pher, and
legislator
for his native city, Megalopolis.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
852 ; Paus.
i.
8.
& 2), committed his able article respecting these master-works
it to them. The vicinity at least of the temple of (Kunstblatt, 1830, No. 55), has tried to revive that
Mars, where the sons of Praxiteles had wrought a old error of Winckelmann, and Krause (Gymnastik
statue of Enyo (Paus. l. c. $ 5), supports this sup- der Hellenen, vol. i. pp. 414, 540) admits it as
position. Another work which they executed in possible. (Comp. Welcker, Rhein Museum, 1836,
common was the altar of the Cadmean Dionysus at p. 264. ) But they have nothing to do with
Thebes (Paus. ix. 12. $ 3: Bwuóv is the genuine the work of Cephisodotus, because Pliny's words
reading, not the vulgate káðuov), probably erected point to a very different representation. He speaks
soon after the restoration of Thebes by Cassander, of “ digitis verius corpori, quam marmori impres
B. C. 315, in which the Athenians heartily con- sis," and in the group of Florence there is no im-
curred. This is the last work in which both pression of fingers at all. This reason is adranced
artists are named.
also by Zannoni (Gall. di Firenze, iii. p. 108,
The latter part of the life of Cephisodotus dic. ), who, although he denies that Cephisodotus
is quite unknown. Whether he remained at | inrented the group, persists in considering it as
Athens or left the town after B. C. 303 in its a combat between two athletes. The “ alterum
disasters, for the brilliant courts of the succes in terris symplegma nobile” (Plin. xxxvi. 4. §
sors of Alexander, or whether, for instance, as 10) by Heliodorus shewed “ Pana et Olympum
might be inferred from Pliny (xxxvi. 4. & 6), he luctantes. ” Now as there were but two fanious
was employed at Pergamus, cannot be decided. symplegmata, one of which was certainly of an
It would seem, on account of Myros's portrait, amorous description, that of Cephisodotus could not
that he had been at Alexandria at any rate. Of be a different one, but represented an amorous strife
his statues of divinities four-Latona, Diana, Aes- of two individuals. To this kind there belongs a
culapius, and Venus, were admired at Rome in group which is shewn by its frequent repetitions to
various buildings. (Plin. l. c. ) Cephisodotus was hare been one of the most celebrated of ancient
also distinguished in portrait-sculpture, especially art, namely, the beautiful though indecent contest
of philosophers (Plin. xxxiv. 8. s. 19. $ 27), under of an old Satyr and a Hermaphrodite, of which
which general term Pliny comprises perhaps all two fine copies are in the Dresden museum, the
literary people. According to the common opinion print and description of which is contained in
of antiquarians (Sillig. 1. c. ; Meyer, Note to Böttiger's Archäologie und Kunst (p. 165, &c. ).
Winckelmans, l. c. ; Hirt, Geschichte der bildenden This seems to be the work of our artist, where the
Künste, p. 220), he portrayed likewise courtezans, position of the hands in particular agrees perfectly
for which they quote Tatian (advers. Graecos, c. with Pliny's description.
[L. U. )
52, p. ) 14, ed. Worth. ), and think probably of CEPHI'SOPHON (Knolooow), a friend of
the well-known similar works of Praxiteles. But Euripides, is said not only to have been the chief
Tatian in that chapter does not speak of courtezans, actor in his dramas, but also to have aided him
but of poets and poetesses, whose endeavours were with his advice in the composition of them. (Aris
of no use 10 mankind; it is only in c. 53 that he toph. Ran. 942, 1404, 1448, with the Scholia. )
speaks of dissipated mon and women, and in c. 55 | Traditionary scandal accuses him of an intrigue
## p. 671 (#691) ############################################
CER.
671
CERCIDAS.
cause.
with one of the wives of Euripides, whose enmity / wounded and the dead, and dragging them away
to the sex has sometimes been ascribed to this by the feet. (1l
. xviii. 535, &c. ) According to He-
But the story is more than suspicious from siod, with whom the Kñpes assume a more definite
the absence of any mention of it in Aristophanes, form, they are the daughters of Nyx and sisters of
unless, indeed, as some have thought, it be alluded the Moere, and punish men for their crimes.
to in the Frogs (1044). We can hardly suppose, (Theog. 211, 217; Paus. v. 19. § 1. ) Their fear-
however, that the comic poet would have denied ful appearance in battle is described by Hesiod.
himself the pleasure of a more distinct notice of (Scul. Herc. 249, &c. ) They are mentioned by
the tale, had it been really true, especially in the later writers together with the Erinnyes as the
Tlusmophoriazusae and the Frogs. (Comp. Har goddesses who arenge the crimes of men. (Aesch.
lung, Eurip. restitutus, i. p. 164, &c. , and the pas- Sept. 1055; comp. Apollon. Rhod. iv. 1665, &c. )
sages there referred to. )
(E. E. ) Epidemic diseases are sometimes personified as
CEPHISSUS (Knoooós), the divinity of the Kñpes. (Orph. Hymn. xi. 12, lxvi. 4, Lith. vii.
river Cephissus, is described as a son of Pontus 6 ; Eustath. ad Ilom. p. 847. ) [L. S. ]
and Thalassa, and the father of Diogencia and CERAMEUS, THEO'PHANES (eopávns
Narcissus, who is therefore called Cephisius. (Hy- Kepaueús), archbishop of Tauromenium in Sicily
gin. Fab. Praef. ; Apollod. iii. 5. $ 1; Or. Met
. during the reim of Roger (A. D. 1129_1152), was
ii. 343, &c. ) He had an altar in common with a native of this town or of a place in its immediate
Pan, the Nymphs, and Achelous, in the temple of vicinity. He wrote in Greek a great number of
Amphiaraus near Oropus. (Paus. i. 34. $ 2. ) [L. S. ) homilies, which are said to be superior to the
CEPHREN (Keopriv) is the name, according majority of similar productions of his age. Sixty-
to Diodoris, of the Egyptian king whom Herodotus two of these homilies were published by Franciscus
calls Chephren. He was the brother and successor Scorsus at Paris, 1644, fol. , with a Latin version
of Cheops, whose example of tyranny he followed, and notes. There are still many more extant in
and built the second pyramid, smaller than that of manuscript. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. xi. p. 208, &c. )
Cheops, by the compulsory labour of his subjects. CE'RBERUS (Képkepos), the many-headed dog
His reign is said to have lasted 56 years. The that guarded the entrance of Hades, is mentioned
pyramids, as Diodorus tells us, were meant for the as early as the Homeric poems, but simply as “ the
tombs of the royal builders ; but the people, groan- dog," and without the name of Cerberus. (N. viii.
ing under their yoke, threatened to tear up the 368, Od. xi. 623. ) Hesiod, who is the first that
bodics, and therefore both the kings successively gives his name and origin, calls him (Theog: 311)
desired their friends to bury thein elsewhere in fifty-headed and a son of Typhaon and Echidna.
an unmarked grave. In Herodotus it is said that | Later writers describe him as a monster with only
the Egyptians so hated the memory of these three heads, with the tail of a serpent and a mane
brothers, that they called the pyramids, not by consisting of the heads of various snakes. (Apol-
their names, but by that of Philition, a shepherd lod. ii. 5. $ 12; Eurip. Herc. fur. 24, 611; Virg.
who at that time fed his flocks near the place. Aen. vi. 17; Or. Met. iv. 449. ) Some poets
We are told by Diodorus that, according to some again call him many-headed or hundred-headed.
accounts, Chembes (the Cheops of Herodotus) was (Horat. Carm. ï. 13. 34 ; Tzetz. ad Lycoph. 678;
succeeded by his son Chabryis, which name is per- Senec. Herc. fur. 784. ) The place where Cerberus
haps only another form of Cephren. In the letter kept watch was according to some at the mouth
in which Synesius, bishop of the African Ptolemais, of the Acheron, and according to others at the
announces to his brother bishops his sentence of gates of Hades, into which he admitted the shades,
excommunication against Andronicus, the president but never let them out again.
(L. S. )
of Libya, Cepbren is classed, as an instance of an CE'RCIDAS (Kepkidas). 1. A poet, philoso-
atrocious tyrant, with Phalaris and Sennacherib.
pher, and legislator for his native city, Megalopolis.
(Herod. ij. 127, 128; Diod. i. 64; Synes. Epist. He was a disciple of Diogenes, whose death he re-
58. )
(E. E. ) corded in some Meliambic lines. (Diog. Laërt. vi.
CER (Kúp), the personified necessity of death | 76. ) He is mentioned and cited by Athenaeus
(Kup or Kapes JardT010). The passages in the (viii
. p. 347, e. , xii. 554, d. ) and Stobaeus (iv.
Homeric poems in which the Kúp or Knpes appear 43, lviii. 10). At his death he ordered the first
as real personifications, are not very numerous (Il. and second books of the Iliad to be buried with
ij. 302, iii. 454, xvii. 535), and in most cases the him. (Prol. Hephaest. ap. Phot. Cod. 190, p. 151,
word may be taken as a common noun. The a. , 14, ed. Bekker. ) Aelian (V. H. xii. 20) re-
plural form seems to allude to the various modes of lates that Cercidas died expressing his hope of being
dying which Homer (11. xii. 326). pronounces to with Pythagoras of the philosophers, Hecataeus of
be uupiai, and may be a natural, sudden, or violent the historians, Olympus of the musicians, and
death. (Od. xi. 171, &c. , 398, &c. ) The Kñpes Homer of the poets, which clearly implies that he
are described as formidable, dark, and bateful, himself cultivated these four sciences. He appears
because they carry off men to the joyless house of to be the same person as Cercidas the Arcadian,
Hades. (1i. ii. 859, iii. 454 ; ou. i. 410, xiv. who is mentioned by Demosthenes among those
207. ) The Kiſpes, although no living being can Greeks, who, by their cowardice and corruption,
escape them, have yet no absolute power over the enslaved their states to Philip. (De Coron. p. 324;
life of men : they are under Zeus and the gods, see the reply of Polybius to this accusation, xvii.
who can stop them in their course or hurry them 14. )
on. (Il. xii. 402, xviii. 115, iv. 11; Od. xi. 397. ) 2. A Megalopolitan, who was employed by
Even mortals themselves may for a time prevent | Aratus in an embassy to Antigonus Doson to treat
their attaining their object, or delay it by flight of an alliance, B. c. 224. He returned home after
and the like. (I. iii. 32, xvi. 47. ) During a he had succeeded in his mission, and he afterwards
battle the Kñpes wander about with Éris and Cy- commanded a thousand Megalopolitans in the army
doimos in bloody garments, quarrelling about the which Antigonus led into Laconia, B. c. 222. (Polyb.
## p. 672 (#692) ############################################
672
CERCOPES.
CEREALIS.
.
.
i. 48–-50, 65. ) He may have been a descen- | 1824 ; Rigler, De Ilercule et Cercop. , Cologne,
dant of the preceding, but on this point we have 1825, &c. 4to. )
[L. S. )
no information.
[P. S. ]
CERCOPS (Képkw). 1. One of the oldest
CERCO, the name of a family of the plebeian Orphic poets, called a Pythagorcan by Clemens of
Lutatia gens.
Alexandria (Strom. i. p. 333, ed. Paris, 1029) and
i
1. Q. LUTATIUS C. F. C. N. CERCO, consul with Cicero (de Nat. Deor. i. 38), was said by Epigenes
A. Manlius Torquatus Atticus, B. c. 241, in which of Alexandria to have been the author of an Orphic
year the first Punic war was brought to a close by epic poem entitled “the Descent to Hades (veis
the victory of C. Lutatius Catulus at the Aegates. "Aidou katábaris), which seems to have been ex-
Cerco is called by Zonaras (viii. 17) the brother of tant in the Alexandrine period. (Clem. Alex. l. c. )
Catulus, which statement is confirmed by the Others attribute this work to Prodicus of Samos,
Capitoline Fasti, in which both are described as or Herodicus of Perinthus, or Orpheus of Camarina.
C. F. C. n. Zonaras also says, that Cerco was sent (Suidas, s. v. 'Oppeús. )
into Sicily to regulate the affairs of the island in Epigenes also assigns to Cercops (Clem. Alex.
conjunction with his brother Catulus. After I. c. ) the Orphic iepos nóyos which was ascribed
peace had been concluded with Carthage, the Fa- by some to Theognetus of Thessaly, and was a
lisci or people of Falerii, for some reason which is poem in twenty-four books. (Fabric Bill. Graec,
unknown, rose against the Romans: both consuls i. pp. 161, &c. , 172; Bode, Gesch, der Lpisch.
were sent against them, and the war was finished Dichtkunst der Hellenen, p. 125, &c. )
by the conquest of the infatuated people within 2. Of Miletus, the contemporary and rival of
six days. Half of their domain land was taken Hesiod, is said by some to have been the author of
from them and their town destroyed. For this an epic poem called “ Aegimius,” which is also
success, Cerco as well as his colleague obtained a ascribed to Hesiod. (Diog. Laërt. ii. 46; Athen.
triumph. (Liv. xxx. 44, Epit. 19; Eutrop. ii. xi. p. 503 ; Apollod. i. 1. § 3; comp. AEGIMIUS,
28 ; Oros. iv. 11; Polyb. i. 65; Zonar. viii. 18. ) p. 26, a. )
Cerco was censor in 236 with L. Cornelius Len- CE'RCYON (Kepkówv), a son of Poseidon by a
tulus, and died in this magistracy. (Fast. Capit. ) daughter of Amphictyon, and accordingly a half-
2. Cn. LUTATIUS Cerco, one of the five ambas- brother of Triptolemus. (Paus. i. 14. & 1. ) Others
sadors sent to Alexandria, B. c. 173. (Liv. xlii. 6. ) call him a son of Hephaestus. (Hygin. Fab. 38. )
The annexed coin of the Lutatia gens contains He came from Arcadia, and dwelt at Eleusis in
on the obverse the name CERCO with the head of Attica. (Plut. Thes.
it to them. The vicinity at least of the temple of (Kunstblatt, 1830, No. 55), has tried to revive that
Mars, where the sons of Praxiteles had wrought a old error of Winckelmann, and Krause (Gymnastik
statue of Enyo (Paus. l. c. $ 5), supports this sup- der Hellenen, vol. i. pp. 414, 540) admits it as
position. Another work which they executed in possible. (Comp. Welcker, Rhein Museum, 1836,
common was the altar of the Cadmean Dionysus at p. 264. ) But they have nothing to do with
Thebes (Paus. ix. 12. $ 3: Bwuóv is the genuine the work of Cephisodotus, because Pliny's words
reading, not the vulgate káðuov), probably erected point to a very different representation. He speaks
soon after the restoration of Thebes by Cassander, of “ digitis verius corpori, quam marmori impres
B. C. 315, in which the Athenians heartily con- sis," and in the group of Florence there is no im-
curred. This is the last work in which both pression of fingers at all. This reason is adranced
artists are named.
also by Zannoni (Gall. di Firenze, iii. p. 108,
The latter part of the life of Cephisodotus dic. ), who, although he denies that Cephisodotus
is quite unknown. Whether he remained at | inrented the group, persists in considering it as
Athens or left the town after B. C. 303 in its a combat between two athletes. The “ alterum
disasters, for the brilliant courts of the succes in terris symplegma nobile” (Plin. xxxvi. 4. §
sors of Alexander, or whether, for instance, as 10) by Heliodorus shewed “ Pana et Olympum
might be inferred from Pliny (xxxvi. 4. & 6), he luctantes. ” Now as there were but two fanious
was employed at Pergamus, cannot be decided. symplegmata, one of which was certainly of an
It would seem, on account of Myros's portrait, amorous description, that of Cephisodotus could not
that he had been at Alexandria at any rate. Of be a different one, but represented an amorous strife
his statues of divinities four-Latona, Diana, Aes- of two individuals. To this kind there belongs a
culapius, and Venus, were admired at Rome in group which is shewn by its frequent repetitions to
various buildings. (Plin. l. c. ) Cephisodotus was hare been one of the most celebrated of ancient
also distinguished in portrait-sculpture, especially art, namely, the beautiful though indecent contest
of philosophers (Plin. xxxiv. 8. s. 19. $ 27), under of an old Satyr and a Hermaphrodite, of which
which general term Pliny comprises perhaps all two fine copies are in the Dresden museum, the
literary people. According to the common opinion print and description of which is contained in
of antiquarians (Sillig. 1. c. ; Meyer, Note to Böttiger's Archäologie und Kunst (p. 165, &c. ).
Winckelmans, l. c. ; Hirt, Geschichte der bildenden This seems to be the work of our artist, where the
Künste, p. 220), he portrayed likewise courtezans, position of the hands in particular agrees perfectly
for which they quote Tatian (advers. Graecos, c. with Pliny's description.
[L. U. )
52, p. ) 14, ed. Worth. ), and think probably of CEPHI'SOPHON (Knolooow), a friend of
the well-known similar works of Praxiteles. But Euripides, is said not only to have been the chief
Tatian in that chapter does not speak of courtezans, actor in his dramas, but also to have aided him
but of poets and poetesses, whose endeavours were with his advice in the composition of them. (Aris
of no use 10 mankind; it is only in c. 53 that he toph. Ran. 942, 1404, 1448, with the Scholia. )
speaks of dissipated mon and women, and in c. 55 | Traditionary scandal accuses him of an intrigue
## p. 671 (#691) ############################################
CER.
671
CERCIDAS.
cause.
with one of the wives of Euripides, whose enmity / wounded and the dead, and dragging them away
to the sex has sometimes been ascribed to this by the feet. (1l
. xviii. 535, &c. ) According to He-
But the story is more than suspicious from siod, with whom the Kñpes assume a more definite
the absence of any mention of it in Aristophanes, form, they are the daughters of Nyx and sisters of
unless, indeed, as some have thought, it be alluded the Moere, and punish men for their crimes.
to in the Frogs (1044). We can hardly suppose, (Theog. 211, 217; Paus. v. 19. § 1. ) Their fear-
however, that the comic poet would have denied ful appearance in battle is described by Hesiod.
himself the pleasure of a more distinct notice of (Scul. Herc. 249, &c. ) They are mentioned by
the tale, had it been really true, especially in the later writers together with the Erinnyes as the
Tlusmophoriazusae and the Frogs. (Comp. Har goddesses who arenge the crimes of men. (Aesch.
lung, Eurip. restitutus, i. p. 164, &c. , and the pas- Sept. 1055; comp. Apollon. Rhod. iv. 1665, &c. )
sages there referred to. )
(E. E. ) Epidemic diseases are sometimes personified as
CEPHISSUS (Knoooós), the divinity of the Kñpes. (Orph. Hymn. xi. 12, lxvi. 4, Lith. vii.
river Cephissus, is described as a son of Pontus 6 ; Eustath. ad Ilom. p. 847. ) [L. S. ]
and Thalassa, and the father of Diogencia and CERAMEUS, THEO'PHANES (eopávns
Narcissus, who is therefore called Cephisius. (Hy- Kepaueús), archbishop of Tauromenium in Sicily
gin. Fab. Praef. ; Apollod. iii. 5. $ 1; Or. Met
. during the reim of Roger (A. D. 1129_1152), was
ii. 343, &c. ) He had an altar in common with a native of this town or of a place in its immediate
Pan, the Nymphs, and Achelous, in the temple of vicinity. He wrote in Greek a great number of
Amphiaraus near Oropus. (Paus. i. 34. $ 2. ) [L. S. ) homilies, which are said to be superior to the
CEPHREN (Keopriv) is the name, according majority of similar productions of his age. Sixty-
to Diodoris, of the Egyptian king whom Herodotus two of these homilies were published by Franciscus
calls Chephren. He was the brother and successor Scorsus at Paris, 1644, fol. , with a Latin version
of Cheops, whose example of tyranny he followed, and notes. There are still many more extant in
and built the second pyramid, smaller than that of manuscript. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. xi. p. 208, &c. )
Cheops, by the compulsory labour of his subjects. CE'RBERUS (Képkepos), the many-headed dog
His reign is said to have lasted 56 years. The that guarded the entrance of Hades, is mentioned
pyramids, as Diodorus tells us, were meant for the as early as the Homeric poems, but simply as “ the
tombs of the royal builders ; but the people, groan- dog," and without the name of Cerberus. (N. viii.
ing under their yoke, threatened to tear up the 368, Od. xi. 623. ) Hesiod, who is the first that
bodics, and therefore both the kings successively gives his name and origin, calls him (Theog: 311)
desired their friends to bury thein elsewhere in fifty-headed and a son of Typhaon and Echidna.
an unmarked grave. In Herodotus it is said that | Later writers describe him as a monster with only
the Egyptians so hated the memory of these three heads, with the tail of a serpent and a mane
brothers, that they called the pyramids, not by consisting of the heads of various snakes. (Apol-
their names, but by that of Philition, a shepherd lod. ii. 5. $ 12; Eurip. Herc. fur. 24, 611; Virg.
who at that time fed his flocks near the place. Aen. vi. 17; Or. Met. iv. 449. ) Some poets
We are told by Diodorus that, according to some again call him many-headed or hundred-headed.
accounts, Chembes (the Cheops of Herodotus) was (Horat. Carm. ï. 13. 34 ; Tzetz. ad Lycoph. 678;
succeeded by his son Chabryis, which name is per- Senec. Herc. fur. 784. ) The place where Cerberus
haps only another form of Cephren. In the letter kept watch was according to some at the mouth
in which Synesius, bishop of the African Ptolemais, of the Acheron, and according to others at the
announces to his brother bishops his sentence of gates of Hades, into which he admitted the shades,
excommunication against Andronicus, the president but never let them out again.
(L. S. )
of Libya, Cepbren is classed, as an instance of an CE'RCIDAS (Kepkidas). 1. A poet, philoso-
atrocious tyrant, with Phalaris and Sennacherib.
pher, and legislator for his native city, Megalopolis.
(Herod. ij. 127, 128; Diod. i. 64; Synes. Epist. He was a disciple of Diogenes, whose death he re-
58. )
(E. E. ) corded in some Meliambic lines. (Diog. Laërt. vi.
CER (Kúp), the personified necessity of death | 76. ) He is mentioned and cited by Athenaeus
(Kup or Kapes JardT010). The passages in the (viii
. p. 347, e. , xii. 554, d. ) and Stobaeus (iv.
Homeric poems in which the Kúp or Knpes appear 43, lviii. 10). At his death he ordered the first
as real personifications, are not very numerous (Il. and second books of the Iliad to be buried with
ij. 302, iii. 454, xvii. 535), and in most cases the him. (Prol. Hephaest. ap. Phot. Cod. 190, p. 151,
word may be taken as a common noun. The a. , 14, ed. Bekker. ) Aelian (V. H. xii. 20) re-
plural form seems to allude to the various modes of lates that Cercidas died expressing his hope of being
dying which Homer (11. xii. 326). pronounces to with Pythagoras of the philosophers, Hecataeus of
be uupiai, and may be a natural, sudden, or violent the historians, Olympus of the musicians, and
death. (Od. xi. 171, &c. , 398, &c. ) The Kñpes Homer of the poets, which clearly implies that he
are described as formidable, dark, and bateful, himself cultivated these four sciences. He appears
because they carry off men to the joyless house of to be the same person as Cercidas the Arcadian,
Hades. (1i. ii. 859, iii. 454 ; ou. i. 410, xiv. who is mentioned by Demosthenes among those
207. ) The Kiſpes, although no living being can Greeks, who, by their cowardice and corruption,
escape them, have yet no absolute power over the enslaved their states to Philip. (De Coron. p. 324;
life of men : they are under Zeus and the gods, see the reply of Polybius to this accusation, xvii.
who can stop them in their course or hurry them 14. )
on. (Il. xii. 402, xviii. 115, iv. 11; Od. xi. 397. ) 2. A Megalopolitan, who was employed by
Even mortals themselves may for a time prevent | Aratus in an embassy to Antigonus Doson to treat
their attaining their object, or delay it by flight of an alliance, B. c. 224. He returned home after
and the like. (I. iii. 32, xvi. 47. ) During a he had succeeded in his mission, and he afterwards
battle the Kñpes wander about with Éris and Cy- commanded a thousand Megalopolitans in the army
doimos in bloody garments, quarrelling about the which Antigonus led into Laconia, B. c. 222. (Polyb.
## p. 672 (#692) ############################################
672
CERCOPES.
CEREALIS.
.
.
i. 48–-50, 65. ) He may have been a descen- | 1824 ; Rigler, De Ilercule et Cercop. , Cologne,
dant of the preceding, but on this point we have 1825, &c. 4to. )
[L. S. )
no information.
[P. S. ]
CERCOPS (Képkw). 1. One of the oldest
CERCO, the name of a family of the plebeian Orphic poets, called a Pythagorcan by Clemens of
Lutatia gens.
Alexandria (Strom. i. p. 333, ed. Paris, 1029) and
i
1. Q. LUTATIUS C. F. C. N. CERCO, consul with Cicero (de Nat. Deor. i. 38), was said by Epigenes
A. Manlius Torquatus Atticus, B. c. 241, in which of Alexandria to have been the author of an Orphic
year the first Punic war was brought to a close by epic poem entitled “the Descent to Hades (veis
the victory of C. Lutatius Catulus at the Aegates. "Aidou katábaris), which seems to have been ex-
Cerco is called by Zonaras (viii. 17) the brother of tant in the Alexandrine period. (Clem. Alex. l. c. )
Catulus, which statement is confirmed by the Others attribute this work to Prodicus of Samos,
Capitoline Fasti, in which both are described as or Herodicus of Perinthus, or Orpheus of Camarina.
C. F. C. n. Zonaras also says, that Cerco was sent (Suidas, s. v. 'Oppeús. )
into Sicily to regulate the affairs of the island in Epigenes also assigns to Cercops (Clem. Alex.
conjunction with his brother Catulus. After I. c. ) the Orphic iepos nóyos which was ascribed
peace had been concluded with Carthage, the Fa- by some to Theognetus of Thessaly, and was a
lisci or people of Falerii, for some reason which is poem in twenty-four books. (Fabric Bill. Graec,
unknown, rose against the Romans: both consuls i. pp. 161, &c. , 172; Bode, Gesch, der Lpisch.
were sent against them, and the war was finished Dichtkunst der Hellenen, p. 125, &c. )
by the conquest of the infatuated people within 2. Of Miletus, the contemporary and rival of
six days. Half of their domain land was taken Hesiod, is said by some to have been the author of
from them and their town destroyed. For this an epic poem called “ Aegimius,” which is also
success, Cerco as well as his colleague obtained a ascribed to Hesiod. (Diog. Laërt. ii. 46; Athen.
triumph. (Liv. xxx. 44, Epit. 19; Eutrop. ii. xi. p. 503 ; Apollod. i. 1. § 3; comp. AEGIMIUS,
28 ; Oros. iv. 11; Polyb. i. 65; Zonar. viii. 18. ) p. 26, a. )
Cerco was censor in 236 with L. Cornelius Len- CE'RCYON (Kepkówv), a son of Poseidon by a
tulus, and died in this magistracy. (Fast. Capit. ) daughter of Amphictyon, and accordingly a half-
2. Cn. LUTATIUS Cerco, one of the five ambas- brother of Triptolemus. (Paus. i. 14. & 1. ) Others
sadors sent to Alexandria, B. c. 173. (Liv. xlii. 6. ) call him a son of Hephaestus. (Hygin. Fab. 38. )
The annexed coin of the Lutatia gens contains He came from Arcadia, and dwelt at Eleusis in
on the obverse the name CERCO with the head of Attica. (Plut. Thes.
