) Having been sub-
sequently appointed commander of the forces in Ger-
many, he employed himself not so much in watching
the movements of warlike communities jealous of their
freedom, as in the foolish attempt to bend them to new
institutions, based upon those of the Romans.
sequently appointed commander of the forces in Ger-
many, he employed himself not so much in watching
the movements of warlike communities jealous of their
freedom, as in the foolish attempt to bend them to new
institutions, based upon those of the Romans.
Charles - 1867 - Classical Dictionary
For many years
the Roman emperor bowed himself down, that his
body might serve as a stepping-stone to the Persian
king when he mounted on horseback: he was at last
flayed alive, and his skin, stuffed in the form of a hu-
man figure and dyed with scarlet, was preserved in a
temple in Persia. (Tret. Poll, Valerian. Vit. )
VALERIUS PUHLIDS, I. a celebrated Roman, sur-
named Publicola (vid. Publicola), and who shared
with Junius Brutus the glory of having driven out the
Tarquins and ol founding the Roman commonwealth,
B. C. 569. Brutus having fallen on the field of bat
tie, and Collatinus, the colleague of the former, having
been compelled eventually to retire from Rome in
? ? consequence of his relationship to the Tanjuin family,
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? VAit
faults, hjw over, the work is interesting both for the
history and the study of antiquity, and contains a num-
ber of little facts taken from authors whose works
have not reached us. Some critics believe, though on
no very sure grounds,that the work in question is a
? ompifalion from a larger one by the same author, and
was executed by C. Titus Probus or Julius Paris.
Others, in like manner, ascribe it to Januarius Nepo-
tianus. These three individuals are equally unknown.
--The best editions of Valerius Maximus are, that of
Vorstius, 'Berol. , 1672, 8vo; that of Torremus, Lugd.
Bat. , 1726, 4to; that of Kappius, lap*. , 1782, 8vo;
>>nd that of Hase, fan's, 1822, 3 vols. 8vo (including
Obsequens de Prodigiis), which last forms part of the
collection of Lemaire. --VI. Flaccus, a Latin poet
who flourished under Vespasian. He wrote a poem in
eight books on the Argonautic expedition, but it re-
mained unfinished on account of his premature death.
The manuscripts of this poem add to the name of Va-
lerius Flaccus that of Setinus Balbus. It has been
supposed by some critics that this last was the name
of a grammarian who made a revision of the text, or
who, perhaps, was the possessor of a remarkable man-
uscript. The birthplace of the writer is also involved
%) some doubt. It is believed by many that his native
place was Patavium, and this opinion is founded on
various passages of Martial. Others suppose that he
was born at Setia Campania, and allege the name Se-
tinus in favour of this position. The latter name, how-
ever, . has been explained above. There has come
down to us, among the epigrams of . Martial, one ad-
dressed to Valerius Flaccus, in which the former ad-
vises him to renounce poetry, and apply himself to the
studies of the bar, as affording a better means for ac-
cumulating a fortune. From this some have been led
to believe that his poetical talents were not held in
Tery high esteem by his contemporaries. Quintilian,
however, speaks of his death as a gniat loss to litera-
ture. He died A. I). 88, in the reign of Domitian.
The " Argonautics" of Valerius Flaccus are in eight
books, the last imperfect. Had the poem been com-
pleted, it is thought that it would have occupied ten or
twelve books, it is an imitation of the work of Apol-
lonius of Rhodes on tho same subject. The critics
are far from being agreed as to its merits: some tank
it next to the . (Eneid ; while others, who regard beauty
of diction as less essential than invention, assign it a
? fluch lower rank, and give the preference to the po-
ems of Statius, Lucan, and even Silius Italicus. In
truth, the " Argonautics" are clearly deficient in ori-
ginality. The principal fault of the poem is, that the
enterprise of the Argonauts, which forms the chief in-
terest of the fable, is continually lost sight of amid nu-
merous digressions and episodes. Hence the poem
wears in general a cold and monotonous appearance.
It is not, however, without beauties; . it contains de-
scriptions highly poetical, and some very ingenious
comparisons. It is remarkable that in the passages
where Valerius does not imitate Apollonius, he is far
mure elegant than in those where he copies him. His
ityle is concise and energetic, but oftentimeMobscure
ind affected. Frequently, too, he sacrifices nature to
art, and to an anxiety for displaying the stores of his
erudition. --The best editions of Valerius Flaccus are,
that of Burmann, L. Bat. , 1784, 4to; that of Hark-;,
Allenb. , 1781, 8vo; that of Wagner, Getting. , 1805,
8vo; that of Weichert, Mis. ap. Goed. , 1818, 8vo;
end that of Lemaire (forming part of hi* collection),
? ? Pant, 1824-5, 2 Tola. Svo. (Schetl, Hist. Lit. Rom. ,
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? VARRO.
var. ru
tractions and re-cnforcemcnts from Rome. On hit
subsequent return to Rome be was honourably re-
ceived, notwithstanding ms defeat; and the senate re-
turned linn thanks for his undaunted aspect after de-
feat, and for not having despaired of the common-
wealth. (Lin. , 22, 25, scqq. -- Id. , 22, 41, scqq. --
Id. , 22, 61, scqq. ) He was afterward appointed, as
proconsul, to defend Picenum, and raise levies there-
in; and his proconsular authority was continued to him
year after year. He appears to have rilled, at a later
period, the office of ambassador to Philip, as well as
i>ther public employments. (Lie. , 23, 32. -- Id . 25,
6. --Id. , 30, 26, &c. )--II. A Latin writer, celebrated
for his great learning. ? He is said to have written no
less than 500 different volumes, which are all now
lost except a treatise it Re Rusttca, and part of an-
other de Lingua Latino, dedicated to the orator Ci-
cero. Hq was born in the 637th year of Rome, and
was descended of an ancient senatorial family. It
is probable that his youth, and even the greater part
of his manhood, were spent in literary pursuits, and in
the acquisition of that stnpendous knowledge which
has procured him the appellation ol " the most learned
of the Roman*. " In A. U. C. 686 he served under
Pompey in his war against the pirates, in which he
commanded the Greek ships. To the fortunes of that
commander he continued firmly attached, and was ap-
pointed one of his lieutenants in Spain, along with
Afratiius and Petreius, at the commencement of the
war with Caesar. Hispania Ulterior was especially
confided to his protection, and two legions were placed
under his command. After the surrender of his col-
leagues in Hither Spain, Cesar proceeded in person
against him. Varro appears to have been little quali-
fied to cope with such an adversary. One of tho le-
gions descried before his own eyes; and his retreat to
Cadiz, where he had meant to retire, having been cut
eff, he surrendered at discretion with the other, in the
vicinity of Corduba. From that period he despaired of
(he salvation of the republic, and, receiving his free-
Join from Caesar, he proceeded to Dyrrhachium, to give
Pompey a detail of what had passed. This latter
place he left almost immediately thereafter for Rome.
After his return to Italy, he withdrew from all politi-
cal concerns, and indulged himself, during the remain-
der of his life, in the enjoyment of literary leisure.
The only service which he performed for Caesar was
that of arranging the books which the dictator had
himself procured, or which had been acquired by
those who had preceded him in the management of
public affairs He lived, during the reign of Ciesar,
in habits of the closest intimacy with Cicero. The
greater part of his lime was passed at the various
villas which he possessed in Italy. After the assassi-
nation of Caesar, Varro's principal villa, situate near the
town of Casinum, in the territory of the Volsci, was
forcibly seized by Marc Antony, along with almost fell
his wealth. Nor was this all. His name was also
placed in the list of the proscribed, although he was at
the advanced age of 70 years. His friends, however,
secreted him, and he remained in a place of safety
until a special edict was passed by the consul, M. Plan-
cus, under the triumvirai seal, excepting bun and Mes-
sala Corvinus from the general slaughter. But, though
Varro thus escaped, he was unable to save his library,
which was placed in the garden of one of his villas,
and fell into the hands of an illiterate soldiery. After
? ? the battle of Actium, Varro resided at Rome until his
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? V AR
VAT
a uch broken ai. J corrupted. The heads of the differ-
ent subjects or chapters contained in it, amounting to
nearly 150, have been given by Fabricius in alphabet-
ical order. Some of them are in Latin, others in
Greek. Many minor productions of Varro might be
also mentioned did our limits permit. A sufficient
number, however, have been cited to justify the pane-
gyric of Cicero: "His works brought us home, as it
were, while we were foreigners in our own city, and
wandering like strangers, so that we might know who
'. rid where we were; for in them are laid open the
chronology of his country, a description of the seasons,
the laws of religion, the ordinances of the priests, do-
mestic and military occurrences, the situations of
countries and places, the names of all things, divine
and human, the breed of animals, moral duties, and
the origin of things. " (Dunlnp's Roman Literature,
vol. 2, p. 34, seijq. )--St. Augustine says that it cannot
but be wondered how Varro, who read such a number
of books, could find time to compose so many volumes;
and how he who composed so many volumes could
be at leisure to peruse such a variety of books, and to
gain so much literary information. --The best edition
of the treatise dc Re Rustics, is that contained in the
Scriptures Rci Rustics of Gesner, Lipi. , 1735, 2
vols. 4to; or in the same edited by Schneider, Lips. ,
1794-97, 7 vols. 8vo. The best editions of the treatise
de Lingua Latino, are the Bipont, 1788, 2 vols. Bvo,
and that of Miillcr, Lips. , 1833,8vo. --III. Attacinus,
a poet of Atlace in Gallia Narboncnsis, or, as some
suppose, of Narbo itself. He was born about 82 B. C. ,
and died about 37 B. C. Varro translated freely into
Latin verse the Argonautics of Apollonius Rhodius.
He composed also an historical poem on Cesar's war
with the Scquani (/. '-? Bella Scyuanico). Varro like-
wise appears as a writer of elegies. (WerKsdorff,
Poet. Lat. Min. ,\o\. 5, pt. 3, p. 1394, seqq. -- Id. ,
Excun. de Varrtme Atacino, &. C. , p. 1385, icqq. --
Rulmkcn, Epist. Crit. , 2, p. 199. )
VARDS, I. QDINTILIOS, a Roman commander, be-
longing to a family more illustrious for achievements
than antiquity of origin. His father had fought under
the standard of Brutus at Philippi, and, not wishing to
survive the destruction of liberty, had caused himself
to be slain by one of his freedmen. The son, never-
theless, gained the favour of Augustus, who named
him consul along with Tiberius, B. C. 13. He was
afterward appointed proconsul of Syria, and, on the
death of Herod, supported the claim of Archelaiis, the
MIII of that monarch, to the vacant throne, and chas-
tised severely all who resisted the authority of this
prince. (Josephus, Ant. Jud. , 17, 9, 3. --Flan. Jo-
seph. , Vit. , p. 6, seqq. , cd. Hatercamp. )--According
to Velleius Paterculus, a contemporary writer, Varus
was a man of mild disposition and retiring manners
'mr ingcnio mitis, moribus quietus), but still very ra-
pacious, who entered Syria a poor man and left it a
rich one. (Veil. Paterc. , 2, 117.
) Having been sub-
sequently appointed commander of the forces in Ger-
many, he employed himself not so much in watching
the movements of warlike communities jealous of their
freedom, as in the foolish attempt to bend them to new
institutions, based upon those of the Romans. A
strong feeling of discontent arose, of which Arminius,
t German leader, secretly took advantage to free his
country from the yoke of the Romans. Varus was ap-
ptiicd by Segestes, king of the Calti, of the conspiracy
? ? that had been formed: "Arrest me and Arminias, to-
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? V E. T
VE L
command of three legions. (Viol Cesar, page 88? ,
(awards the end of ihe first column. )
V*tinius, I. a Roman of most impure life. Having
been brought forward on one occasion as a witness
against an individual whom Cicero was defending, the
orator inveighed against him with so much bitterness
of reproach, and excited so much odium against him
by the picture which he drew of his vices, that odium
Vatimanum became proverbial for bitter and implaca-
ble hatred. (Compare Seneca, it Constant. Sap. ,
17. )--II. A shoemaker of Beneventum, deformed in
body, and addicted to scurrilous invective against the
members of the higher class. He lived in the reign of
Nero, and exhibited a ahow of gladiators when that
emperor passed through Beneventum. He is said to
have invented a peculiar species of cup, called after his
name. (. Tacit. , Ann. , 15, 34. --Martial, 14, 96. )
Ubii, a people of Germany, near the Rhine, trans-
ported across the river by Agrippa. Their chief town,
Cbiorum oppidum, or Ara, called after this Agrippina
Colonia, from the circumstance of Agrippina (the
daughter of-Germanicus, and mother of Nero) having
been born there, is now Cologne or Kbln. (Tacit. ,
G , 28; Ann. , 12, 27. --Plin. . 4, 17. --Cccs, 4, 30 )
Vbctis Insula, the hie of Wight, south of Britain.
(Suet. , Vit. Vesp>,i. --Plin. ,3,i. )
Vkgt rips, a Latin writer, who flourished A. D. 386,
in the reign of the Emperor Valentinian, to whom he
dedicated his treatise de Re Militari. Although prob-
ably a military man, his Latinity is pure for the age in
which he lived. Modern critics distinguish between
this writer and Vegetius who composed a treatise on
the veterinary art. The best edition of Vegetius, de
Re Militari, is that of Stewechius, Vesal, 1670, 12mo.
The best edition of the work of the other Vegetius, on
the veterinary art, is that by Gesner, in the writer's de
Re Rustics.
Vkikntks, the inhabitants (f Veii. (Vid. Veii. )
Vkii, a powerful city of Etruria, at the distance of
about twelve miles from Rome. It sustained many
(ong wars against the Romans, and was at last taken
and destroyed by Camillus, after a siege of ten years.
At the time of its destruction Veii was larger and far
more magnificent than the city of Rome. Its situa-
tion was so eligible that the Romans, after the burning
of their own city by the Gauls, were inclined to mi-
grate thither, and totally abandon their native home;
and this would have been carried into execution if not
opposed by the authority and eloquence of Camillus.
(Ovid, Fast. , 2, 195. --Cic, de Div. , 1, H. --Horat. ,
Sal. , 2, 3, 143. --Lit. , 5, 21. ) The site of ancient
Veii answers to the spot known by the name of /'In-
sula Famine, and situated about a mile and a half to
the northeast of the modern posthouse of la Slorta.
The numerous remains of antiquity found there very
recently have placed this fact beyond dispute. --After
the capture of Rome by the Gauls, and the attempt
made to transfer the seat of Roman power to Veii, we
scarcely hear of the latter city. We collect only
from a passage in Frontinus (dc Col. ) that Veii be-
came a Roman colony under Julius Caesar, who di-
vided its lands among his soldiers, but in the civil wars
which ensued after his death it was nearly destroyed,
and left in a most desolate state, a fact which is con-
firmed by Lucan (7, 392) and Propertius (4, 10, 27).
It is certain, however, that Veii again rose from its
. -urns, and was raised to municipal rank, probably un-
? ? der Tiberius, whose statue, with several other monu-
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? VEL
Benefit from the air. Horace was also recommended
to visit Velia for a disorder in his eyes. (Ep. , 1, 15 )
InStrabo's time this ancient town was greatly reduced,
its inhabitants being forced, from the poorness of their
soil, to betake themselves to fishing and other . seafa-
ring occupations. --The ruins of Vetia stand about half
a mile from the sea, on the site now called Castela-
mare de'la Bruca. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 2, p.
370. )
VKLINA. the name of one of the Roman tribes, de-
riving its appellation, as is said, from the lake Velinus
in the ,Sabine territory. It was added to the other
tribes, together with the one termed (Jumna, A. U. C.
513. --The locality of this tribe was in the vicinity of
Mount Palatine. (Horal. , Ep. , 1, 6, 52. )
VKUNUS, a river in the Sabine territory, rising in
the Apennines and falling into the Nar. It occasion-
ally overflowed its banks, and formed some small lakes
before it entered the Nar. One of the lakes, and the
chief of the number, was called the Lacus Velinus,
now Lugo di Pit di Lugo. The drainage of the stag-
nant waters produced by the occasional overflow of
the lakes and of the river was first attempted by Cu-
rius Dentalus, the conqueror of the Sabines. He
caused a channel to be made for the Velinus, through
which the waters of that river were carried into the
Nar, over a precipice of several hundred feet. Tins
is the celebrated fall of Terni, known in Italy by the
name of Cadula dclle Marmore. The Velinus is now
the Velino. (Cramer'* Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 316. )
VKI. J rK-t, an ancient town of Latium, southeast of
Aricia, and on the road between Rome and Tarracina.
It was always reckoned one of the most important and
considerable cities of the Volsci. The inhabitants
were engaged in frequent hostilities with the Romans,
and revolted so often that it became necessary to pun-
ish them with unusual severity. The walls of their
town were razed, and its senators were removed to
Rome, and compelled to reside in the Transtiberine
part of the city; a severe fine being imposed upon any
iulividii. il of their number who should be found on the
jther side of the river. (Liv. , 8, 14. ) The colony,
however, planted by the Romans at V elites still sub-
sisted in the reign of Claudius, as mention is made of
it at that period. (Front. , de Col. ) Its chief boast
was the honour of having given birth to Augustus.
Suetonius states, that the house in which he was said
to have been born was still shown in his time near
Velilrs. (Vit. Aug. , 6. ) The modern name of this
place is Velletri. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 83. )
VKLi-iUNODUNUM, a city of the Senones, between
Agendicum and Genabum. Accoiding to D'Anville,
the modern Beaune (en Gatinois) answers to the an-
cient place. Lemaire, however, thinks the opinion of
Godum preferable, who makes Genabum to have been
situate near Sclneviire, in the neighbourhood of which
some traces of a ruined city still exist. (Cas , B. G. ,
7, 11. --Lemaire, Index Geogr. , ad Ctcs. , p. 395. )
VELLKPA, a female of ancient Germany, belonging
to the tribe of the Bructeri. She was believed to be
gifted with prophetic powers, and exercised, in conse-
quence, very great influence over the minds of her
countrymen, who ascribed to her a species of divine
lharacter. Tacitus first makes mention of her in
B. C. 71, the era of Vespasian. (Hist. , 4, 61. --Com-
pare Hist. , 4, 65. --Germ. , 8. ) From Statiua it ap-
pears that she was subsequently made captive by the
Komans. (Syh. , 1, 4, 89. ) The more correct form
? ? of the name, and the one more nearly approaching the
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? VE N
VETS
wti not himself a witness. As for those "vhtch pass-
ed under his own eyes, wheic is the historian who,
in writing the history of his own times, is wholly ex-
empt from the charge of partiality I--The best edi-
tions of Paterculus are, that of Burmann, Lugd. Bet. ,
1744, 2 vols. 8vo, that of Ruhnken, 1779, L. Bat. , 2
vols. 8vo; that of Krause, Lips. , 1800. Rvo; and that
of Lemaire, Pari; 1823, 8vo, which last is, for the
most part, a republication of Kuhnken's. (Scholl,
Hut. Lit. Rom. , vol. 2, p. 357. )
V'elocassks or Belocasses, a people of Gallia Bel-
gica, along the northern bank of the Sequana, west of
the Bellovaci, and north of the Aulerci Eburovices.
Their capital was Rolomagus, now Rouen. (Cos. ,
fl. O. , 7, 75. --Plin. , 4, 18. )
VknIfruh, a city of Campania, in the northeast
angle of the country, and near the river Vulturnus.
(Strabo, 258 ) It is much celebrated in antiquity for
the excellence of the oil which its territory produced.
(Horat. , Od. , 2, 6, 16. -- Id. , Sat. , 2, 4, 68. -- Mart. ,
13, 98. --Cato, R. R. , 135.
the Roman emperor bowed himself down, that his
body might serve as a stepping-stone to the Persian
king when he mounted on horseback: he was at last
flayed alive, and his skin, stuffed in the form of a hu-
man figure and dyed with scarlet, was preserved in a
temple in Persia. (Tret. Poll, Valerian. Vit. )
VALERIUS PUHLIDS, I. a celebrated Roman, sur-
named Publicola (vid. Publicola), and who shared
with Junius Brutus the glory of having driven out the
Tarquins and ol founding the Roman commonwealth,
B. C. 569. Brutus having fallen on the field of bat
tie, and Collatinus, the colleague of the former, having
been compelled eventually to retire from Rome in
? ? consequence of his relationship to the Tanjuin family,
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? VAit
faults, hjw over, the work is interesting both for the
history and the study of antiquity, and contains a num-
ber of little facts taken from authors whose works
have not reached us. Some critics believe, though on
no very sure grounds,that the work in question is a
? ompifalion from a larger one by the same author, and
was executed by C. Titus Probus or Julius Paris.
Others, in like manner, ascribe it to Januarius Nepo-
tianus. These three individuals are equally unknown.
--The best editions of Valerius Maximus are, that of
Vorstius, 'Berol. , 1672, 8vo; that of Torremus, Lugd.
Bat. , 1726, 4to; that of Kappius, lap*. , 1782, 8vo;
>>nd that of Hase, fan's, 1822, 3 vols. 8vo (including
Obsequens de Prodigiis), which last forms part of the
collection of Lemaire. --VI. Flaccus, a Latin poet
who flourished under Vespasian. He wrote a poem in
eight books on the Argonautic expedition, but it re-
mained unfinished on account of his premature death.
The manuscripts of this poem add to the name of Va-
lerius Flaccus that of Setinus Balbus. It has been
supposed by some critics that this last was the name
of a grammarian who made a revision of the text, or
who, perhaps, was the possessor of a remarkable man-
uscript. The birthplace of the writer is also involved
%) some doubt. It is believed by many that his native
place was Patavium, and this opinion is founded on
various passages of Martial. Others suppose that he
was born at Setia Campania, and allege the name Se-
tinus in favour of this position. The latter name, how-
ever, . has been explained above. There has come
down to us, among the epigrams of . Martial, one ad-
dressed to Valerius Flaccus, in which the former ad-
vises him to renounce poetry, and apply himself to the
studies of the bar, as affording a better means for ac-
cumulating a fortune. From this some have been led
to believe that his poetical talents were not held in
Tery high esteem by his contemporaries. Quintilian,
however, speaks of his death as a gniat loss to litera-
ture. He died A. I). 88, in the reign of Domitian.
The " Argonautics" of Valerius Flaccus are in eight
books, the last imperfect. Had the poem been com-
pleted, it is thought that it would have occupied ten or
twelve books, it is an imitation of the work of Apol-
lonius of Rhodes on tho same subject. The critics
are far from being agreed as to its merits: some tank
it next to the . (Eneid ; while others, who regard beauty
of diction as less essential than invention, assign it a
? fluch lower rank, and give the preference to the po-
ems of Statius, Lucan, and even Silius Italicus. In
truth, the " Argonautics" are clearly deficient in ori-
ginality. The principal fault of the poem is, that the
enterprise of the Argonauts, which forms the chief in-
terest of the fable, is continually lost sight of amid nu-
merous digressions and episodes. Hence the poem
wears in general a cold and monotonous appearance.
It is not, however, without beauties; . it contains de-
scriptions highly poetical, and some very ingenious
comparisons. It is remarkable that in the passages
where Valerius does not imitate Apollonius, he is far
mure elegant than in those where he copies him. His
ityle is concise and energetic, but oftentimeMobscure
ind affected. Frequently, too, he sacrifices nature to
art, and to an anxiety for displaying the stores of his
erudition. --The best editions of Valerius Flaccus are,
that of Burmann, L. Bat. , 1784, 4to; that of Hark-;,
Allenb. , 1781, 8vo; that of Wagner, Getting. , 1805,
8vo; that of Weichert, Mis. ap. Goed. , 1818, 8vo;
end that of Lemaire (forming part of hi* collection),
? ? Pant, 1824-5, 2 Tola. Svo. (Schetl, Hist. Lit. Rom. ,
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? VARRO.
var. ru
tractions and re-cnforcemcnts from Rome. On hit
subsequent return to Rome be was honourably re-
ceived, notwithstanding ms defeat; and the senate re-
turned linn thanks for his undaunted aspect after de-
feat, and for not having despaired of the common-
wealth. (Lin. , 22, 25, scqq. -- Id. , 22, 41, scqq. --
Id. , 22, 61, scqq. ) He was afterward appointed, as
proconsul, to defend Picenum, and raise levies there-
in; and his proconsular authority was continued to him
year after year. He appears to have rilled, at a later
period, the office of ambassador to Philip, as well as
i>ther public employments. (Lie. , 23, 32. -- Id . 25,
6. --Id. , 30, 26, &c. )--II. A Latin writer, celebrated
for his great learning. ? He is said to have written no
less than 500 different volumes, which are all now
lost except a treatise it Re Rusttca, and part of an-
other de Lingua Latino, dedicated to the orator Ci-
cero. Hq was born in the 637th year of Rome, and
was descended of an ancient senatorial family. It
is probable that his youth, and even the greater part
of his manhood, were spent in literary pursuits, and in
the acquisition of that stnpendous knowledge which
has procured him the appellation ol " the most learned
of the Roman*. " In A. U. C. 686 he served under
Pompey in his war against the pirates, in which he
commanded the Greek ships. To the fortunes of that
commander he continued firmly attached, and was ap-
pointed one of his lieutenants in Spain, along with
Afratiius and Petreius, at the commencement of the
war with Caesar. Hispania Ulterior was especially
confided to his protection, and two legions were placed
under his command. After the surrender of his col-
leagues in Hither Spain, Cesar proceeded in person
against him. Varro appears to have been little quali-
fied to cope with such an adversary. One of tho le-
gions descried before his own eyes; and his retreat to
Cadiz, where he had meant to retire, having been cut
eff, he surrendered at discretion with the other, in the
vicinity of Corduba. From that period he despaired of
(he salvation of the republic, and, receiving his free-
Join from Caesar, he proceeded to Dyrrhachium, to give
Pompey a detail of what had passed. This latter
place he left almost immediately thereafter for Rome.
After his return to Italy, he withdrew from all politi-
cal concerns, and indulged himself, during the remain-
der of his life, in the enjoyment of literary leisure.
The only service which he performed for Caesar was
that of arranging the books which the dictator had
himself procured, or which had been acquired by
those who had preceded him in the management of
public affairs He lived, during the reign of Ciesar,
in habits of the closest intimacy with Cicero. The
greater part of his lime was passed at the various
villas which he possessed in Italy. After the assassi-
nation of Caesar, Varro's principal villa, situate near the
town of Casinum, in the territory of the Volsci, was
forcibly seized by Marc Antony, along with almost fell
his wealth. Nor was this all. His name was also
placed in the list of the proscribed, although he was at
the advanced age of 70 years. His friends, however,
secreted him, and he remained in a place of safety
until a special edict was passed by the consul, M. Plan-
cus, under the triumvirai seal, excepting bun and Mes-
sala Corvinus from the general slaughter. But, though
Varro thus escaped, he was unable to save his library,
which was placed in the garden of one of his villas,
and fell into the hands of an illiterate soldiery. After
? ? the battle of Actium, Varro resided at Rome until his
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? V AR
VAT
a uch broken ai. J corrupted. The heads of the differ-
ent subjects or chapters contained in it, amounting to
nearly 150, have been given by Fabricius in alphabet-
ical order. Some of them are in Latin, others in
Greek. Many minor productions of Varro might be
also mentioned did our limits permit. A sufficient
number, however, have been cited to justify the pane-
gyric of Cicero: "His works brought us home, as it
were, while we were foreigners in our own city, and
wandering like strangers, so that we might know who
'. rid where we were; for in them are laid open the
chronology of his country, a description of the seasons,
the laws of religion, the ordinances of the priests, do-
mestic and military occurrences, the situations of
countries and places, the names of all things, divine
and human, the breed of animals, moral duties, and
the origin of things. " (Dunlnp's Roman Literature,
vol. 2, p. 34, seijq. )--St. Augustine says that it cannot
but be wondered how Varro, who read such a number
of books, could find time to compose so many volumes;
and how he who composed so many volumes could
be at leisure to peruse such a variety of books, and to
gain so much literary information. --The best edition
of the treatise dc Re Rustics, is that contained in the
Scriptures Rci Rustics of Gesner, Lipi. , 1735, 2
vols. 4to; or in the same edited by Schneider, Lips. ,
1794-97, 7 vols. 8vo. The best editions of the treatise
de Lingua Latino, are the Bipont, 1788, 2 vols. Bvo,
and that of Miillcr, Lips. , 1833,8vo. --III. Attacinus,
a poet of Atlace in Gallia Narboncnsis, or, as some
suppose, of Narbo itself. He was born about 82 B. C. ,
and died about 37 B. C. Varro translated freely into
Latin verse the Argonautics of Apollonius Rhodius.
He composed also an historical poem on Cesar's war
with the Scquani (/. '-? Bella Scyuanico). Varro like-
wise appears as a writer of elegies. (WerKsdorff,
Poet. Lat. Min. ,\o\. 5, pt. 3, p. 1394, seqq. -- Id. ,
Excun. de Varrtme Atacino, &. C. , p. 1385, icqq. --
Rulmkcn, Epist. Crit. , 2, p. 199. )
VARDS, I. QDINTILIOS, a Roman commander, be-
longing to a family more illustrious for achievements
than antiquity of origin. His father had fought under
the standard of Brutus at Philippi, and, not wishing to
survive the destruction of liberty, had caused himself
to be slain by one of his freedmen. The son, never-
theless, gained the favour of Augustus, who named
him consul along with Tiberius, B. C. 13. He was
afterward appointed proconsul of Syria, and, on the
death of Herod, supported the claim of Archelaiis, the
MIII of that monarch, to the vacant throne, and chas-
tised severely all who resisted the authority of this
prince. (Josephus, Ant. Jud. , 17, 9, 3. --Flan. Jo-
seph. , Vit. , p. 6, seqq. , cd. Hatercamp. )--According
to Velleius Paterculus, a contemporary writer, Varus
was a man of mild disposition and retiring manners
'mr ingcnio mitis, moribus quietus), but still very ra-
pacious, who entered Syria a poor man and left it a
rich one. (Veil. Paterc. , 2, 117.
) Having been sub-
sequently appointed commander of the forces in Ger-
many, he employed himself not so much in watching
the movements of warlike communities jealous of their
freedom, as in the foolish attempt to bend them to new
institutions, based upon those of the Romans. A
strong feeling of discontent arose, of which Arminius,
t German leader, secretly took advantage to free his
country from the yoke of the Romans. Varus was ap-
ptiicd by Segestes, king of the Calti, of the conspiracy
? ? that had been formed: "Arrest me and Arminias, to-
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? V E. T
VE L
command of three legions. (Viol Cesar, page 88? ,
(awards the end of ihe first column. )
V*tinius, I. a Roman of most impure life. Having
been brought forward on one occasion as a witness
against an individual whom Cicero was defending, the
orator inveighed against him with so much bitterness
of reproach, and excited so much odium against him
by the picture which he drew of his vices, that odium
Vatimanum became proverbial for bitter and implaca-
ble hatred. (Compare Seneca, it Constant. Sap. ,
17. )--II. A shoemaker of Beneventum, deformed in
body, and addicted to scurrilous invective against the
members of the higher class. He lived in the reign of
Nero, and exhibited a ahow of gladiators when that
emperor passed through Beneventum. He is said to
have invented a peculiar species of cup, called after his
name. (. Tacit. , Ann. , 15, 34. --Martial, 14, 96. )
Ubii, a people of Germany, near the Rhine, trans-
ported across the river by Agrippa. Their chief town,
Cbiorum oppidum, or Ara, called after this Agrippina
Colonia, from the circumstance of Agrippina (the
daughter of-Germanicus, and mother of Nero) having
been born there, is now Cologne or Kbln. (Tacit. ,
G , 28; Ann. , 12, 27. --Plin. . 4, 17. --Cccs, 4, 30 )
Vbctis Insula, the hie of Wight, south of Britain.
(Suet. , Vit. Vesp>,i. --Plin. ,3,i. )
Vkgt rips, a Latin writer, who flourished A. D. 386,
in the reign of the Emperor Valentinian, to whom he
dedicated his treatise de Re Militari. Although prob-
ably a military man, his Latinity is pure for the age in
which he lived. Modern critics distinguish between
this writer and Vegetius who composed a treatise on
the veterinary art. The best edition of Vegetius, de
Re Militari, is that of Stewechius, Vesal, 1670, 12mo.
The best edition of the work of the other Vegetius, on
the veterinary art, is that by Gesner, in the writer's de
Re Rustics.
Vkikntks, the inhabitants (f Veii. (Vid. Veii. )
Vkii, a powerful city of Etruria, at the distance of
about twelve miles from Rome. It sustained many
(ong wars against the Romans, and was at last taken
and destroyed by Camillus, after a siege of ten years.
At the time of its destruction Veii was larger and far
more magnificent than the city of Rome. Its situa-
tion was so eligible that the Romans, after the burning
of their own city by the Gauls, were inclined to mi-
grate thither, and totally abandon their native home;
and this would have been carried into execution if not
opposed by the authority and eloquence of Camillus.
(Ovid, Fast. , 2, 195. --Cic, de Div. , 1, H. --Horat. ,
Sal. , 2, 3, 143. --Lit. , 5, 21. ) The site of ancient
Veii answers to the spot known by the name of /'In-
sula Famine, and situated about a mile and a half to
the northeast of the modern posthouse of la Slorta.
The numerous remains of antiquity found there very
recently have placed this fact beyond dispute. --After
the capture of Rome by the Gauls, and the attempt
made to transfer the seat of Roman power to Veii, we
scarcely hear of the latter city. We collect only
from a passage in Frontinus (dc Col. ) that Veii be-
came a Roman colony under Julius Caesar, who di-
vided its lands among his soldiers, but in the civil wars
which ensued after his death it was nearly destroyed,
and left in a most desolate state, a fact which is con-
firmed by Lucan (7, 392) and Propertius (4, 10, 27).
It is certain, however, that Veii again rose from its
. -urns, and was raised to municipal rank, probably un-
? ? der Tiberius, whose statue, with several other monu-
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? VEL
Benefit from the air. Horace was also recommended
to visit Velia for a disorder in his eyes. (Ep. , 1, 15 )
InStrabo's time this ancient town was greatly reduced,
its inhabitants being forced, from the poorness of their
soil, to betake themselves to fishing and other . seafa-
ring occupations. --The ruins of Vetia stand about half
a mile from the sea, on the site now called Castela-
mare de'la Bruca. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 2, p.
370. )
VKLINA. the name of one of the Roman tribes, de-
riving its appellation, as is said, from the lake Velinus
in the ,Sabine territory. It was added to the other
tribes, together with the one termed (Jumna, A. U. C.
513. --The locality of this tribe was in the vicinity of
Mount Palatine. (Horal. , Ep. , 1, 6, 52. )
VKUNUS, a river in the Sabine territory, rising in
the Apennines and falling into the Nar. It occasion-
ally overflowed its banks, and formed some small lakes
before it entered the Nar. One of the lakes, and the
chief of the number, was called the Lacus Velinus,
now Lugo di Pit di Lugo. The drainage of the stag-
nant waters produced by the occasional overflow of
the lakes and of the river was first attempted by Cu-
rius Dentalus, the conqueror of the Sabines. He
caused a channel to be made for the Velinus, through
which the waters of that river were carried into the
Nar, over a precipice of several hundred feet. Tins
is the celebrated fall of Terni, known in Italy by the
name of Cadula dclle Marmore. The Velinus is now
the Velino. (Cramer'* Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 316. )
VKI. J rK-t, an ancient town of Latium, southeast of
Aricia, and on the road between Rome and Tarracina.
It was always reckoned one of the most important and
considerable cities of the Volsci. The inhabitants
were engaged in frequent hostilities with the Romans,
and revolted so often that it became necessary to pun-
ish them with unusual severity. The walls of their
town were razed, and its senators were removed to
Rome, and compelled to reside in the Transtiberine
part of the city; a severe fine being imposed upon any
iulividii. il of their number who should be found on the
jther side of the river. (Liv. , 8, 14. ) The colony,
however, planted by the Romans at V elites still sub-
sisted in the reign of Claudius, as mention is made of
it at that period. (Front. , de Col. ) Its chief boast
was the honour of having given birth to Augustus.
Suetonius states, that the house in which he was said
to have been born was still shown in his time near
Velilrs. (Vit. Aug. , 6. ) The modern name of this
place is Velletri. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 83. )
VKLi-iUNODUNUM, a city of the Senones, between
Agendicum and Genabum. Accoiding to D'Anville,
the modern Beaune (en Gatinois) answers to the an-
cient place. Lemaire, however, thinks the opinion of
Godum preferable, who makes Genabum to have been
situate near Sclneviire, in the neighbourhood of which
some traces of a ruined city still exist. (Cas , B. G. ,
7, 11. --Lemaire, Index Geogr. , ad Ctcs. , p. 395. )
VELLKPA, a female of ancient Germany, belonging
to the tribe of the Bructeri. She was believed to be
gifted with prophetic powers, and exercised, in conse-
quence, very great influence over the minds of her
countrymen, who ascribed to her a species of divine
lharacter. Tacitus first makes mention of her in
B. C. 71, the era of Vespasian. (Hist. , 4, 61. --Com-
pare Hist. , 4, 65. --Germ. , 8. ) From Statiua it ap-
pears that she was subsequently made captive by the
Komans. (Syh. , 1, 4, 89. ) The more correct form
? ? of the name, and the one more nearly approaching the
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? VE N
VETS
wti not himself a witness. As for those "vhtch pass-
ed under his own eyes, wheic is the historian who,
in writing the history of his own times, is wholly ex-
empt from the charge of partiality I--The best edi-
tions of Paterculus are, that of Burmann, Lugd. Bet. ,
1744, 2 vols. 8vo, that of Ruhnken, 1779, L. Bat. , 2
vols. 8vo; that of Krause, Lips. , 1800. Rvo; and that
of Lemaire, Pari; 1823, 8vo, which last is, for the
most part, a republication of Kuhnken's. (Scholl,
Hut. Lit. Rom. , vol. 2, p. 357. )
V'elocassks or Belocasses, a people of Gallia Bel-
gica, along the northern bank of the Sequana, west of
the Bellovaci, and north of the Aulerci Eburovices.
Their capital was Rolomagus, now Rouen. (Cos. ,
fl. O. , 7, 75. --Plin. , 4, 18. )
VknIfruh, a city of Campania, in the northeast
angle of the country, and near the river Vulturnus.
(Strabo, 258 ) It is much celebrated in antiquity for
the excellence of the oil which its territory produced.
(Horat. , Od. , 2, 6, 16. -- Id. , Sat. , 2, 4, 68. -- Mart. ,
13, 98. --Cato, R. R. , 135.
