'Opén-
and Aërope there are epigrams in the Greek An- nas.
and Aërope there are epigrams in the Greek An- nas.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
He com- | the government of the sea-coast of Thrace, and
manded a division of the Phocian army under Phi- whose instrument he was, together with CASKAN-
Jomelus, in the action at Tithorea, in which the DER (No. 4), in the massacre of the Maronites.
latter perished ; and after the battle gathered to- Appius Claudius, and the other Roman coinmis-
gether the remains of the Phocian army, with sioners, required that Philip should send Onomastus
which he effected his retreat to Delphi. An and Cassander to Rome to be examined about the
assembly of the people was now held, in which Ono- massacre ; whereupon the king despatched Cas-
marchus strongly urged the prosecution of the war, sander, and had him poisoned on the way, but
in opposition to the counsels of the more moderate persisted in declaring that Onomastus bad not been
party, and succeeded in obtaining his own nomi- in or near Maroneia at the time ; the fact being
nation to the chief command in the place of Philo-(as Polybius and Livy tell us) that he was too
melus, B. c. 353. He was, however, far from deep in the royal secrets to be trusted at Rome.
imitating the moderation of his predecessor: he we hear again of Onomastus as one of the two
confiscated the property of all those who were assessors of Philip at the private trial of De-
opposed to him, and squandered without scruple the METKIUS, for the alleged attempt on the life of his
sacred treasures of Delphi. The latter enabled brother Perseus, B. c. 182. (Polyb. xxiii. 13, 14 ;
him not only to assemble and maintain a large Liv. xxxix. 34, xl. 8. )
(E. E. )
body of mercenary troops, but to spend large sums ONOSANDER ('Ovóoavāpos), the author of a
in bribing many of the leading persons in the hos- celebrated work on military tactics, entitled Etpa-
tile states ; by which means he succeeded in pre- angids bos, which is still extant. All sub-
railing on the Thessalians to abandon their allies, sequent Greek and Roman writers on the same
and take up a neutral position. Thus freed from subject made this work their text-book (the en-
his most formidable antagonists, he was more than perors Mauricius and Leon did little more than
a match for his remaining foes. He now invaded express in the corrupt style of their age what they
Locris, took the town of Thronium, and compelled found in Onosander, whom Leon calls Onesander),
that of Amphissa to submit ; ravaged the Dorian and it is even still held in considerable estimation.
Tetrapolis, and then turned his arms against Count Moritz of Saxony professed to have derived
Boeotia, where he took Orchomenus and laid siege great benefit from the perusal of a translation of it.
to Chaeroneia, but was compelled to retreat with Onosander appears to have lived about the middle
out effecting anything more. His assistance was of the first century after Christ. His work is dedi-
dow requested by Lycophron, tyrant of Pherae, cated to Q. Veranius, who is generally supposed to
who was attacked by Philip, king of Macedonia ; be identical with the Q. Veranius Nepos who was
and he at first sent his brother Phayllus into consul in a. D. 49. Onosander also remarks in his
Thessaly with an army of 7000 men. But Phayllus preface that his work was written in time of peace.
baving been defeated by Philip, Onomarchus It might very well have been written, therefore,
marched with his whole forces to the support of between A. D. 49 and A. D. 59. If the consul of
Lycophron, defeated Philip in two successive A. D. 49 was the person to whom the work was de-
battles, and drove him out of Thessaly. He next dicated, it would agree very well with all the other
turned his arms a second time against the Boeotians, data, that this Veranius accompanied Didius Gallus
whom he defeated in a battle, and took the city of into Britain, and died before the expiration of a
Coroneia, when he was recalled once more to the year.
assistance of Lycophron, against Philip, who had Onosander was a disciple of the Platonic school
again invaded Thessaly. Onomarchus hastened to of philosophy, and, according to Suidas, besides his
support his ally with an army of 20,000 foot and work on tactics, wrote one Niep. otpatnymuátwv
500 borse, but was met by Philip at the head of (unless, as some suppose, the words Taktid repl
a force still more numerous, and a pitched battle otpatmuatw in Suidas are a description of one
ensued, in which the superiority of the Thessalian and the same work, the one still extant), and a
cavalry decided the victory in favour of the king. commentary on the Republic of Plato. The two latter
Onomarchus himself, with many of the fugitives, have perished. In his style he imitated Xenophon
plunged into the sea in hopes to reach by swim- with some success. Nothing further is known of
ming the Athenian ships under Chares, which were his personal history. It is conjectured that he must
lying off the shore, but perished in the waves, or, himself have been engaged in military service.
according to Pausanias, by the darts of his own Onosander's work appeared first in a Latin
soldiers. His body fell into the hands of Philip, translation by Nicolaus Saguntinus, Rome, 1494.
who caused it to be crucified, as a punishment for a French translation by Jehan Charrier appeared
his sacrilege. His death took place in B. c. 352 at Paris in 1546 ; an Italian translation by Fabio
(Diod. xvi. 31-33, 35, 56, 61 ; Paus. x. 2. & 5; Cotta, Venice, 1546 ; and another Latin translation
Justin. viii. 1, 2; Polyaen. ii. 38 ; Ephorus, fr. by Joachim Camerarius, in 1595. It was not till
153, ed. Didot ; Oros. iii. 12; Wesseling, ad 1599 that the Greek text was published, together
Diod. xvi. 35 ; Dem. de Pals. Leg. p. 443). We with the énitudevua of Urbicius, published by Nic.
are told that Onomnarchus was a man of luxu. Rigaltius, Paris, 1599. The best edition is that
rious habits, and that he made use of the sacred by Nic. Schwebel, Nürnberg, 1761, folio. This
treasures, not only for the purposes of the state, edition contains the French translation by M. le
but to minister to his own pleasures (Theopomp. ap. Baron de Zur-Lauben. In this edition the editor
Athen. xiii. p. 605); but it is difficult to know what availed himself of the manuscript notes by Jos.
value to attach to such statements ; the religious Scaliger and Is. Vossius, which are preserved in
character assumed by the enemies of the Phocians the library at Leyden. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. iv,
having led them to load with obloquy the memory p. 336, &c. ; Schöll
, Geschichte der Griech. Lit. vol. ii.
of all the leaders of that people. (E. H. B. ) p. 712, &c. ; Hoffmann, Lex. BiH. ) (C. P. M. ]
ONOMASTUS ('Ovómaotos), a confidential OPE'LIUS DIADUMENIANUS. (Dravila
officer of Philip V. of Macedon, for whom he held /MENIANUS. )
## p. 32 (#48) ##############################################
32
OPHELLAS.
OPILIUS.
OPE'LIUS MACRI'NUS. (MACRINUS. ) year, which was suppressed by Agis, the general of
OPHE’LION ('npeniwr). 1. An Athenian Ptolemy. Yet it could not have been long after
comic poet, probably of the Middle Comedy, of that he availed himself of the continued disaffection
whom Suidas says that Athenaeus, in his second of that people towards Egypt to assume the govern-
book, mentions the following as being his plays : - ment of Cyrene as an independent state. The
Δευκαλίων, Κάλλαισχρος, Κένταυρος, Σάτυροι, Μού- continual wars in which Ptolemy was engaged
cai, Movó porol, or rather, according to the emen- against Antigonus, and the natural difficulties of
dation of Toup, Movót ponos. The last three of assailing Cyrene, secured him against invasion ;
these titles are elsewhere assigned by Suidas to and he appears to have continued in undisputed
Phrynichus. In the second book of Athenaeus, possession of the country for near five years.
which Suidas quotes, none of the titles are men- (Paus i. 6. $ 8; Droysen, Hellenism, vol. i. pp.
tioned, but Ophelion is thrice quoted, without the 414, 417. ) The power to which Ophellas had
name of the play referred to (Athen. ii. pp. 43, f. thus attained, and the strong mercenary force
66, d. 67, a. ); and, in the third book, Athenaeus which he was able to bring into the field, caused
quotes the Callaeschrus, and also another play, Agathocles, during his expedition in Africa (B. C.
which Suidas does not mention (iii. p. 106, a. ). | 308) to turn his attention towards the new ruler
The reasons for assigning him to the Middle of Cyrene as likely to prove an useful ally against
Comedy are, the reference to Plato in Athen. ii. the Carthaginians. In order to gain him over he
p. 66, d. , and the statement that he used some promised to cede to him whatever conquests their
verses which were also found in Eubulus (Athen. ii. combined forces might make in Africa, reserving
p. 43, f. , where the name of Ophelion is rightly to himself only the possession of Sicily. The am-
substituted by Porson for that of Philetas). Who bition of Ophellas was thus aroused: he put him-
may have been the Callaeschrus, whose name self at the head of a powerful army, and not with.
formed the title of one of his plays, we cannot standing all the natural obstacles which presented
tell ; but if he was the same as the Callaeschrus, themselves on his route, succeeded in reaching the
who formed the subject of one of the plays of Carthaginian territories after a toilsome and perilous
Theopompus, the date of Ophelion would be fixed march of more than two months' duration. He was
before the 100th Olympiad, B. c. 380. There is, received by his new ally with every demonstration
perhaps, one more reference to Ophelion, again of friendship, and the two armies encamped near
corrupted into Philetas, in Hesychius, s. v. 'lous. each other : but not many days had elapsed when
(Meineke, Frag. Com. Graec. vol. i. p. 415, vol. Agathocles took an opportunity treacherously to
iii. p. 380; Praef. ad Menand. pp. . xi. ) surprise the camp of the Cyrenaeans, and Ophellas
2. A Peripatetic philosopher, the slave and dis- himself perished in the confusion. His troops, thus
ciple of Lycon (Diog. Laërt. v. 73). [P. S. ) left without a leader, joined the standard of
OPHE’LION ('Openiw). 1. A painter of un- | Agathocles. (Diod. IX. 40-42 ; Justin, xxii. 7;
known time and country, on whose pictures of Pan Oros. iv. 6 ; Polyaen. v. 3. $ 4; Suid. 8. v.
'Opén-
and Aërope there are epigrams in the Greek An- nas. ) Justin styles Ophellas “rex Cyrenarum,"
thology. (Anth. Pal. vi. 315, 316 ; Brunck, Anal. but it seems improbable that he had really assumed
vol. ii. p. 382. )
the regal title. He was married to an Athenian,
2. A sculptor, the son of Aristonides, was Eurydice, the daughter of Miltiades, and appears
the maker of a statue of Sextus Pompeius, to have maintained friendly relations with Athens.
in the Royal Museum of Paris. (Clarac, Cutal. (Diod. xx. 40; Plut. Demetr. 14. ) (E. H. B. )
No. 150. )
[P. S. ] OPHELTES ('OpéATT). 1. A son of Lycur.
OPHELLAS ('Opéadas), king or ruler of gus, who was killed by a snake at Nemea, as his
Cyrene, was a native of Pella in Macedonia : his nurse Hypsipyle had left him alone. (Apollod. i.
father's name was Seilenus. He appears to have 9. § 14 ; Paus. ii. 15. § 3 ; comp. ADRASTUS. )
accompanied Alexander during his expedition in 2. One of the Tyrrhenians who wanted to
Asia, but his name is first mentioned as command carry off Dionysus, and were therefore metamor
ing one of the triremes of the fleet of that monarch phosed into dolphins. (Hygin. Fab. 134. )
on the Indus, B. C. 327. (Arrian, Ind. 18. ) 3. The son of Peneleus and father of Dama-
After the death of the Macedonian king, he fol- sichthon, king of Thebes. (Paus. ix. 5. $ 8. ) (LS. )
lowed the fortunes of Ptolemy, by whom he was OPHION ('Odiw), a Titan, was married to
sent, in B. c. 322, at the head of a considerable Eurynome, with whom he shared the supremacy
army, to take advantage of the civil war which had previous to the reign of Cronos and Rhea ; but
broken out in the Cyrenaica. [THIMBRON. ) This being conquered by the latter, he and Eurynome
object he successfully accomplished, totally de- were thrown into Oceanus or Tartarus (Apollon.
feated Thimbron and the party that supported him, Rhod. i. 503, &c. ; Tzetz, ad Lyc. 1191. ) There
and established the supremacy of Egypt over are two other mythical beings of the same name.
Cyrene itself and its dependencies. But shortly (Ov. Met. xii. 245; Claudian. Rapt. Pros. iii.
after, the civil dissensions having broken out 348. )
(L. S. )
again led Ptolemy himself to repair to Cyrene, OPI'LIUS. (OPELIUS. )
which he this time appears to have reduced to com- OPI'LIUS, AURELIUS, the freedman of an
plete subjection. (Diod. xviii. 21; Arrian, ap. Phot. Epicurean, taught at Rome, first philosophy, then
p. 70, a) The subsequent proceedings of Ophellas rhetoric, and, finally, grammar, and is placed by
are involved in great obscurity. It seems certain Suetonius next in order to Saevius Nicanor (Ni-
that he was still left by Ptolemy at this time in CANOR). He gave up his school upon the con-
the government of Cyrene, which he probably condemnation of Rutilius Rufus, whom he accompanied
tinued to hold on behalf of the Egyptian king to Smyma, and there the two friends grew old
until about the year B. C. 313: but no mention is together in the enjoyment of each other's society.
found of his name in the account given by Diodorus He composed several learned works upon various
(xviii
. 79) of the revolt of the Cyrenaeans in that subjects ; one of these in particular, divided into
## p. 33 (#49) ##############################################
OPIMIUS.
33
OPIMIUS.
COIN OP THE OPIMIA GENS.
nine parts, and named Musae, is referred to by the most formidable opponents of C. Gracchus ; and
A. Gellius (i. 25), who quotes from it an expla- accordingly when he first became a candidate for
nation of the word Induciae, accompanied by a the consulship, C. Gracchus used all his influence
most foolish derivation. To another piece terned with the people to induce them to prefer C. Fac-
Pinar an acrostic was prefixed on his own name nius Strabo in his stead. (Plut C. Gracch. 11. )
which he there gare as Opillius. (Sueton. de Gracchus succeeded in his object, and Fannius was
Illustr. Gramm. 6; Lersch, Sprachphilosophie der consul in B. c. 122; but he was unable to prevent
Alten, iii. p. 150. )
[W. R. ) the election of Opimius for the following year, and
OPI'MIA, a vestal virgin in the time of the bad only rendered the latter a still bitterer enemy
second Punic War, was unfaithful to her vow of by the affront he had put upon him. Opimius's col-
chastity, and was in consequence buried alive at league was Q. Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus. The
the Colline gate. (Liv. xxii. 57. )
history of the consulship of Opimius, B. c. 121, is
OPI'MIÅ GENS, plebeian, is first mentioned given at length in the life of C. Gracchus. It is
in the time of the Samnite wars. The first only necessary to state here in general, that Opi-
member of the gens who obtained the consulship, mius entered, with all the zeal of an unscrupulous
was Q. Opimius, in B. C. 154. The only con. partisan and the animosity of a personal enemy,
nomen of ihe Opimii is Pansa, but the niore dis into the measures which the senate adopted to
tinguished persons of this name are mentioned crush Gracchus, and forced on matters to an open
without any surname. On coins the name is rupture. As soon as he was armed by the senate
always written Opeinius, as in the annexed spe with the well-known decree, “ That the consuls
cimen, which represents on the obverse the head should take care that the republic suffered no in-
of Pallas, and on the reverse Apollo in a chariot jury," he resolved to make away with Gracchus,
bending his bow, with M. OPrim. Roma. None and succeeded, as is related in the life of the latter,
of the coins of this gens can be referred with cer- Opimius and his party abused their victory most
tainty to any particular person.
savagely, and are said to have killed more than
three thousand persons. (For details see Vol. II.
pp. 197, 198, and the authorities there quoted. ]
In the following year, B. C. 120, Opimius was
accused by Q. Decius, tribune of the plebs, of hav.
ing put Roman citizens to death without a trial.
He was defended by the consul, C. Papirius Carbo,
who had formerly belonged to the party of Grac-
chus, but had gone over to that of the aristocracy.
Although the judices now belonged to the eques-
trian order by one of the laws of Gracchus, they
OPIMIUS. 1. C. Opimius Pansa, quaestor were too much terrified by the events of the pre-
B. C. 294, was killed in the quaestorium or quaes ceding year to condemn the person who had been
tor's tent, in an attack made by the Samnites the prime mover in them, and accordingly acquitted
upon the Roman camp. (Liv. x. 32. )
the accused. (Liv. Epit. 61 ; Cic. de Orat. ii. 25. )
2. Q. OPIMIUS Q. F. Q. N. , was consul B. c. Opimius thus escaped for the present, but his ve-
154, with L. Postumius Albinus. Opimius in his nality and corruption brought him before the judices
consulship carried on war with the Oxybii and again a few years afterwards, when he met with a
Deciatae, Ligurian tribes on the northern side of different fate. He had been at the head of the
the Alps, who had attacked the territory of the commission which was sent into Africa in 3. c. 112,
people of Massilia, the allies of the Roman people, in order to divide the dominions of Micipsa be-
and had laid waste the towns of Antipolis and tween Jugurtha and Adherbal, and had allowed
Nicaea, which belonged to Massilia. Opimius himself to be bribed by Jugurtha, to assign to him
subdued these people without any difficulty, and the better part of the country. This scandalous
obtained in consequence the honour of a triumph. conduct had passed unnoticed at the time ; but
(Polyb. xxxiii. 5, 7, 8; Liv. Epit. 47 ; Fasti when the defeat of the Roman army, through the
Capit. ; Obsequ. 76. ) This Opimius seems to misconduct of Albinus, in B. c. 109, had roused
have been a man of as little principle as his son, the indignation of the Roman people, the tribune,
and was notorious in bis youth for his riotous C. Mamilius Limetanus, brought forward a bill for
living. Lucilius described him as “ formosus homo inquiry into the conduct of all those who had re-
et famosus” (Nonius, iv. . v. Fuma, p. 658, ed.
manded a division of the Phocian army under Phi- whose instrument he was, together with CASKAN-
Jomelus, in the action at Tithorea, in which the DER (No. 4), in the massacre of the Maronites.
latter perished ; and after the battle gathered to- Appius Claudius, and the other Roman coinmis-
gether the remains of the Phocian army, with sioners, required that Philip should send Onomastus
which he effected his retreat to Delphi. An and Cassander to Rome to be examined about the
assembly of the people was now held, in which Ono- massacre ; whereupon the king despatched Cas-
marchus strongly urged the prosecution of the war, sander, and had him poisoned on the way, but
in opposition to the counsels of the more moderate persisted in declaring that Onomastus bad not been
party, and succeeded in obtaining his own nomi- in or near Maroneia at the time ; the fact being
nation to the chief command in the place of Philo-(as Polybius and Livy tell us) that he was too
melus, B. c. 353. He was, however, far from deep in the royal secrets to be trusted at Rome.
imitating the moderation of his predecessor: he we hear again of Onomastus as one of the two
confiscated the property of all those who were assessors of Philip at the private trial of De-
opposed to him, and squandered without scruple the METKIUS, for the alleged attempt on the life of his
sacred treasures of Delphi. The latter enabled brother Perseus, B. c. 182. (Polyb. xxiii. 13, 14 ;
him not only to assemble and maintain a large Liv. xxxix. 34, xl. 8. )
(E. E. )
body of mercenary troops, but to spend large sums ONOSANDER ('Ovóoavāpos), the author of a
in bribing many of the leading persons in the hos- celebrated work on military tactics, entitled Etpa-
tile states ; by which means he succeeded in pre- angids bos, which is still extant. All sub-
railing on the Thessalians to abandon their allies, sequent Greek and Roman writers on the same
and take up a neutral position. Thus freed from subject made this work their text-book (the en-
his most formidable antagonists, he was more than perors Mauricius and Leon did little more than
a match for his remaining foes. He now invaded express in the corrupt style of their age what they
Locris, took the town of Thronium, and compelled found in Onosander, whom Leon calls Onesander),
that of Amphissa to submit ; ravaged the Dorian and it is even still held in considerable estimation.
Tetrapolis, and then turned his arms against Count Moritz of Saxony professed to have derived
Boeotia, where he took Orchomenus and laid siege great benefit from the perusal of a translation of it.
to Chaeroneia, but was compelled to retreat with Onosander appears to have lived about the middle
out effecting anything more. His assistance was of the first century after Christ. His work is dedi-
dow requested by Lycophron, tyrant of Pherae, cated to Q. Veranius, who is generally supposed to
who was attacked by Philip, king of Macedonia ; be identical with the Q. Veranius Nepos who was
and he at first sent his brother Phayllus into consul in a. D. 49. Onosander also remarks in his
Thessaly with an army of 7000 men. But Phayllus preface that his work was written in time of peace.
baving been defeated by Philip, Onomarchus It might very well have been written, therefore,
marched with his whole forces to the support of between A. D. 49 and A. D. 59. If the consul of
Lycophron, defeated Philip in two successive A. D. 49 was the person to whom the work was de-
battles, and drove him out of Thessaly. He next dicated, it would agree very well with all the other
turned his arms a second time against the Boeotians, data, that this Veranius accompanied Didius Gallus
whom he defeated in a battle, and took the city of into Britain, and died before the expiration of a
Coroneia, when he was recalled once more to the year.
assistance of Lycophron, against Philip, who had Onosander was a disciple of the Platonic school
again invaded Thessaly. Onomarchus hastened to of philosophy, and, according to Suidas, besides his
support his ally with an army of 20,000 foot and work on tactics, wrote one Niep. otpatnymuátwv
500 borse, but was met by Philip at the head of (unless, as some suppose, the words Taktid repl
a force still more numerous, and a pitched battle otpatmuatw in Suidas are a description of one
ensued, in which the superiority of the Thessalian and the same work, the one still extant), and a
cavalry decided the victory in favour of the king. commentary on the Republic of Plato. The two latter
Onomarchus himself, with many of the fugitives, have perished. In his style he imitated Xenophon
plunged into the sea in hopes to reach by swim- with some success. Nothing further is known of
ming the Athenian ships under Chares, which were his personal history. It is conjectured that he must
lying off the shore, but perished in the waves, or, himself have been engaged in military service.
according to Pausanias, by the darts of his own Onosander's work appeared first in a Latin
soldiers. His body fell into the hands of Philip, translation by Nicolaus Saguntinus, Rome, 1494.
who caused it to be crucified, as a punishment for a French translation by Jehan Charrier appeared
his sacrilege. His death took place in B. c. 352 at Paris in 1546 ; an Italian translation by Fabio
(Diod. xvi. 31-33, 35, 56, 61 ; Paus. x. 2. & 5; Cotta, Venice, 1546 ; and another Latin translation
Justin. viii. 1, 2; Polyaen. ii. 38 ; Ephorus, fr. by Joachim Camerarius, in 1595. It was not till
153, ed. Didot ; Oros. iii. 12; Wesseling, ad 1599 that the Greek text was published, together
Diod. xvi. 35 ; Dem. de Pals. Leg. p. 443). We with the énitudevua of Urbicius, published by Nic.
are told that Onomnarchus was a man of luxu. Rigaltius, Paris, 1599. The best edition is that
rious habits, and that he made use of the sacred by Nic. Schwebel, Nürnberg, 1761, folio. This
treasures, not only for the purposes of the state, edition contains the French translation by M. le
but to minister to his own pleasures (Theopomp. ap. Baron de Zur-Lauben. In this edition the editor
Athen. xiii. p. 605); but it is difficult to know what availed himself of the manuscript notes by Jos.
value to attach to such statements ; the religious Scaliger and Is. Vossius, which are preserved in
character assumed by the enemies of the Phocians the library at Leyden. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. iv,
having led them to load with obloquy the memory p. 336, &c. ; Schöll
, Geschichte der Griech. Lit. vol. ii.
of all the leaders of that people. (E. H. B. ) p. 712, &c. ; Hoffmann, Lex. BiH. ) (C. P. M. ]
ONOMASTUS ('Ovómaotos), a confidential OPE'LIUS DIADUMENIANUS. (Dravila
officer of Philip V. of Macedon, for whom he held /MENIANUS. )
## p. 32 (#48) ##############################################
32
OPHELLAS.
OPILIUS.
OPE'LIUS MACRI'NUS. (MACRINUS. ) year, which was suppressed by Agis, the general of
OPHE’LION ('npeniwr). 1. An Athenian Ptolemy. Yet it could not have been long after
comic poet, probably of the Middle Comedy, of that he availed himself of the continued disaffection
whom Suidas says that Athenaeus, in his second of that people towards Egypt to assume the govern-
book, mentions the following as being his plays : - ment of Cyrene as an independent state. The
Δευκαλίων, Κάλλαισχρος, Κένταυρος, Σάτυροι, Μού- continual wars in which Ptolemy was engaged
cai, Movó porol, or rather, according to the emen- against Antigonus, and the natural difficulties of
dation of Toup, Movót ponos. The last three of assailing Cyrene, secured him against invasion ;
these titles are elsewhere assigned by Suidas to and he appears to have continued in undisputed
Phrynichus. In the second book of Athenaeus, possession of the country for near five years.
which Suidas quotes, none of the titles are men- (Paus i. 6. $ 8; Droysen, Hellenism, vol. i. pp.
tioned, but Ophelion is thrice quoted, without the 414, 417. ) The power to which Ophellas had
name of the play referred to (Athen. ii. pp. 43, f. thus attained, and the strong mercenary force
66, d. 67, a. ); and, in the third book, Athenaeus which he was able to bring into the field, caused
quotes the Callaeschrus, and also another play, Agathocles, during his expedition in Africa (B. C.
which Suidas does not mention (iii. p. 106, a. ). | 308) to turn his attention towards the new ruler
The reasons for assigning him to the Middle of Cyrene as likely to prove an useful ally against
Comedy are, the reference to Plato in Athen. ii. the Carthaginians. In order to gain him over he
p. 66, d. , and the statement that he used some promised to cede to him whatever conquests their
verses which were also found in Eubulus (Athen. ii. combined forces might make in Africa, reserving
p. 43, f. , where the name of Ophelion is rightly to himself only the possession of Sicily. The am-
substituted by Porson for that of Philetas). Who bition of Ophellas was thus aroused: he put him-
may have been the Callaeschrus, whose name self at the head of a powerful army, and not with.
formed the title of one of his plays, we cannot standing all the natural obstacles which presented
tell ; but if he was the same as the Callaeschrus, themselves on his route, succeeded in reaching the
who formed the subject of one of the plays of Carthaginian territories after a toilsome and perilous
Theopompus, the date of Ophelion would be fixed march of more than two months' duration. He was
before the 100th Olympiad, B. c. 380. There is, received by his new ally with every demonstration
perhaps, one more reference to Ophelion, again of friendship, and the two armies encamped near
corrupted into Philetas, in Hesychius, s. v. 'lous. each other : but not many days had elapsed when
(Meineke, Frag. Com. Graec. vol. i. p. 415, vol. Agathocles took an opportunity treacherously to
iii. p. 380; Praef. ad Menand. pp. . xi. ) surprise the camp of the Cyrenaeans, and Ophellas
2. A Peripatetic philosopher, the slave and dis- himself perished in the confusion. His troops, thus
ciple of Lycon (Diog. Laërt. v. 73). [P. S. ) left without a leader, joined the standard of
OPHE’LION ('Openiw). 1. A painter of un- | Agathocles. (Diod. IX. 40-42 ; Justin, xxii. 7;
known time and country, on whose pictures of Pan Oros. iv. 6 ; Polyaen. v. 3. $ 4; Suid. 8. v.
'Opén-
and Aërope there are epigrams in the Greek An- nas. ) Justin styles Ophellas “rex Cyrenarum,"
thology. (Anth. Pal. vi. 315, 316 ; Brunck, Anal. but it seems improbable that he had really assumed
vol. ii. p. 382. )
the regal title. He was married to an Athenian,
2. A sculptor, the son of Aristonides, was Eurydice, the daughter of Miltiades, and appears
the maker of a statue of Sextus Pompeius, to have maintained friendly relations with Athens.
in the Royal Museum of Paris. (Clarac, Cutal. (Diod. xx. 40; Plut. Demetr. 14. ) (E. H. B. )
No. 150. )
[P. S. ] OPHELTES ('OpéATT). 1. A son of Lycur.
OPHELLAS ('Opéadas), king or ruler of gus, who was killed by a snake at Nemea, as his
Cyrene, was a native of Pella in Macedonia : his nurse Hypsipyle had left him alone. (Apollod. i.
father's name was Seilenus. He appears to have 9. § 14 ; Paus. ii. 15. § 3 ; comp. ADRASTUS. )
accompanied Alexander during his expedition in 2. One of the Tyrrhenians who wanted to
Asia, but his name is first mentioned as command carry off Dionysus, and were therefore metamor
ing one of the triremes of the fleet of that monarch phosed into dolphins. (Hygin. Fab. 134. )
on the Indus, B. C. 327. (Arrian, Ind. 18. ) 3. The son of Peneleus and father of Dama-
After the death of the Macedonian king, he fol- sichthon, king of Thebes. (Paus. ix. 5. $ 8. ) (LS. )
lowed the fortunes of Ptolemy, by whom he was OPHION ('Odiw), a Titan, was married to
sent, in B. c. 322, at the head of a considerable Eurynome, with whom he shared the supremacy
army, to take advantage of the civil war which had previous to the reign of Cronos and Rhea ; but
broken out in the Cyrenaica. [THIMBRON. ) This being conquered by the latter, he and Eurynome
object he successfully accomplished, totally de- were thrown into Oceanus or Tartarus (Apollon.
feated Thimbron and the party that supported him, Rhod. i. 503, &c. ; Tzetz, ad Lyc. 1191. ) There
and established the supremacy of Egypt over are two other mythical beings of the same name.
Cyrene itself and its dependencies. But shortly (Ov. Met. xii. 245; Claudian. Rapt. Pros. iii.
after, the civil dissensions having broken out 348. )
(L. S. )
again led Ptolemy himself to repair to Cyrene, OPI'LIUS. (OPELIUS. )
which he this time appears to have reduced to com- OPI'LIUS, AURELIUS, the freedman of an
plete subjection. (Diod. xviii. 21; Arrian, ap. Phot. Epicurean, taught at Rome, first philosophy, then
p. 70, a) The subsequent proceedings of Ophellas rhetoric, and, finally, grammar, and is placed by
are involved in great obscurity. It seems certain Suetonius next in order to Saevius Nicanor (Ni-
that he was still left by Ptolemy at this time in CANOR). He gave up his school upon the con-
the government of Cyrene, which he probably condemnation of Rutilius Rufus, whom he accompanied
tinued to hold on behalf of the Egyptian king to Smyma, and there the two friends grew old
until about the year B. C. 313: but no mention is together in the enjoyment of each other's society.
found of his name in the account given by Diodorus He composed several learned works upon various
(xviii
. 79) of the revolt of the Cyrenaeans in that subjects ; one of these in particular, divided into
## p. 33 (#49) ##############################################
OPIMIUS.
33
OPIMIUS.
COIN OP THE OPIMIA GENS.
nine parts, and named Musae, is referred to by the most formidable opponents of C. Gracchus ; and
A. Gellius (i. 25), who quotes from it an expla- accordingly when he first became a candidate for
nation of the word Induciae, accompanied by a the consulship, C. Gracchus used all his influence
most foolish derivation. To another piece terned with the people to induce them to prefer C. Fac-
Pinar an acrostic was prefixed on his own name nius Strabo in his stead. (Plut C. Gracch. 11. )
which he there gare as Opillius. (Sueton. de Gracchus succeeded in his object, and Fannius was
Illustr. Gramm. 6; Lersch, Sprachphilosophie der consul in B. c. 122; but he was unable to prevent
Alten, iii. p. 150. )
[W. R. ) the election of Opimius for the following year, and
OPI'MIA, a vestal virgin in the time of the bad only rendered the latter a still bitterer enemy
second Punic War, was unfaithful to her vow of by the affront he had put upon him. Opimius's col-
chastity, and was in consequence buried alive at league was Q. Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus. The
the Colline gate. (Liv. xxii. 57. )
history of the consulship of Opimius, B. c. 121, is
OPI'MIÅ GENS, plebeian, is first mentioned given at length in the life of C. Gracchus. It is
in the time of the Samnite wars. The first only necessary to state here in general, that Opi-
member of the gens who obtained the consulship, mius entered, with all the zeal of an unscrupulous
was Q. Opimius, in B. C. 154. The only con. partisan and the animosity of a personal enemy,
nomen of ihe Opimii is Pansa, but the niore dis into the measures which the senate adopted to
tinguished persons of this name are mentioned crush Gracchus, and forced on matters to an open
without any surname. On coins the name is rupture. As soon as he was armed by the senate
always written Opeinius, as in the annexed spe with the well-known decree, “ That the consuls
cimen, which represents on the obverse the head should take care that the republic suffered no in-
of Pallas, and on the reverse Apollo in a chariot jury," he resolved to make away with Gracchus,
bending his bow, with M. OPrim. Roma. None and succeeded, as is related in the life of the latter,
of the coins of this gens can be referred with cer- Opimius and his party abused their victory most
tainty to any particular person.
savagely, and are said to have killed more than
three thousand persons. (For details see Vol. II.
pp. 197, 198, and the authorities there quoted. ]
In the following year, B. C. 120, Opimius was
accused by Q. Decius, tribune of the plebs, of hav.
ing put Roman citizens to death without a trial.
He was defended by the consul, C. Papirius Carbo,
who had formerly belonged to the party of Grac-
chus, but had gone over to that of the aristocracy.
Although the judices now belonged to the eques-
trian order by one of the laws of Gracchus, they
OPIMIUS. 1. C. Opimius Pansa, quaestor were too much terrified by the events of the pre-
B. C. 294, was killed in the quaestorium or quaes ceding year to condemn the person who had been
tor's tent, in an attack made by the Samnites the prime mover in them, and accordingly acquitted
upon the Roman camp. (Liv. x. 32. )
the accused. (Liv. Epit. 61 ; Cic. de Orat. ii. 25. )
2. Q. OPIMIUS Q. F. Q. N. , was consul B. c. Opimius thus escaped for the present, but his ve-
154, with L. Postumius Albinus. Opimius in his nality and corruption brought him before the judices
consulship carried on war with the Oxybii and again a few years afterwards, when he met with a
Deciatae, Ligurian tribes on the northern side of different fate. He had been at the head of the
the Alps, who had attacked the territory of the commission which was sent into Africa in 3. c. 112,
people of Massilia, the allies of the Roman people, in order to divide the dominions of Micipsa be-
and had laid waste the towns of Antipolis and tween Jugurtha and Adherbal, and had allowed
Nicaea, which belonged to Massilia. Opimius himself to be bribed by Jugurtha, to assign to him
subdued these people without any difficulty, and the better part of the country. This scandalous
obtained in consequence the honour of a triumph. conduct had passed unnoticed at the time ; but
(Polyb. xxxiii. 5, 7, 8; Liv. Epit. 47 ; Fasti when the defeat of the Roman army, through the
Capit. ; Obsequ. 76. ) This Opimius seems to misconduct of Albinus, in B. c. 109, had roused
have been a man of as little principle as his son, the indignation of the Roman people, the tribune,
and was notorious in bis youth for his riotous C. Mamilius Limetanus, brought forward a bill for
living. Lucilius described him as “ formosus homo inquiry into the conduct of all those who had re-
et famosus” (Nonius, iv. . v. Fuma, p. 658, ed.
