12), although his voice was only found in
Philostratus
(p.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
His want of experience in war and
was opposed to that of the Sabiniani, shows that his evil counsels hastened Otho's fall. He escaped
he was a jurist of note. He was a contempo- with his life after the defeat at Bedriacum, and
mry of Nerva the son (Nerva). Proculus is obtained his pardon from Vitellius by pleading
often cited, and there are 37 extracts from him in that he had purposely betrayed his master. (Tac.
the Digest from his eight books of Epistolae. He Hist. i. 46, 82, 87, ii
. 33, 39, 44, 60. )
is the second jurist in order of time who is ex- PRO'CULUS, C. PLAU'TIUS, consul B. C.
cerpted in the Digest. Labeo is the first. Ac- 358, with C. Fabius Ambustus, carried on war
cording to the Florentine Index, he wrote eight with the Hernici, whom he conquered, and obtained
books of Epistolae ; but he wrote at least eleven in consequence the honour of a triumph. Two
books. (Dig. 18. tit. 1. s. 69. ) He appears also to years afterwards, B. C. 356, he was named magister
have written notes on Labeo.
equitum by the dictator C. Marcius Rutilus. Ru-
It is inferred that Proculus was named Sempro- tilus was the first plebeian dictator, and Proculus
nius Proculus, from the case put in the Digest (31. 8. the first plebeian magister equitum. (Liv. vii. 12,
47); but in that passage Sempronius Proculus asks 15, 17. )
the opinion of his grandson (nepos), whose name, PRO’CULUS, SCRIBO'NIUS. 1. A senator,
as the answer shows, was Proculus If he was a who was torn to pieces by the senators in the
daughter's son, his name would not necessarily be senate-house, because Protogenes, the instrument
Sempronius Proculus is called “non levis juris of Caligula's cruelties, exclaimed, as Proculus was
auctor” by the Divi Fratres (Dig. 37. tit. 14. going to salute him, “Do you, who hate the emperor
B. 17. ) Some writers suppose that Proculus is the so much, venture to salute me? " (Dion Cass. lix.
Licinius Proculus, who was Praefectus Praetorio 26 ; comp. Suet. Cal. 28. )
under Otho. (Tacit. Hist. i. 46, 82, ii. 39, &c. ) 2. The brother of Scribonius Rufus. These
Lampridius (Alex. Severus, 68) makes Proculus one brothers were distinguished by their wealth and
of the consiliarii of Alexander Severus ; but that is their friendship for one another, and had governed
not the only mistake which Lampridius commits the two Germanies at the same time. Having been
in that passage. (Zimmer, Geschichte des Röm. summoned by Nero to Greece, they were accused
Privatrechts. )
(G. L. ] on their arrival, and, as no opportunity was afforded
PRO'CULUS, a physician. [PROCLUS] them of clearing themselves of the charges brought
PROʻCULUS, ACERROʻNIUS. (ACERRO- against them, they put an end to their own lives
NIUS. ]
(Dion Cass. lxiii. 17). It is of these two brothers,
PRO'CULUS, C. ARTO'RIUS, a Roman Scribonius Proculus and Scribonius Rufus, that
grammarian, who erroneously gave the name of Tacitus speaks, calling them simply “Scribonii
figurae to tropi. (Quintil. ix. 1, init. ) This writer fratres. " We learn from him that Pactius Africa-
is frequently quoted by Festus, under the simple nus was supposed to have denounced them to Nero
name of Artorius. (Festus, pp. 225, 352, 364, ed. (Tac. Ann. xiii. 48, Hist. iv. 41). These brothers
Müller. )
were probably the sons of the preceding Scribonius
PRO'CULUS, BARBIUS, one of the soldiers Proculus. (See Reimarus, ad Dion Cass. 1. c. )
whom Otho employed to corrupt the fidelity of PRO'CULUS, TI'TIUS, put to death in A. D.
Galba’s troops, when he was aspiring to the em- 48, because he had been privy to the adulteries of
pire. (Tac. Hist. i. 25; Plut. Galb. 24. )
Silius and Messalina. (Tac. Ann. xi. 35. )
PROCULUS, CERVARIUS, was privy to PROʻCULUS, VE'CTIUS, the step-father (vi-
the conspiracy of Piso against Nero, but, in con- tricus) of the wife of the younger Pliny (Plin. Ep.
sequence of his turning informer and accusing ix. 13. $ 13). Pliny addresses one of his letters
Fenius Rufus, he obtained his pardon. (Tac. Ann. (iii. 15) to a certain Proculus, who may perhaps be
xv. 50, 66, 71. )
the same person as this Vectius Proculus.
PRO'CULUS, CE’STIUS. (Cestius, No. 4. ) PRO'CULUS, VOLU'SIUS, had been one of
PROʻCULUS, COCCEIUS, one of the specu- the instruments employed by Nero in the murder
latores (see Dict. of Ant. p. 508, b. , 2d ed. ) of the of his mother, and was a commander of one of the
emperor Galba. (Tac. Hist. i. 24. )
ships in the fleet off the Campanian coast, when the
PROʻCULUS, FLAVIUS, a Roman eques in conspiracy of Piso against Nero was formed. From
the reign of the emperor Claudius. (Plin. H. N. a woman of the name of Epicharis, he obtained
xxxiii.
2. s. 8. )
some information respecting the plot, which he
PROʻCULUS, JU’LIUS. 1. Is related in the straightway communicated to Nero.
(Tac. Ann.
legend of Romulus to have informed the sorrowing xv. 51, 57. )
Roman people, after the strange departure of their PROʻDICUS (Ipódikos), was a native of Tulis
king from the world, that Romulus had descended in the island of Ceos, the birthplace of Simonides
## p. 542 (#558) ############################################
542
PRODICUS.
PRODICUS.
(Plat. Protag. p. 316, d. ; Suid. s. v. ), whom he is / selves to a single lecture, or entered into an
described as having imitated (Plat. Prot. pp. 339, agreement for a more complete course (Axioch. 6;
C. , 340, e. , 341, b. ), and with whom he was with Cratyl. p. 384, b. ; Arist. Rlict. iii. 14. & 9; Suid.
out doubt acquainted, as the poet did not die till s. v. ; comp. Welcker, p. 414). Prodicus is said
the 79th, or the beginning of the 80th Olympiad. to have amassed a great amount of money (Hipp.
Prodicus came frequently to Athens for the pur-Maj. p. 282, d. ; Xen. Symp. iv. 62, i. 5; on the
pose of transacting business on behalf of his native practice of paying for instruction and lectures,
city, and even attracted admiration in the senate comp. again' Welcker, l. c. p. 412, &c. ). The
as an orator (Plat. Hipp. Maj. p. 282, comp. assertion that he hunted after rich young men, is
Philos. Vit. Soph. i.
12), although his voice was only found in Philostratus (p. 496). " As Prodicus
deep and apt to fall (Plat. Protag. p. 316, a. ; and others maintained with regard to themselves,
Philost. I. c. ). Plutarch describes him as slender that they stood equally on the confines philo-
and weak (Plut. an seni ger. sit Resp. c. 15); and sophy and politics (Euthyd. p. 305, c. ), so Plato
Plato also alludes to his weakliness, and a degree represents his instructions as chiefly ethical (Meno,
of effeminacy which resulted therefrom (Prot. p. 96, d. ; comp. de Rep. x. p. 600, e. ), and gives
p. 315, d. ). Philostratus is the first who taxes the preference to his distinction of ideas, as of
him with luxury and avarice (L. c. , comp. Welcker, those of courage, rashness, boldness, over similar
Kleine Schriften, ii. p. 513, &c. ). In the Prota- attempts of other sophists (Lach p. 197, c. ).
goras of Plato, which points to the 87th Olympiad What pertained to this point was probably only
(any more exact determination is disputable) as contained in individual show-orations (Diog. Laërina
the time at which the dialogue is supposed to take Philost. I. cc. ), which he usually declined. (Philost.
place, Prodicus is mentioned as having previously p. 482. ) Though known to Callimachus, they do
arrived in Athens. He had been brought forward not appear to have been much longer preserved.
in a play of Eupolis, and in the Clouds and the (Welcker, p. 465, &c. ) In contrast with Gorgias
Birds of Aristophanes (1. 360), which belong to and others, who boasted of possessing the art of
Ol. 89 and Ol. 91, and came frequently to Athens making the small appear great, the great small,
on public business. (Plut. Hipp. Maj. p. 282. ) and of expatiating in long or short speeches, Pro-
Still later, when Isocrates (born 0l. 86. 1) is men- dicus required that the speech should be neither
tioned as his disciple (see Welcker, Prodikos von long nor short, but of the proper measure (Plat.
Keos, Vorgänger des Socrates, published first in the Phaed. p. 267, a. ; comp. Gorg. p. 449, C. , Prot.
Rheinisches Museum der Philologie, von Welcker p. 334, e. , 335, b. , 338, d. ; Arish Rhet. ii. 17),
and Näke, i. 1-39, 533_545, afterwards in and it is only as associated with other sopbists
F. G. Welcker's Kleine Schriften, ii. p. 392—541), that he is charged with endeavouring to make the
and in the year of the death of Socrates, Prodicus weaker cause strong by means of his rhetoric.
was still living. (Plat. A pol. p. 19. c. ) The dates (Cic. Brut. c. 8. ) He paid especial attention to
of his birth and death cannot be determined. The the correct use of words (Plat. Euthyd. p. 187, e. ,
statement of Suidas (s. V. , comp. Schol. on Plat. de Cratyl. p. 384, b. , comp. Galen. in Hippocr. de
Rep. x. p. 600. c. ), that he was condemned to the Articul. iv. p. 461. 1), and the distinction of ex-
hemlock cup as a corrupter of the youth in Athens, pressions related in sense (Lach. p. 197, d. , Prot.
sounds very suspicious (comp. Welcker, p. 582). p. 340, a, 341, a. , Charmid. p. 163, d. , Meno,
According to the statement of Philostratus (p. 483, p. 75, C, comp. Themist. Orat. iv. p. 113). As
comp. 496, ed. Olearius), on which little more re- disciples of Prodicus in oratory, we find mentioned
liance can be placed, he delivered his lecture on the orators Theramenes (Aeschin. in Athen. v.
virtue and vice in Thebes and Sparta also. The p. 220, b. ; Schol. ad Aristoph. Nub. p. 360), and
Apology of Plato unites him with Gorgias and Isocrates (Dionys. Hal. Isocr. 1 ; Phot. cod. 260;
Hippias in the statement, that into whatever city comp. Welcker, p. 463, &c. ). Thucydides is said
they might come, they were competent to instruct to have appropriated from him his accuracy in
the youth. Lucian (Vit. Herod. c. 3) mentions the use of words (Marcell Vit. Thuc. p. xiii. ,
him among those who had held lectures at Olym- Bekk. ; comp. Schol
. ap. Hemsterhus. Annot. in
pia In the dialogues of Plato he is mentioned or Lucian. , App. 3 ; Maxim. Tyr. Dissert. vii. p. 72,
introduced, not indeed without irony, though, as Davis. )
compared with the other sophists, with a certain The speech on the choice of Hercules (Philost.
degree of esteem. (Hipp. Maj. p. 282, Theaet. p. 496 ; Xenophon, Mem. ii. 1. $ 21, only quotes
p. 151, b. , Phaedo, 60, Protag. p. 341, a. , Char the oúgypauua repl toû 'Hpakhéous) was entitled
mid. p. 163, d. , Meno, p. 96, Cratyl. p.
was opposed to that of the Sabiniani, shows that his evil counsels hastened Otho's fall. He escaped
he was a jurist of note. He was a contempo- with his life after the defeat at Bedriacum, and
mry of Nerva the son (Nerva). Proculus is obtained his pardon from Vitellius by pleading
often cited, and there are 37 extracts from him in that he had purposely betrayed his master. (Tac.
the Digest from his eight books of Epistolae. He Hist. i. 46, 82, 87, ii
. 33, 39, 44, 60. )
is the second jurist in order of time who is ex- PRO'CULUS, C. PLAU'TIUS, consul B. C.
cerpted in the Digest. Labeo is the first. Ac- 358, with C. Fabius Ambustus, carried on war
cording to the Florentine Index, he wrote eight with the Hernici, whom he conquered, and obtained
books of Epistolae ; but he wrote at least eleven in consequence the honour of a triumph. Two
books. (Dig. 18. tit. 1. s. 69. ) He appears also to years afterwards, B. C. 356, he was named magister
have written notes on Labeo.
equitum by the dictator C. Marcius Rutilus. Ru-
It is inferred that Proculus was named Sempro- tilus was the first plebeian dictator, and Proculus
nius Proculus, from the case put in the Digest (31. 8. the first plebeian magister equitum. (Liv. vii. 12,
47); but in that passage Sempronius Proculus asks 15, 17. )
the opinion of his grandson (nepos), whose name, PRO’CULUS, SCRIBO'NIUS. 1. A senator,
as the answer shows, was Proculus If he was a who was torn to pieces by the senators in the
daughter's son, his name would not necessarily be senate-house, because Protogenes, the instrument
Sempronius Proculus is called “non levis juris of Caligula's cruelties, exclaimed, as Proculus was
auctor” by the Divi Fratres (Dig. 37. tit. 14. going to salute him, “Do you, who hate the emperor
B. 17. ) Some writers suppose that Proculus is the so much, venture to salute me? " (Dion Cass. lix.
Licinius Proculus, who was Praefectus Praetorio 26 ; comp. Suet. Cal. 28. )
under Otho. (Tacit. Hist. i. 46, 82, ii. 39, &c. ) 2. The brother of Scribonius Rufus. These
Lampridius (Alex. Severus, 68) makes Proculus one brothers were distinguished by their wealth and
of the consiliarii of Alexander Severus ; but that is their friendship for one another, and had governed
not the only mistake which Lampridius commits the two Germanies at the same time. Having been
in that passage. (Zimmer, Geschichte des Röm. summoned by Nero to Greece, they were accused
Privatrechts. )
(G. L. ] on their arrival, and, as no opportunity was afforded
PRO'CULUS, a physician. [PROCLUS] them of clearing themselves of the charges brought
PROʻCULUS, ACERROʻNIUS. (ACERRO- against them, they put an end to their own lives
NIUS. ]
(Dion Cass. lxiii. 17). It is of these two brothers,
PRO'CULUS, C. ARTO'RIUS, a Roman Scribonius Proculus and Scribonius Rufus, that
grammarian, who erroneously gave the name of Tacitus speaks, calling them simply “Scribonii
figurae to tropi. (Quintil. ix. 1, init. ) This writer fratres. " We learn from him that Pactius Africa-
is frequently quoted by Festus, under the simple nus was supposed to have denounced them to Nero
name of Artorius. (Festus, pp. 225, 352, 364, ed. (Tac. Ann. xiii. 48, Hist. iv. 41). These brothers
Müller. )
were probably the sons of the preceding Scribonius
PRO'CULUS, BARBIUS, one of the soldiers Proculus. (See Reimarus, ad Dion Cass. 1. c. )
whom Otho employed to corrupt the fidelity of PRO'CULUS, TI'TIUS, put to death in A. D.
Galba’s troops, when he was aspiring to the em- 48, because he had been privy to the adulteries of
pire. (Tac. Hist. i. 25; Plut. Galb. 24. )
Silius and Messalina. (Tac. Ann. xi. 35. )
PROCULUS, CERVARIUS, was privy to PROʻCULUS, VE'CTIUS, the step-father (vi-
the conspiracy of Piso against Nero, but, in con- tricus) of the wife of the younger Pliny (Plin. Ep.
sequence of his turning informer and accusing ix. 13. $ 13). Pliny addresses one of his letters
Fenius Rufus, he obtained his pardon. (Tac. Ann. (iii. 15) to a certain Proculus, who may perhaps be
xv. 50, 66, 71. )
the same person as this Vectius Proculus.
PRO'CULUS, CE’STIUS. (Cestius, No. 4. ) PRO'CULUS, VOLU'SIUS, had been one of
PROʻCULUS, COCCEIUS, one of the specu- the instruments employed by Nero in the murder
latores (see Dict. of Ant. p. 508, b. , 2d ed. ) of the of his mother, and was a commander of one of the
emperor Galba. (Tac. Hist. i. 24. )
ships in the fleet off the Campanian coast, when the
PROʻCULUS, FLAVIUS, a Roman eques in conspiracy of Piso against Nero was formed. From
the reign of the emperor Claudius. (Plin. H. N. a woman of the name of Epicharis, he obtained
xxxiii.
2. s. 8. )
some information respecting the plot, which he
PROʻCULUS, JU’LIUS. 1. Is related in the straightway communicated to Nero.
(Tac. Ann.
legend of Romulus to have informed the sorrowing xv. 51, 57. )
Roman people, after the strange departure of their PROʻDICUS (Ipódikos), was a native of Tulis
king from the world, that Romulus had descended in the island of Ceos, the birthplace of Simonides
## p. 542 (#558) ############################################
542
PRODICUS.
PRODICUS.
(Plat. Protag. p. 316, d. ; Suid. s. v. ), whom he is / selves to a single lecture, or entered into an
described as having imitated (Plat. Prot. pp. 339, agreement for a more complete course (Axioch. 6;
C. , 340, e. , 341, b. ), and with whom he was with Cratyl. p. 384, b. ; Arist. Rlict. iii. 14. & 9; Suid.
out doubt acquainted, as the poet did not die till s. v. ; comp. Welcker, p. 414). Prodicus is said
the 79th, or the beginning of the 80th Olympiad. to have amassed a great amount of money (Hipp.
Prodicus came frequently to Athens for the pur-Maj. p. 282, d. ; Xen. Symp. iv. 62, i. 5; on the
pose of transacting business on behalf of his native practice of paying for instruction and lectures,
city, and even attracted admiration in the senate comp. again' Welcker, l. c. p. 412, &c. ). The
as an orator (Plat. Hipp. Maj. p. 282, comp. assertion that he hunted after rich young men, is
Philos. Vit. Soph. i.
12), although his voice was only found in Philostratus (p. 496). " As Prodicus
deep and apt to fall (Plat. Protag. p. 316, a. ; and others maintained with regard to themselves,
Philost. I. c. ). Plutarch describes him as slender that they stood equally on the confines philo-
and weak (Plut. an seni ger. sit Resp. c. 15); and sophy and politics (Euthyd. p. 305, c. ), so Plato
Plato also alludes to his weakliness, and a degree represents his instructions as chiefly ethical (Meno,
of effeminacy which resulted therefrom (Prot. p. 96, d. ; comp. de Rep. x. p. 600, e. ), and gives
p. 315, d. ). Philostratus is the first who taxes the preference to his distinction of ideas, as of
him with luxury and avarice (L. c. , comp. Welcker, those of courage, rashness, boldness, over similar
Kleine Schriften, ii. p. 513, &c. ). In the Prota- attempts of other sophists (Lach p. 197, c. ).
goras of Plato, which points to the 87th Olympiad What pertained to this point was probably only
(any more exact determination is disputable) as contained in individual show-orations (Diog. Laërina
the time at which the dialogue is supposed to take Philost. I. cc. ), which he usually declined. (Philost.
place, Prodicus is mentioned as having previously p. 482. ) Though known to Callimachus, they do
arrived in Athens. He had been brought forward not appear to have been much longer preserved.
in a play of Eupolis, and in the Clouds and the (Welcker, p. 465, &c. ) In contrast with Gorgias
Birds of Aristophanes (1. 360), which belong to and others, who boasted of possessing the art of
Ol. 89 and Ol. 91, and came frequently to Athens making the small appear great, the great small,
on public business. (Plut. Hipp. Maj. p. 282. ) and of expatiating in long or short speeches, Pro-
Still later, when Isocrates (born 0l. 86. 1) is men- dicus required that the speech should be neither
tioned as his disciple (see Welcker, Prodikos von long nor short, but of the proper measure (Plat.
Keos, Vorgänger des Socrates, published first in the Phaed. p. 267, a. ; comp. Gorg. p. 449, C. , Prot.
Rheinisches Museum der Philologie, von Welcker p. 334, e. , 335, b. , 338, d. ; Arish Rhet. ii. 17),
and Näke, i. 1-39, 533_545, afterwards in and it is only as associated with other sopbists
F. G. Welcker's Kleine Schriften, ii. p. 392—541), that he is charged with endeavouring to make the
and in the year of the death of Socrates, Prodicus weaker cause strong by means of his rhetoric.
was still living. (Plat. A pol. p. 19. c. ) The dates (Cic. Brut. c. 8. ) He paid especial attention to
of his birth and death cannot be determined. The the correct use of words (Plat. Euthyd. p. 187, e. ,
statement of Suidas (s. V. , comp. Schol. on Plat. de Cratyl. p. 384, b. , comp. Galen. in Hippocr. de
Rep. x. p. 600. c. ), that he was condemned to the Articul. iv. p. 461. 1), and the distinction of ex-
hemlock cup as a corrupter of the youth in Athens, pressions related in sense (Lach. p. 197, d. , Prot.
sounds very suspicious (comp. Welcker, p. 582). p. 340, a, 341, a. , Charmid. p. 163, d. , Meno,
According to the statement of Philostratus (p. 483, p. 75, C, comp. Themist. Orat. iv. p. 113). As
comp. 496, ed. Olearius), on which little more re- disciples of Prodicus in oratory, we find mentioned
liance can be placed, he delivered his lecture on the orators Theramenes (Aeschin. in Athen. v.
virtue and vice in Thebes and Sparta also. The p. 220, b. ; Schol. ad Aristoph. Nub. p. 360), and
Apology of Plato unites him with Gorgias and Isocrates (Dionys. Hal. Isocr. 1 ; Phot. cod. 260;
Hippias in the statement, that into whatever city comp. Welcker, p. 463, &c. ). Thucydides is said
they might come, they were competent to instruct to have appropriated from him his accuracy in
the youth. Lucian (Vit. Herod. c. 3) mentions the use of words (Marcell Vit. Thuc. p. xiii. ,
him among those who had held lectures at Olym- Bekk. ; comp. Schol
. ap. Hemsterhus. Annot. in
pia In the dialogues of Plato he is mentioned or Lucian. , App. 3 ; Maxim. Tyr. Dissert. vii. p. 72,
introduced, not indeed without irony, though, as Davis. )
compared with the other sophists, with a certain The speech on the choice of Hercules (Philost.
degree of esteem. (Hipp. Maj. p. 282, Theaet. p. 496 ; Xenophon, Mem. ii. 1. $ 21, only quotes
p. 151, b. , Phaedo, 60, Protag. p. 341, a. , Char the oúgypauua repl toû 'Hpakhéous) was entitled
mid. p. 163, d. , Meno, p. 96, Cratyl. p.