. Thereupon Antonius im- the emperor Theodosius the younger, who died in
mediately marched upon Rome, but before he could A. D. 450, copied out Priscian's grammatical work
reach the city the Capitol was burnt, and Sabinus with his own hand. Some authorities, therefore,
killed. Upon arriving at the suburbs, he endea- place him in the first half of the fifth century,
voured to prevent his troops from entering the city others a little later in the same century, others in
till the following day ; but the soldiers, who saw the beginning of the sixth century. The second is :
the prey before their eyes, demanded to be led the only view at all consonant with both the above
forth with to the attack. Antonius was obliged to statements. Priscianus was a pupil of Theoctis-
yield; he divided his army into three bodies, and tus. (Prisc. xviii. 5. ) He himself taught grammar
gave orders for the assault. The troops of Vitellius at Constantinople, and was in the receipt of a
fought with the courage of despair ; driven out of salary from the government, from which (as well
the suburbs, they continued the combat in the as from parts of his writings, especially his transla-
streets of the city, and the struggle continued for tion of the Periegesis of Dionysius) it appears pro-
many days. At length the work of butchery came bable that he was a Christian. Of other particulars
to an end ; the soldiers of Vitellius were everywhere of his life we are ignorant. He was celebrated for
destroyed, and the emperor himself put to death. the extent and depth of his grammatical knowledge,
Thereupon Domitian, who was in Rome, received of which he has left the evidence in his work
the name of Caesar ; Arrius Varus was entrusted on the subject, entitled Commentariorum gramma-
with the command of the Praetorian troops ; but ticorum Libri XVIII. , addressed to his friend and
the government and all real power was in the hands patron, the consul Julianus. Other titles are, how-
of Antonius. His rapacity knew no bounds, and ever, frequently given to it. The first sixteen books
he kept plundering the emperor's palace, as if treat upon the eight parts of speech recognised by
he had been at the sack of Cremona. The sub- the ancient grammarians, letters, syllables, &c.
servient senate voted him the consular ornainents; The last two books are on syntax, and in one MS.
-
## p. 525 (#541) ############################################
PRISCIANUS.
625
PRISCUS.
rence.
are placed as a distinct work, under the title De | author, in his preface, speaks against the learned
Constructione. Priscianus made good use of the and wordy disputes held by physicians at the bed-
works of preceding grammarians, but the writers side of the patient, and also their putting their
whom he mainly followed were Apollonius Dysca whole reliance upon foreign remedies in preference
lus (Apollonius, cujus auctoritatem in omnibus se- to those which were indigenous. Several of the
quendam putavi, xiv. 1, vol. i. p. 581, ed. Krehl) medicines which he mentions himself are absurd
and Herodianus (ii. 6, vol. i. p. 76, ed. Krehl). The and superstitious ; the style and language of the
treatise of Priscianus soon became the standard work are bad ; and altogether it is of little interest
work on Latin grammar, and in the epitome of and value. It was first published in 1532, in
Rabanus Maurus obtained an extensive circula- which year two editions appeared, one at Stras-
tion. One feature of value about it is the large burg, fol. , and the other at Basel, 4to. Of these
number of quotations which it contains both from the latter is more correct than the other, but not
Latin and Greek writers, of whom nothing would 80 complete, as the whole of the fourth book is
otherwise have remained. His acquaintanco with wanting, and also scveral chapters of the first and
Greek as well as Latin enabled him to carry on a second books. It is also to be found in Kraut's
parallel between the two languages.
Experimentarius Medicinae, Argent. , fol. , 1544, and
Besides the systematic grammatical work of Pris in the Aldine Collection of Medici Antiqui Latini,
cianus there are still extant the following writings: 1547, fol. , Venet. A new edition was commenced
-1. A grammatical catechism on twelve lines of by J. M. Bernhold, of which only the first volume
the Aeneid, manifestly intended as a school book. was ever published (1791, 8vo. Ansbach), con-
2.
A treatise on accents. 3. A treatise on the taining the first book and part of the second. A
symbols used to denote numbers and weights, and work * on Diet,” which is sometimes attributed
on coins and numbers. 4. On the metres of Te- to Theodorus Priscianus, is noticed under Theo
5. A translation of the lipoyruvdouata DORUS. (See Sprengel, Hist. de la Méd. ; Chou-
(Pracexercitamenta) of Hermogenes. The trans- lant, Handb, der Bücherkunde für die Acllere Me-
Jation is however very far from being literal. The dicin. )
(W. A. G. ]
Greek original was discovered and published by PRISCILLA, CASSIA, a Roman female artist,
Heeren in 1791. This and the two preceding whose name appears, with the addition of fecit, on
pieces are addressed to Symmachus. 6. On the a bas-relief, in the Borgia collection, at Velletri, re-
declensions of nouns. 7. A poem on the emperor presenting Hercules and Omphale. (Millin, Galer.
Anastasius in 312 hexameters, with a preface in Myth. pl. cxvii. n. 453 ; Muratori, Thes. vol. i.
22 iambic lines. 8. A piece De Ponderibus et p. xcv. 1 ; R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn, p.
Mensuris, in verse. (Wernsdorf, Poet. Lat. Min. 393. )
[P. S. ]
vol. v. p. 212, &c. 235, &c. 494, &c. ) This piece L. PRISCILLIA'NUS, acquired unenviable
has been attributed by some to the grammarian celebrity as an informer, under Caracalla, by
Rhemnius Fannius Palaemon, by others to one whom he was made praefect of Achaia. He was
Remus Favinus, but the authorship of Priscianus celebrated also for his gladiatorial skill in wild
seems well established. 9. An Epitome phaeno- beast fights, and eventually was banished to an
menon, or De Sideribus, in verse. (Wernsdorf l. c. island, during the reign of Macrinus, at the in-
v. pt. i. p. 239. ) This and the two preceding stance of the senate, whose hatred he had incurred
pieces have been edited separately by Endlicher by procuring the destruction of several members of
(Vienn. 1828), with a preliminary dissertation. their body. (Dion Cass. lxxviii. 21. ) [W. R. )
10. A free translation of the Periegesis of Diony- PRISCI'NUS, PEDUCAEUS. [PEDUCAEUS,
sius in 1427 lines, manifestly made for the in- Nos. 7 and 8. ]
struction of youth. It follows the order of the PRISCUS, artists. 1. ATTIUS, a Roman pain-
Greek on the whole, but contains many variations ter, who lived under the Flavian emperors (about
from the original. In particular Priscianus bas A. D. 70), and was one of the best artists of the
taken pains to substitute for the heathen allusions a period. In conjunction with Cornelius Pinus, hé
phraseology better adapted for Christian times. adorned with paintings the temple of Honos et
ll. A couple of epigrams. (Anth. Lat. v. 47, 139. ) Virtus, when it was restored by Vespasian. Of
To Priscianus also are usually attributed the across these two artists Priscus approached nearest to the
tichs prefixed to the plays of Plautus, and de- ancients. (Plin. H. N. xxxv. 10. s. 37. )
scribing the plot.
2. Of Nicomedia, an architect and military en-
The best edition of Priscianus is that by Krehl, gineer, who lived under Septimius Severus. (Dion
which contains all but a few of the shorter poems Cass. Ixxiv. 11, lxxv. 11. )
(P. S. )
(abore, Nos. 7, 8, 9, 11).
(C. P. M. ] PRISCUS (Ipiokos,), one of the earliest and
PRISCIA'NUS, THEODOʻRUS, a physician, most important Byzantine historians, was sur-
who was a pupil of Vindicianus (Rer. Med. iv. named Panites, because he was a native of Pa-
praef. p. 81. ed. Argent. ), and who therefore nium in Thrace. We know little of his life in
lived in the fourth century after Christ. He is general, but much of a short, though highly in-
supposed to have lived at the court of Constan- teresting and important period of it, viz. from a. D.
tinople, and to have attained the dignity of Arch- 445–447, when he was ambassador of Theodosius
iater. He belonged to the medical sect of the the Younger at the court of Attila. The embassy
Empirici, but not without a certain mixture of the consisted of several persons. In later years he
doctrines of the Methodici, and even of the Dog- and one Maximinus transacted diplomatic business
matici. He is the author of a Latin work, entitled, for the emperor Marcian, in Egypt and Arabia.
“ Rerum Medicarum Libri Quatuor,” which is He died in or about A. D. 471. Niebuhr thinks
sometimes attributed to a person named Octavius he was a heathen. Priscus wrote an account of
Horatianus. The first book treats of external dis- his embassy to Attila, enriched by digressions on
eases, the second of internal, the third of female the life and reign of that king, the Greek title of
diseases, and the fourth of physiology, &c. The which is 'lotopía B-SAYTIKT) kaÌ Kata 'ATTýdav,
a
## p. 526 (#542) ############################################
526
PRISCUS.
PRISCUS.
1
which was originally divided into eight books, mander of a legion in the war against Civilis, A. D.
according to Suidas. This is the most valuable 70. (Tac, llist. iv. 79. )
account we have on Attila, and it is deeply to be PRISCUS, FULCI'NIUS. (FULCINIUS. ]
regretted that only fragments of it have come PRISCUS, HELVI'DIUS. 1. A legate of a
down to posterity: it was written after the death legion under T. Ummidius Quadratus, governor of
of Theodosius, which took place in A. D. 450. Syria, was sent by the latter across the Taurus, in A. D.
Priscus is an excellent and trustworthy historian, 52, in consequence of the disorders that had arisen
and his style is remarkably elegant and pure. through the conduct of Julius Pelignus, the governor
Suidas says that he also wrote Meneral 'Pntopikal, of Cappadocia (Tac. Ann. xii. 49). This Priseus
Declamationes Rhetoricae and Epistolae, which are must have been a different person from the cele-
lost. Jornandes and Juvencus, the author of the brated Helvidius Priscus mentioned below, since
Life of Attila, borrowed largely from the History the latter did not obtnin the quacstorship till the
of Priscus, whose name is often mentioned by reign of Nero, and the legates of the legions were
them, as well as by other Byzantine writers, as, usually chosen at that time from persons of higher
for instance, by Evagrius, who calls him llatpiokos, rank in the state.
and by Theophanes, who calls him Ilepornós, both 2. The son-in-law of Thrasea Paetus, and, like
apparently mistakes or corruptions of the text. him, distinguished by his love of liberty, which he
The fragments of the History were first edited in at length sealed with his blood. He was born at
Greek by David Hoeschel, Augsburg, 1603, 4to ; Tarracina *, and was the son of a certain Cluvius,
a Latin translation with notes, by Cantoclarus who had filled the post of chief centurion (primi-
or Chanteclair, Paris, 1609, 8vo; the same re- pilus). His name shows that he was adopted by
printed together with the text, and revised by an Helvidius Priscus, perhaps by the Helvidius
Fabrot in the Paris edition of Excerptae de Lega- who is mentioned above. In his youth he devoted
tionilris, together with Dexippus, Menander, and himself with energy to the higher branches of study,
others; the same also in Labbe's Protrepticon, not, says Tacitus, to disguise an idle leisure under
Paris, 1648, fol. The latest and best edition, a pompous name, but in order to enter upon public
together with the other writers who have furnished duties with a mind fortified against misfortune.
the materials for the Excerpta de Legationibus, is, He chose as his teachers of philosophy those who
by Niebuhr, in the Bonn Collection of the Byzan- taught that nothing is good but what is honourable,
tines, 1829, 8vo. (Fabric. Bibl. Gracc. vii. p. 539, nothing bad but what is disgraceful, and who did
540; Hanckius, de Script. Byzant. ; Niebuhr's not reckon power, nobility, or any external things,
Notes on Priscus, in his edition mentioned above ; either among blessings or evils. In other words he
Suidas, S. ο. Πρίσκος Πανίτης. ) [W. P. ] embraced with ardour the Stoic philosophy. So
PRISCUS, brother of the emperor Philippus I. distinguished did he become for his virtue and no
Having received the command of the Syrian bleness of soul, that when quaestor he was chosen
armies, by his intolerable oppression he gave rise by Thrasea Paetus as his son-in-law ; and by this
to the rebellion of lotapianus. [IOTAPIANUS. ] connection he was still further strengthened in his
(Zosim. i. 18, 21. ).
(W. R. ] love of liberty. He was quaestor in Achaia during
PRISCUS, a friend of the younger Pliny, who the reign of Nero, and by the way in which he dis-
has addressed several of his letters to him ; one on charged the duties of his office, gained the love of
the death of Martial, another respecting the health the provincials. (Comp. Schol. ad Juv. v. 36. )
of Fannia, &c. (Ep.
PRIA'PUS, a maker of fictile vases, whose thority however was shared by two generals of
name occurs on a cup in the Durand collection, consular rank, T. Ampius Flavianus, the governor
found at Vulci. (Cab. Durand. n. 882, p. 281 ; of Pannonia, and Aponius Saturninus, the go-
R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn, p. 57. ) (P. S. ) vernor of Moesia ; but an insurrection of the sol-
PRIMIGENIA, a surname of Fortuna, under diers delivered him from these rivals, and obliged
which she had a celebrated sanctuary at Praeneste, them to flee from the camp. Antonius affected
and at Rome on the Quirinal. (Cic. de Div. ii. great indignation at these proceedings, but it was
41; Liv. xxxiv. 53. )
[L. S. ) believed by many that the mutiny had been insti-
PRIMUS, a Roman freedman, whose name gated by himself that he might obtain the sole
appears on ari inscription in the Museum at Naples, command. The army of Caecina meanwhile had
in the form M. ARTORIUS M. L. PRIMUS ARCH:- been thrown into great confusion by the treason of
M. Raoul-Rochette has copied and prib- their general Caecina, who had endeavoured to
lished the inscription ; and he states that he was persuade his troops to desert Vitellius and espouse
assured by M. C. Bonucci, that the stone came the cause of Vespasian ; but not succeeding in his
from the great theatre at Pompeii, of which, there attempt, he had been thrown into chains, and new
fore, if this statement be correct, Primus was the generals elected by the soldiers in his stead. An-
architect. (R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn, p. tonius resolved to avail himself of these favourable
441. )
[P. S. ] circumstances for making an immediate attack
PRIMUS, M. ANTOʻNIUS, was born at To upon the army of Vitellius. He accordingly broke
losa in Gaul, and received in his boyhood the up from his quarters at Verona, and advanced as
surname of Becco, which signified in the Gallic lan- far as Bedriacum, a small town at no great distance
guage a cock's beak. (Suet. Vitell. 18; Martial, ix. from Cremona At Bedriacum the decisive battle
100. ) He afterwards went to Rome, and rose was fought. The imprudence of Arrius Varus, who
to the dignity of a senator ; but having been had charged the enemy too soon and was driven
condemned of forgery (falsum) under the lex back with loss, threw the army of Antonius into
Cornelia in the reign of Nero, he was expelled confusion, and nearly caused the loss of the battle.
from the senate, and banished from the city. Antonius only arrested the flight by killing one of
(Tac. Ann. xiv. 40; Dion Cass. lxv. 9). After his own standard-bearers who was in the act of
the death of Nero (A. D. 68), he was restored flying, and by leading the men against the enemy
to his former rank by Galba, and appointed to with the standard in his hand. Victory at length
the command of the seventh legion, which was declared for Antonius, and the enemy fed in core
stationed in Pannonia It was believed that he fusion to Cremona, from which town they had
subsequently wrote to Otho, offering to take the marched to Bedriacum. In the night Antonius
command of his forces ; but as Otho would was attacked by another army of Vitellius, consist-
not employ him, he gave him no support in his ing of six legions, which had been stationed at
struggle with Vitellius. When the fortunes of the Ilostilia, thirty miles distant and which had im-
TECTUS
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624
PRIMUS.
PRISCIANUS.
à
:
1
mediately set out against Antonius upon hearing of, but his rule lasted only for a short time. Mucia-
the defeat of their comrades. The skill and valournus reached Rome soon after the death of Vitellius,
of Antonius again secured the victory for his and was immediately received by the senate and
troops after another hard-fought battle. In the the whole city, as their master. But though An-
morning he marched against Cremona, which was tonius was thus reduced to a subordinate position
at length obliged to submit to him after a vigorous in the state, Mucianus was still jealous of him.
defence. The unhappy city was given up to plun- He, therefore, would not allow him to accompany
der and flames ; and at the end of four days of in. Domitian in his expedition into Germany ; at which
cessant pillage, during which the most horrible Antonius was so indignant that he repaired to Ves-
atrocities were perpetrated, the entire city was le pasian, who was at Alexandria. He was not re-
velled to the ground.
ceived by Vespasian in the distinguished manner
Hitherto Antonius had acted with moderation which he had expected, and to which he thought
and caution ; but, as frequently happens, success that he was entitled ; for though the emperor
revealed his cruel character, and brought forth to treated him with kindness and consideration on
public view the avarice, pride, and other vices account of the great services he had rendered him,
which were inherent in his nature. Henceforth he secretly regarded him with dislike and sus-
he treated Italy like a conquered country ; and in picion, in consequence of the accusations of Mu-
order to maintain his popularity with the soldiers, cianus, and the haughty conduct of Antonius him-
allowed them every kind of licence. Mucianus, self. (Tac. Hist. ii. 86, libb. iii. -iv. ; Dion
who was jealous of his success, and who wished to Cass. Ixv. 9-18 ; Joseph. B. J. iv. 11. ) This is
reserve to himself the glory of putting an end to the last time that Antonius is mentioned by Ta-
the war, wrote to Antonius, recommending caution citus ; but we learn from Martial, who was a friend
and delay, though he worded his letters in such a of Antonius, that he was alive at the accession of
manner that the responsibility of all movements Trajan. In an epigram of the tenth book, which
was thrown upon Antonius. But to the officers of was probably published in A. D. 100, the second
Antonius he expressed himself with more openness, year of Trajan's reign (see Vol. II. p. 965, b. ),
and thus endeavoured to keep Antonius in the north Antonius is said to be in his sixtieth year. (Mart. s.
of Italy. Antonius, however, was not of a temper 23, comp. x. 32, ix. 100. )
to brook such interference, and he therefore wrote to PRISCA, MUTI'LIÁ, a friend of Livia, the
Vespasian, extolling his own exploits, and covertly mother of the emperor Tiberius, and the mistress
attacking Mucianus. Without troubling himself of Julius Postumus. (Tac. Ann. iv. 12. )
about the wishes of the latter, he crossed the PRISCA, PU'BLIA, the wife of C. Geminius
Apennines in the middle of winter, and marched Rufus, who was put to death in A. d. 31, in the
straight upon Rome. Upon reaching Ocriculum, reign of Tiberius. Prisca was also accused and
however, he halted for some days. His soldiers, summoned before the senate, but stabbed herself
whose appetites had been whetted by the plunder in the senate-house. (Dion Cass. lviii. 4. )
of Cremona, and who were patient to glut them- PRISCIANUS, one of the most celebrated
selves with the spoils of Rome, were indignant at grammarians of the later period of Roman litera-
this delay, and accused their general of treachery, ture. From the surname Caesariensis which is
It is probable that Antonius, who saw that it would given to him, we gather that he was either born at
be difficult to restrain his soldiers, feared the general Caesareia, or at least was educated there. The
odium, as well as the displeasure of Vespasian, if time at which he lived cannot be fixed with any
his troops were to sack the imperial city. But great precision. He is spoken of as a contempo-
whatever were his motives or intentions, circum- rary of Cassiodorus, who lived from A. D. 468 to
stances occurred which put an end to his inactivity. at least A. D. 562. (Paulus Diaconus, de Gest.
News arrived that Flavius Sabinus had taken re- Longob. i. 25. ) According to a statement of Ald-
fuge in the Capitol, and that he was there besieged helm (ap. Mai, Auct. Class. vol. v. p. 501, &c. ),
by the Vitellian troops. Thereupon Antonius im- the emperor Theodosius the younger, who died in
mediately marched upon Rome, but before he could A. D. 450, copied out Priscian's grammatical work
reach the city the Capitol was burnt, and Sabinus with his own hand. Some authorities, therefore,
killed. Upon arriving at the suburbs, he endea- place him in the first half of the fifth century,
voured to prevent his troops from entering the city others a little later in the same century, others in
till the following day ; but the soldiers, who saw the beginning of the sixth century. The second is :
the prey before their eyes, demanded to be led the only view at all consonant with both the above
forth with to the attack. Antonius was obliged to statements. Priscianus was a pupil of Theoctis-
yield; he divided his army into three bodies, and tus. (Prisc. xviii. 5. ) He himself taught grammar
gave orders for the assault. The troops of Vitellius at Constantinople, and was in the receipt of a
fought with the courage of despair ; driven out of salary from the government, from which (as well
the suburbs, they continued the combat in the as from parts of his writings, especially his transla-
streets of the city, and the struggle continued for tion of the Periegesis of Dionysius) it appears pro-
many days. At length the work of butchery came bable that he was a Christian. Of other particulars
to an end ; the soldiers of Vitellius were everywhere of his life we are ignorant. He was celebrated for
destroyed, and the emperor himself put to death. the extent and depth of his grammatical knowledge,
Thereupon Domitian, who was in Rome, received of which he has left the evidence in his work
the name of Caesar ; Arrius Varus was entrusted on the subject, entitled Commentariorum gramma-
with the command of the Praetorian troops ; but ticorum Libri XVIII. , addressed to his friend and
the government and all real power was in the hands patron, the consul Julianus. Other titles are, how-
of Antonius. His rapacity knew no bounds, and ever, frequently given to it. The first sixteen books
he kept plundering the emperor's palace, as if treat upon the eight parts of speech recognised by
he had been at the sack of Cremona. The sub- the ancient grammarians, letters, syllables, &c.
servient senate voted him the consular ornainents; The last two books are on syntax, and in one MS.
-
## p. 525 (#541) ############################################
PRISCIANUS.
625
PRISCUS.
rence.
are placed as a distinct work, under the title De | author, in his preface, speaks against the learned
Constructione. Priscianus made good use of the and wordy disputes held by physicians at the bed-
works of preceding grammarians, but the writers side of the patient, and also their putting their
whom he mainly followed were Apollonius Dysca whole reliance upon foreign remedies in preference
lus (Apollonius, cujus auctoritatem in omnibus se- to those which were indigenous. Several of the
quendam putavi, xiv. 1, vol. i. p. 581, ed. Krehl) medicines which he mentions himself are absurd
and Herodianus (ii. 6, vol. i. p. 76, ed. Krehl). The and superstitious ; the style and language of the
treatise of Priscianus soon became the standard work are bad ; and altogether it is of little interest
work on Latin grammar, and in the epitome of and value. It was first published in 1532, in
Rabanus Maurus obtained an extensive circula- which year two editions appeared, one at Stras-
tion. One feature of value about it is the large burg, fol. , and the other at Basel, 4to. Of these
number of quotations which it contains both from the latter is more correct than the other, but not
Latin and Greek writers, of whom nothing would 80 complete, as the whole of the fourth book is
otherwise have remained. His acquaintanco with wanting, and also scveral chapters of the first and
Greek as well as Latin enabled him to carry on a second books. It is also to be found in Kraut's
parallel between the two languages.
Experimentarius Medicinae, Argent. , fol. , 1544, and
Besides the systematic grammatical work of Pris in the Aldine Collection of Medici Antiqui Latini,
cianus there are still extant the following writings: 1547, fol. , Venet. A new edition was commenced
-1. A grammatical catechism on twelve lines of by J. M. Bernhold, of which only the first volume
the Aeneid, manifestly intended as a school book. was ever published (1791, 8vo. Ansbach), con-
2.
A treatise on accents. 3. A treatise on the taining the first book and part of the second. A
symbols used to denote numbers and weights, and work * on Diet,” which is sometimes attributed
on coins and numbers. 4. On the metres of Te- to Theodorus Priscianus, is noticed under Theo
5. A translation of the lipoyruvdouata DORUS. (See Sprengel, Hist. de la Méd. ; Chou-
(Pracexercitamenta) of Hermogenes. The trans- lant, Handb, der Bücherkunde für die Acllere Me-
Jation is however very far from being literal. The dicin. )
(W. A. G. ]
Greek original was discovered and published by PRISCILLA, CASSIA, a Roman female artist,
Heeren in 1791. This and the two preceding whose name appears, with the addition of fecit, on
pieces are addressed to Symmachus. 6. On the a bas-relief, in the Borgia collection, at Velletri, re-
declensions of nouns. 7. A poem on the emperor presenting Hercules and Omphale. (Millin, Galer.
Anastasius in 312 hexameters, with a preface in Myth. pl. cxvii. n. 453 ; Muratori, Thes. vol. i.
22 iambic lines. 8. A piece De Ponderibus et p. xcv. 1 ; R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn, p.
Mensuris, in verse. (Wernsdorf, Poet. Lat. Min. 393. )
[P. S. ]
vol. v. p. 212, &c. 235, &c. 494, &c. ) This piece L. PRISCILLIA'NUS, acquired unenviable
has been attributed by some to the grammarian celebrity as an informer, under Caracalla, by
Rhemnius Fannius Palaemon, by others to one whom he was made praefect of Achaia. He was
Remus Favinus, but the authorship of Priscianus celebrated also for his gladiatorial skill in wild
seems well established. 9. An Epitome phaeno- beast fights, and eventually was banished to an
menon, or De Sideribus, in verse. (Wernsdorf l. c. island, during the reign of Macrinus, at the in-
v. pt. i. p. 239. ) This and the two preceding stance of the senate, whose hatred he had incurred
pieces have been edited separately by Endlicher by procuring the destruction of several members of
(Vienn. 1828), with a preliminary dissertation. their body. (Dion Cass. lxxviii. 21. ) [W. R. )
10. A free translation of the Periegesis of Diony- PRISCI'NUS, PEDUCAEUS. [PEDUCAEUS,
sius in 1427 lines, manifestly made for the in- Nos. 7 and 8. ]
struction of youth. It follows the order of the PRISCUS, artists. 1. ATTIUS, a Roman pain-
Greek on the whole, but contains many variations ter, who lived under the Flavian emperors (about
from the original. In particular Priscianus bas A. D. 70), and was one of the best artists of the
taken pains to substitute for the heathen allusions a period. In conjunction with Cornelius Pinus, hé
phraseology better adapted for Christian times. adorned with paintings the temple of Honos et
ll. A couple of epigrams. (Anth. Lat. v. 47, 139. ) Virtus, when it was restored by Vespasian. Of
To Priscianus also are usually attributed the across these two artists Priscus approached nearest to the
tichs prefixed to the plays of Plautus, and de- ancients. (Plin. H. N. xxxv. 10. s. 37. )
scribing the plot.
2. Of Nicomedia, an architect and military en-
The best edition of Priscianus is that by Krehl, gineer, who lived under Septimius Severus. (Dion
which contains all but a few of the shorter poems Cass. Ixxiv. 11, lxxv. 11. )
(P. S. )
(abore, Nos. 7, 8, 9, 11).
(C. P. M. ] PRISCUS (Ipiokos,), one of the earliest and
PRISCIA'NUS, THEODOʻRUS, a physician, most important Byzantine historians, was sur-
who was a pupil of Vindicianus (Rer. Med. iv. named Panites, because he was a native of Pa-
praef. p. 81. ed. Argent. ), and who therefore nium in Thrace. We know little of his life in
lived in the fourth century after Christ. He is general, but much of a short, though highly in-
supposed to have lived at the court of Constan- teresting and important period of it, viz. from a. D.
tinople, and to have attained the dignity of Arch- 445–447, when he was ambassador of Theodosius
iater. He belonged to the medical sect of the the Younger at the court of Attila. The embassy
Empirici, but not without a certain mixture of the consisted of several persons. In later years he
doctrines of the Methodici, and even of the Dog- and one Maximinus transacted diplomatic business
matici. He is the author of a Latin work, entitled, for the emperor Marcian, in Egypt and Arabia.
“ Rerum Medicarum Libri Quatuor,” which is He died in or about A. D. 471. Niebuhr thinks
sometimes attributed to a person named Octavius he was a heathen. Priscus wrote an account of
Horatianus. The first book treats of external dis- his embassy to Attila, enriched by digressions on
eases, the second of internal, the third of female the life and reign of that king, the Greek title of
diseases, and the fourth of physiology, &c. The which is 'lotopía B-SAYTIKT) kaÌ Kata 'ATTýdav,
a
## p. 526 (#542) ############################################
526
PRISCUS.
PRISCUS.
1
which was originally divided into eight books, mander of a legion in the war against Civilis, A. D.
according to Suidas. This is the most valuable 70. (Tac, llist. iv. 79. )
account we have on Attila, and it is deeply to be PRISCUS, FULCI'NIUS. (FULCINIUS. ]
regretted that only fragments of it have come PRISCUS, HELVI'DIUS. 1. A legate of a
down to posterity: it was written after the death legion under T. Ummidius Quadratus, governor of
of Theodosius, which took place in A. D. 450. Syria, was sent by the latter across the Taurus, in A. D.
Priscus is an excellent and trustworthy historian, 52, in consequence of the disorders that had arisen
and his style is remarkably elegant and pure. through the conduct of Julius Pelignus, the governor
Suidas says that he also wrote Meneral 'Pntopikal, of Cappadocia (Tac. Ann. xii. 49). This Priseus
Declamationes Rhetoricae and Epistolae, which are must have been a different person from the cele-
lost. Jornandes and Juvencus, the author of the brated Helvidius Priscus mentioned below, since
Life of Attila, borrowed largely from the History the latter did not obtnin the quacstorship till the
of Priscus, whose name is often mentioned by reign of Nero, and the legates of the legions were
them, as well as by other Byzantine writers, as, usually chosen at that time from persons of higher
for instance, by Evagrius, who calls him llatpiokos, rank in the state.
and by Theophanes, who calls him Ilepornós, both 2. The son-in-law of Thrasea Paetus, and, like
apparently mistakes or corruptions of the text. him, distinguished by his love of liberty, which he
The fragments of the History were first edited in at length sealed with his blood. He was born at
Greek by David Hoeschel, Augsburg, 1603, 4to ; Tarracina *, and was the son of a certain Cluvius,
a Latin translation with notes, by Cantoclarus who had filled the post of chief centurion (primi-
or Chanteclair, Paris, 1609, 8vo; the same re- pilus). His name shows that he was adopted by
printed together with the text, and revised by an Helvidius Priscus, perhaps by the Helvidius
Fabrot in the Paris edition of Excerptae de Lega- who is mentioned above. In his youth he devoted
tionilris, together with Dexippus, Menander, and himself with energy to the higher branches of study,
others; the same also in Labbe's Protrepticon, not, says Tacitus, to disguise an idle leisure under
Paris, 1648, fol. The latest and best edition, a pompous name, but in order to enter upon public
together with the other writers who have furnished duties with a mind fortified against misfortune.
the materials for the Excerpta de Legationibus, is, He chose as his teachers of philosophy those who
by Niebuhr, in the Bonn Collection of the Byzan- taught that nothing is good but what is honourable,
tines, 1829, 8vo. (Fabric. Bibl. Gracc. vii. p. 539, nothing bad but what is disgraceful, and who did
540; Hanckius, de Script. Byzant. ; Niebuhr's not reckon power, nobility, or any external things,
Notes on Priscus, in his edition mentioned above ; either among blessings or evils. In other words he
Suidas, S. ο. Πρίσκος Πανίτης. ) [W. P. ] embraced with ardour the Stoic philosophy. So
PRISCUS, brother of the emperor Philippus I. distinguished did he become for his virtue and no
Having received the command of the Syrian bleness of soul, that when quaestor he was chosen
armies, by his intolerable oppression he gave rise by Thrasea Paetus as his son-in-law ; and by this
to the rebellion of lotapianus. [IOTAPIANUS. ] connection he was still further strengthened in his
(Zosim. i. 18, 21. ).
(W. R. ] love of liberty. He was quaestor in Achaia during
PRISCUS, a friend of the younger Pliny, who the reign of Nero, and by the way in which he dis-
has addressed several of his letters to him ; one on charged the duties of his office, gained the love of
the death of Martial, another respecting the health the provincials. (Comp. Schol. ad Juv. v. 36. )
of Fannia, &c. (Ep.
