]
partially concealed by a veil.
partially concealed by a veil.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
c.
26) and Asterius of Amascia ing light (id PWOTIKÓV), which they compared to
(npud Phot. Bibl. cod. 271), call him a Libyan, the Son ; of imparting warmth (od Sátor), which
and Theodoret repeats the statement, with the they compared to the Spirit ; and its orbicular
addition that he was a native of the Libyan Penta form, the form of its whole substance (rò eloos
polis (Haeretic. Fabul. Compend. lib. ii. 9). Diony. raons tñs UroOTÁO ews), which they compared to
sius of Alexandria (apud Euseb. H. E. vii. 6) the Father. And that the Son having been once
speaks of the Sabellian doctrine as originating in on a time (Kacpco Tote) sent forth as a ray, and
the Pentapolitan Ptolemais, of which town, there having wrought in the world all things needful to
fore, we may conclude that Sabellius was a resident, the Gospel economy and the salvation of men, had
if not a native. Timotheus, the presbyter of Con- been received up again into heaven, like a ray
stantinople, in his work De Triplici Receptione emitted from the sun, and returning again to the
Ilaerclicorum (apud Coteler. Eccles. Graec. Monum. sun. And that the Holy Spirit is sent into the
vol. iii. p. 385), distinguishes Sabellius the Libyan world successively and severally to each one who
from Sabellius of the Pentapolis, but without is worthy (kal kabetñs xal ka ēkaota eis eka-
reason : and his inaccuracy in this respect throws OTOV Tâv katašcovnévwv), to impart to such a one
doubt on his unsupported assertion that Sabellius new birth and fervour (ávaš woyoveiv 8è adv
was bishop of the Pentapolis. Abulpharagius TOLOÛTOV Kal ávacée. v), and to cherish and warm
(Hist. Dynastiar. p. 81, vers. Pocock) calls him a him, so to speak, by the power and co-operation
presbyter of Byzantium, and places him in the ovuldoews) of the Holy Spirit" (ibid. ). Accord-
reign of Gallus and Volusianus, A. D. 252, 253. ing to Basil (Ep. 214), Sabellius spoke of persons
That he was of Byzantium is contradicted by all in God, but apparently only in the sense of
other accounts ; but the date assigned is sufficiently characters or representations —" that God was one
in accordance with other authorities to be received. in hypostasis, but was represented in Scripture
Philastrius (ibid. ) calls him a disciple of Noetus, under different persons : ένα μεν είναι τη υπο-
but it does not appear that this means anything | στάσει τον Θεόν, προσωποποιείσθαι δε υπό της
more than that he embraced views similar to those ypaoñs drapópws. Epiphanius charges them with
of Noetus, who was of Asia Minor ; either of deriving their opinions from Apocryphal writings,
Smyrna (Theodoret. ibid. iii. 3) or of Ephesus and especially from the spurious Gospel of the
(Epiphan. Haeres. lvii. ), and flourished about the Egyptians; and Neander (Church Hist. by Rose,
middle of the third century. When Sabellius vol. ii. p. 276) thinks this statement is by no
broached his doctrines they excited great commotions means to be rejected. However this may be (and
among the Christians of the Pentapolis ; and both we think the authority of Epiphanius in such a
parties appealed to Dionysius of Alexandria, and case of little moment), their main reliance in argu-
endeavoured to secure him to their side. Dionysius ment was upon passages in the Canonical Scrip-
wrote letters to them, which are not extant. There tures, especially on that in Deut. vi. 4, “ Hear o
can be no doubt that he embraced the side of the Israel, the Lord thy God is one Lord," and on Ex.
opponents of Sabellianism, which he brands as XX. 3, Is. xliv. 6, John, x. 30, 38, and xiv. 10.
inpious and very blasphemous dogma : but it They dwelt also on the obvious difficulties in the
does not appear that he wrote to Sabellius bimsell, popular view of the Godhead, asking the simpler
nor do we even know whether Sabellius was then and less-informed believers, “ What shall we say
living (Euseb. H. E. vii. 6). From the manner then, have we one God or three? " And thus,
in which Athanasius (Epistol. de Sententia Dionysii, says Epiphanius, they led the perturbed Christian
c. 5) relates the matter, Dionysius was not engagedunconsciously to deny God, that is, unconsciously
in controversy with Sabellius himself, but with to deny the existence of the Son and the Holy
some bishops of his party ; from which it is not Spirit. ” It is evident, however, that this denial
improbable that Sabellius was already dead. The was only the denial of their existence as distinct
intervention of Dionysius is placed by Tillemont hypostases from the Father. The heresy of Sa-
in A. D. 257, and by the Benedictine editors of bellius approximated very nearly to that of Noëtus,
Athanasius (l. c. ) in A. D. 263. Indeed it is pro- so that Augustin wonders that Epiphanius should
bable, from the scanty notices we have of Sabellius, have distinguished the Sabellian heresy from the
that his heresy was not broached till just before Noëtian: but Sabellius did not affirm that the
his death. His opinions were widely diffused, and Father suffered, though the name of Patripassions
Epiphanius (Haeres, lxii. ) found many who held was given to his followers (Athanas. De Synodis, c.
them both in the East and West, in the plains of 7 ; Augustin, De Haeres. xli. ): and Mosheim has
Mesopotamia, and in the busy population of Rome. well observed that Sabellius did not, like Noëtus,
The characteristic dogma of Sabellius related to hold that the divine hypostasis was absolutely one,
the Divine Nature, in which he conceived that and that it assumed and united to itself the human
there was only one hypostasis or person, identify- nature of Christ ; but contended that “a certain
ing with each other the Father, the Son, and the energy (vim) emitted from the Father of all, or, if
Spirit, “ so that in one hypostasis there are three you choose, a part of the person and nature of the
designations," ws elva. év mią úrootéger tpeis Father, was united to the man Christ. " (Basil,
brouagias (Epiphan. Haeres. Ixii
. 1). Epiphanius Epistol. 210, 214, ed. Benedictin, 64, 349, editt.
further illustrates the Sabellian hypothesis by com- prior. ; comp. Epiphan. 1. c. ; Augustin, De llueres,
an
## p. 686 (#702) ############################################
686
SABINA.
SABINA.
Covy
ANAVG
xli. ; Philastrius, De llaeres. post Christi Pas | with the title of Augusta, as appears from her
sionem, xxvi. ; Athanns. Contra Arianos Oratio medals. She received her title at the same time as
III. iv. , IV. cxxv. , De Synoilis, c. vii. ; Dionys. / Hadrian was called Pater Patriae. (Oros. vii. 13. )
Romanus, npud Athanas. Epistola de Sententia Orosius supposes that this took place at the bes
Dionysii, cxxvi. ; Theodoret, Mueret. Fabul. Com- ginning of the reign of Hadrian, but Eckhel has
y end. ii. 9. )
shown that it must be referred to A. D. 128. Sabina
From the manner in which Athanasius argues was enrolled among the gods after her death, as we
against the Sabellians (Orat. contra Ariunos, c. 11, see from medals which bear Divae Salinae. She is
25), it appears that they considered the emission of frequently called Julia Sabina by modern writers :
the divine energy, the Son, to have been antecedent but the name of Julia is found only on the forgid
to creation, and needful to effect it: “ That we coins of Goltzius. (Eckhel, vol. vi. pp. 519–523. )
might be created the Word proceeded forth, and
from his proceeding forth we exist" (iva puris
κτισθώμεν προήλθεν ο λόγος και προελθόντος αυτού
couer), is the form in which Athanasius (c. 25)
states the doctrine of the Sabellians. The return
of the Son into the Father appears also to have been
regarded as subsequent to the consummation of all
things (comp. Greg. Thaumaturgi Fides, apud Mai,
Scriptor. Vet. Nova Collectio, vol. vii. p. 171),
and therefore as yet to come.
Neander (1. c. )
COIN OF SABINA, TIE WIFE OF HADRIAN.
says that Sabellius considered “ human souls to be
a revelation or partial out-beaming of the divine SABI'NA, POPPAEA, first the mistress and
Logos," but gives no authority for the statement. afterwards the wife of Nero, belonged to a noble
(The ancient authorities for this article have family at Rome, and was one of the most beautiful
been already cited. There are notices of Sabellius women of her age. Her father was T. Ollius, who
and his doctrine in the following modern writers : | perished at the fall of his patron Sejanus ; and her
Tillemont, Mémoires, vol. iv. p. 237, &c. ; Lardner, maternal grandfather was Poppaeus Sabinus, who
Credibility, fc. , pt. ii. bk. i. c. xliii. $ 7; Mosheim, had been consul in A. D. 9, and whose name she
De Rebus Christianor, ante Constantin. Magnum, assumed as more illustrious than that of her father.
Saec. iii. & xxxiii. ; Neander, l. c. ; Milman, Hist. Poppaea herself, says Tacitus, possessed erery
of Christianity, vol. ii. p. 429. ) [J. C. M. ) thing except a virtuous mind. From her mother
SABELLUS, a contemporary of Martial, was she inherited surpassing beauty ; her fortune was
the author of some obscene poems. (Mart. xii. 43. ) sufficient to support the splendour of her birth ; her
SABI'DIUS, a friend of C. Antonius, Cicero's conversation was distinguished by sprightliness and
colleague in the consulship (Q. Cic. de Pet. Cons. vivacity; and her modest appearance only gave a
2. $ 8). The name occurs in inscriptions, but is greater zest to her favours. She rarely appeared in
not found in writers.
public; and whenever she did so, her face was
SABICTAS. [ABISTAMENES.
]
partially concealed by a veil. She was careless of
SABI'NA, the wife of the emperor Hadrian her reputation ; but in her amours she always con-
was the grand-niece of Trajan, being the daughter sulted her interest, and did not gratify blindly either
of Matidia, who was the daughter of Marciana, the her own passions or those of others. She had been
sister of Trajan. Sabina was married to Hadrian originally married to Rufius Crispinus, praefect of
about A. D. 100 through the influence of Plotina, the praetorian troops under Claudius, by whom she
the wife of Trajan, but not with the full appro- had a son, but she afterwards became the mistress
bation of the latter. The marriage did not prove of Otho, who was one of the boon companions of
a happy one. Hadrian complained of his wife's Nero, and by whose means she hoped to attract
temper, and said that he would have divorced her the notice of the emperor. Having obtained a
if he had been in a private station ; while she divorce from Rufius, she married Otho. Her hus-
used to boast that she had taken care not to propa- band extolled her charms with such rapture to the
gate the race of such a tyrant. But, although emperor, that he soon became anxious to see the
Hadrian treated her almost like a slave, he would lovely wife of his friend. Poppaea, who was a per-
not allow others to fail in their respect towards the fect coquette, first employed all her blandishments
empress ; aud, accordingly, when Septicius Clarus, to win the prince, and when she saw that she had
the praefect of the praetorian cohorts, Suetonius secured her prize she affected modesty, and pleaded
Tranquillus, and many other high officers at the that respect for her husband would not allow her
court behaved rudely to her during the expedition to yield to the emperor's wishes. Such conduct
into Britain, Hadrian dismissed them all from their had the desired effect. Nero became more ardent
employments. Worn out by his ill-treatment in his passion, and to remove Otho out of the way
Sabina at length put an end to her life. There sent him to govern the province of Lusitania. This
was a report that she had even been poisoned by was in A. D. 58. (Tac. Ann. xiii. 45, 46. ) Other
her husband. Spartianus speaks as if she had died writers give rather a different account of Poppaea's
about two years before Hadrian, and it appears first acquaintance with Nero. They relate that
from a coin of Amisus, that she was alive in A. D. Otho married Poppaea at the request of Nero, who
136. Tillemont supposes that she did not die till was anxious to conceal the intrigue from his mo-
after the adoption of Antoninus, since the latter ther, and that the two friends enjoyed her toge-
calls her his mother in an inscription. This, how ther, till the emperor became jealous of Otho and
ever, is scarcely sufficient evidence. Antoninus was sent him into Lusitania. This was the account
adopted in February, A. D. 138, and Hadrian died which Tacitus appears to have received when he
in July in the same year. (Spartian, Hadr. 1,2, 11, was composing his Histories (Hist. i. 13); but as
23 ; Aurel. Vich. Epit. 14. ) Sabina was honoured | he relates the circumstances at greater length in his
## p. 687 (#703) ############################################
SABINA.
687
SABINUS.
SE BAIE
Orvasi
ВВА.
FOTTHIASAN
Annals, which were written subsequently, he had
110 doubt obtained satisfactory authority for the
account which he there gives.
Poppaea now became the acknowledged mistress
of Nero, but this did not satisfy her ambition. She
was anxious to be his wife. But as long as Agrippina,
the mother of Nero, was alive, she could scarcely
hope to obtain this honour. She therefore employed
all her influence with Nero to excite his resent-
ment against his mother; and by her arts, seconded
as they were by the numerous enemies of Agrip-
pina, Nero was induced to put his mother to death
in A. D. 59. Still she did not immediately obtain COIN OP POPPAEA SABINA, THE WIFE OF NERO.
the great object of her desires ; for although Nero
hated his wife Octavia, he yielded for a time to the SABI'NIA, FU'RIA, or SABI'NA TRAN.
advice of his best counsellors, not to divorce the QUILLI'NA, daughter of Misitheus (M181-
woman who had brought him the empire. At THEUS), and wife of the third Gordian. From
length, however, Poppaca, who still continued to numbers exhibited upon coins of Alexandria and of
exercise a complete sway over the emperor, induced Cappadocian Caesareia numismatologists have con-
him to put away Octavia, in A. D. 62, on the plea cluded that the marriage took place, a. D. 241,
of barrenness, and to marry her a days after- but it is not known whether they ha any pro-
wards. But Poppaea did not feel secure as long as geny, nor have any indications been preserved of
Octavia was alive, and by working alternately upon her fate after the death of her father and her
the fears and passions of her husband, she prevailed husband, A. D. 241. (Capitolin. Gordian. tres, 23;
upon him to put the unhappy girl to death in the Eutrop. ix. 2 ; Eckhel, vol. vii. p. 318. ) (W. R. ]
course of the same year. (OCTAVIA, No. 3. ) Thus SABINIANUS, a friend of the younger Pliny
two of the greatest crimes of Nero's life, the mur- who addressed two letters to him (Ep. ix. 21, 24).
der of his mother and of his wife, were committed SABINIANUS, a Roman general in the reign
at the instigation of Poppaea
of Constans, who appointed him in A. D. 359 to
In the following year, A. D. 63, Poppaea was supersede the brave Ursicinus in the command of
delivered of a daughter at Antium. This event the
army employed against the Persian king Sapor
caused Nero the most extravagant joy, and was or Shapur. The choice was a very bad one, for
celebrated with public games and other rejoicings. Sabinianus was not only an incompetent general,
Poppaea received on the occasion the title of Au- though he had many campaigns, but was a
gusta. The infant, however, died at the age of traitor and a coward. He had scarcely taken the
four months, and was enrolled among the gods. In command, when Ursicivus was ordered to serve
A. D. 65 Poppaea was pregnant again, but was under him, that he might do the work, while
killed by a kick from her brutal husband in a fit of Sabinianus enjoyed the honour. But Sabinianus
passion. It was reported by some that he had could not even secure to himself the anticipated suc-
poisoned her; but Tacitus gave no credit to this cess. Through his cowardice Amida, the bulwark of
account, since Nero was desirous of offspring, and the empire in Mesopotamia, was lost, and its gar-
continued to the last epamoured of his wife. Her rison massacred. Among the few who escaped the
body was not burnt, according to the Roman custom, fury of the Persians was Ammianus Marcellinus,
but embalmed, and was deposited in the sepulchre who served in the staff of Ursicinus. The reason
of the Julii. She received the honour of a public why Sabinianus did not relieve Amida as he was
funeral, and her funeral oration was pronounced by urged to do by Ursicinus, was a secret order of the
Nero himself. She was enrolled among the gods, court eunuch, to cause as much disgrace to Ursi-
and a magnificent temple was dedicated to her by cinus as possible, in order to prevent him from
Nero, which bore the inscription Sabinae deae Veneri regaining his former influence and power. In this
matronae fecerunt. Nero continued to cherish her they succeeded completely, for after his return to
memory, and subsequently married a youth of the Constantinople in 360, Ursicinus was banished
name of Sporus, on account of his likeness to Pop- from the court and ended his days in obscurity.
paea. (SPORUS. ) But though the emperor lamented A similar though better-deserved fate was destined
her death, the people rejoiced at it on account of for Sabinianus, for on the accession of Julian, he
her cruelty and licentiousness ; and the only class shrunk back from public life, and was no longer
in the empire who regretted her may have been heard of. There was another Roman general,
the Jews, whose cause she had defended. It is Sabinianus, a worthy man_and distinguished
rather curious to find Josephus (Ant. xx. 8. § 11) captain, who was worsted by Theodoric the Great,
calling this adulteress and murderess a pious woman. in the decisive battle of Margas. (Amm. Marc.
Poppaea was inordinately fond of luxury and xviii. 4, &c. , xix. 1, &c. ; Zonar. vol. ii. p. 20, &c.
pomp, and took immense pains to preserve the éd. Paris. )
[W. P. )
beauty of her person. Thus we are told that all SABI'NUS. 1. A contemporary poet and a
her mules were shod with gold, and that five hun- friend of Ovid, known to us only from two pas-
dred asses were daily milked to supply her with a sages of the works of the latter. From one of
bath.
these (Am. ii. 18. 27—34) we learn that Sabinus
(Tac. Ann. xiii. 45, 46, xiv. 1, 60, 61, xv. had written answers to six of the Epistolae Heroi-
23, xri, 6, 7, 21; Suet. Ner. 35, Oth. 3 ; Plut. dum of Orid. Three answers enumerated by Ovid
Galb. 19; Dion Cass. Ixi. 11, 12, lxii. 13, 27, 28, in this passage are printed in many editions of the
lxiii. 26; Plin. H. N. xi. 42. s. 96, xii. 18. 6. 41, poet's works as the genuine poems of Sabinus. It
xxvii. 12. s. 50, xxxii, 11. 6. 49, xxxvii
. 3. s. 12; is remarked in the life of Ovid (Vol. III. p. 72, a. )
comp. Eckhel, vol. vi. p. 286. )
that their genuineness is doubtful; but we may go
## p. 688 (#704) ############################################
688
SABINUS.
SABINUS.
further, and assert with certainty that they were 3. A bishop of Heracleia in Thrace, and a fo!
written by a modern scholar, Angelus Sabinus, about lower of the heresy of Macedonius, was one of the
the year 1467. The other passage of Orid, in earliest writers on ecclesiastical councils. His
which Sabinus is mentioned (ex Pont. iv. 16. 13— work, entitled Luvaywart Two Luvodwr, is fre-
16) alludes to one of the answers already spoken of, quently quoted by Socrates and other ecclesiastical
and likewise informs us of the titles of two other historians. (Soc. H. E. i. 5, ii. 11, 13, 16;
works of Sabinus:-
Sozom. H. E. Praef. ; Niceph. Call. ix. ; Epiphan.
(npud Phot. Bibl. cod. 271), call him a Libyan, the Son ; of imparting warmth (od Sátor), which
and Theodoret repeats the statement, with the they compared to the Spirit ; and its orbicular
addition that he was a native of the Libyan Penta form, the form of its whole substance (rò eloos
polis (Haeretic. Fabul. Compend. lib. ii. 9). Diony. raons tñs UroOTÁO ews), which they compared to
sius of Alexandria (apud Euseb. H. E. vii. 6) the Father. And that the Son having been once
speaks of the Sabellian doctrine as originating in on a time (Kacpco Tote) sent forth as a ray, and
the Pentapolitan Ptolemais, of which town, there having wrought in the world all things needful to
fore, we may conclude that Sabellius was a resident, the Gospel economy and the salvation of men, had
if not a native. Timotheus, the presbyter of Con- been received up again into heaven, like a ray
stantinople, in his work De Triplici Receptione emitted from the sun, and returning again to the
Ilaerclicorum (apud Coteler. Eccles. Graec. Monum. sun. And that the Holy Spirit is sent into the
vol. iii. p. 385), distinguishes Sabellius the Libyan world successively and severally to each one who
from Sabellius of the Pentapolis, but without is worthy (kal kabetñs xal ka ēkaota eis eka-
reason : and his inaccuracy in this respect throws OTOV Tâv katašcovnévwv), to impart to such a one
doubt on his unsupported assertion that Sabellius new birth and fervour (ávaš woyoveiv 8è adv
was bishop of the Pentapolis. Abulpharagius TOLOÛTOV Kal ávacée. v), and to cherish and warm
(Hist. Dynastiar. p. 81, vers. Pocock) calls him a him, so to speak, by the power and co-operation
presbyter of Byzantium, and places him in the ovuldoews) of the Holy Spirit" (ibid. ). Accord-
reign of Gallus and Volusianus, A. D. 252, 253. ing to Basil (Ep. 214), Sabellius spoke of persons
That he was of Byzantium is contradicted by all in God, but apparently only in the sense of
other accounts ; but the date assigned is sufficiently characters or representations —" that God was one
in accordance with other authorities to be received. in hypostasis, but was represented in Scripture
Philastrius (ibid. ) calls him a disciple of Noetus, under different persons : ένα μεν είναι τη υπο-
but it does not appear that this means anything | στάσει τον Θεόν, προσωποποιείσθαι δε υπό της
more than that he embraced views similar to those ypaoñs drapópws. Epiphanius charges them with
of Noetus, who was of Asia Minor ; either of deriving their opinions from Apocryphal writings,
Smyrna (Theodoret. ibid. iii. 3) or of Ephesus and especially from the spurious Gospel of the
(Epiphan. Haeres. lvii. ), and flourished about the Egyptians; and Neander (Church Hist. by Rose,
middle of the third century. When Sabellius vol. ii. p. 276) thinks this statement is by no
broached his doctrines they excited great commotions means to be rejected. However this may be (and
among the Christians of the Pentapolis ; and both we think the authority of Epiphanius in such a
parties appealed to Dionysius of Alexandria, and case of little moment), their main reliance in argu-
endeavoured to secure him to their side. Dionysius ment was upon passages in the Canonical Scrip-
wrote letters to them, which are not extant. There tures, especially on that in Deut. vi. 4, “ Hear o
can be no doubt that he embraced the side of the Israel, the Lord thy God is one Lord," and on Ex.
opponents of Sabellianism, which he brands as XX. 3, Is. xliv. 6, John, x. 30, 38, and xiv. 10.
inpious and very blasphemous dogma : but it They dwelt also on the obvious difficulties in the
does not appear that he wrote to Sabellius bimsell, popular view of the Godhead, asking the simpler
nor do we even know whether Sabellius was then and less-informed believers, “ What shall we say
living (Euseb. H. E. vii. 6). From the manner then, have we one God or three? " And thus,
in which Athanasius (Epistol. de Sententia Dionysii, says Epiphanius, they led the perturbed Christian
c. 5) relates the matter, Dionysius was not engagedunconsciously to deny God, that is, unconsciously
in controversy with Sabellius himself, but with to deny the existence of the Son and the Holy
some bishops of his party ; from which it is not Spirit. ” It is evident, however, that this denial
improbable that Sabellius was already dead. The was only the denial of their existence as distinct
intervention of Dionysius is placed by Tillemont hypostases from the Father. The heresy of Sa-
in A. D. 257, and by the Benedictine editors of bellius approximated very nearly to that of Noëtus,
Athanasius (l. c. ) in A. D. 263. Indeed it is pro- so that Augustin wonders that Epiphanius should
bable, from the scanty notices we have of Sabellius, have distinguished the Sabellian heresy from the
that his heresy was not broached till just before Noëtian: but Sabellius did not affirm that the
his death. His opinions were widely diffused, and Father suffered, though the name of Patripassions
Epiphanius (Haeres, lxii. ) found many who held was given to his followers (Athanas. De Synodis, c.
them both in the East and West, in the plains of 7 ; Augustin, De Haeres. xli. ): and Mosheim has
Mesopotamia, and in the busy population of Rome. well observed that Sabellius did not, like Noëtus,
The characteristic dogma of Sabellius related to hold that the divine hypostasis was absolutely one,
the Divine Nature, in which he conceived that and that it assumed and united to itself the human
there was only one hypostasis or person, identify- nature of Christ ; but contended that “a certain
ing with each other the Father, the Son, and the energy (vim) emitted from the Father of all, or, if
Spirit, “ so that in one hypostasis there are three you choose, a part of the person and nature of the
designations," ws elva. év mią úrootéger tpeis Father, was united to the man Christ. " (Basil,
brouagias (Epiphan. Haeres. Ixii
. 1). Epiphanius Epistol. 210, 214, ed. Benedictin, 64, 349, editt.
further illustrates the Sabellian hypothesis by com- prior. ; comp. Epiphan. 1. c. ; Augustin, De llueres,
an
## p. 686 (#702) ############################################
686
SABINA.
SABINA.
Covy
ANAVG
xli. ; Philastrius, De llaeres. post Christi Pas | with the title of Augusta, as appears from her
sionem, xxvi. ; Athanns. Contra Arianos Oratio medals. She received her title at the same time as
III. iv. , IV. cxxv. , De Synoilis, c. vii. ; Dionys. / Hadrian was called Pater Patriae. (Oros. vii. 13. )
Romanus, npud Athanas. Epistola de Sententia Orosius supposes that this took place at the bes
Dionysii, cxxvi. ; Theodoret, Mueret. Fabul. Com- ginning of the reign of Hadrian, but Eckhel has
y end. ii. 9. )
shown that it must be referred to A. D. 128. Sabina
From the manner in which Athanasius argues was enrolled among the gods after her death, as we
against the Sabellians (Orat. contra Ariunos, c. 11, see from medals which bear Divae Salinae. She is
25), it appears that they considered the emission of frequently called Julia Sabina by modern writers :
the divine energy, the Son, to have been antecedent but the name of Julia is found only on the forgid
to creation, and needful to effect it: “ That we coins of Goltzius. (Eckhel, vol. vi. pp. 519–523. )
might be created the Word proceeded forth, and
from his proceeding forth we exist" (iva puris
κτισθώμεν προήλθεν ο λόγος και προελθόντος αυτού
couer), is the form in which Athanasius (c. 25)
states the doctrine of the Sabellians. The return
of the Son into the Father appears also to have been
regarded as subsequent to the consummation of all
things (comp. Greg. Thaumaturgi Fides, apud Mai,
Scriptor. Vet. Nova Collectio, vol. vii. p. 171),
and therefore as yet to come.
Neander (1. c. )
COIN OF SABINA, TIE WIFE OF HADRIAN.
says that Sabellius considered “ human souls to be
a revelation or partial out-beaming of the divine SABI'NA, POPPAEA, first the mistress and
Logos," but gives no authority for the statement. afterwards the wife of Nero, belonged to a noble
(The ancient authorities for this article have family at Rome, and was one of the most beautiful
been already cited. There are notices of Sabellius women of her age. Her father was T. Ollius, who
and his doctrine in the following modern writers : | perished at the fall of his patron Sejanus ; and her
Tillemont, Mémoires, vol. iv. p. 237, &c. ; Lardner, maternal grandfather was Poppaeus Sabinus, who
Credibility, fc. , pt. ii. bk. i. c. xliii. $ 7; Mosheim, had been consul in A. D. 9, and whose name she
De Rebus Christianor, ante Constantin. Magnum, assumed as more illustrious than that of her father.
Saec. iii. & xxxiii. ; Neander, l. c. ; Milman, Hist. Poppaea herself, says Tacitus, possessed erery
of Christianity, vol. ii. p. 429. ) [J. C. M. ) thing except a virtuous mind. From her mother
SABELLUS, a contemporary of Martial, was she inherited surpassing beauty ; her fortune was
the author of some obscene poems. (Mart. xii. 43. ) sufficient to support the splendour of her birth ; her
SABI'DIUS, a friend of C. Antonius, Cicero's conversation was distinguished by sprightliness and
colleague in the consulship (Q. Cic. de Pet. Cons. vivacity; and her modest appearance only gave a
2. $ 8). The name occurs in inscriptions, but is greater zest to her favours. She rarely appeared in
not found in writers.
public; and whenever she did so, her face was
SABICTAS. [ABISTAMENES.
]
partially concealed by a veil. She was careless of
SABI'NA, the wife of the emperor Hadrian her reputation ; but in her amours she always con-
was the grand-niece of Trajan, being the daughter sulted her interest, and did not gratify blindly either
of Matidia, who was the daughter of Marciana, the her own passions or those of others. She had been
sister of Trajan. Sabina was married to Hadrian originally married to Rufius Crispinus, praefect of
about A. D. 100 through the influence of Plotina, the praetorian troops under Claudius, by whom she
the wife of Trajan, but not with the full appro- had a son, but she afterwards became the mistress
bation of the latter. The marriage did not prove of Otho, who was one of the boon companions of
a happy one. Hadrian complained of his wife's Nero, and by whose means she hoped to attract
temper, and said that he would have divorced her the notice of the emperor. Having obtained a
if he had been in a private station ; while she divorce from Rufius, she married Otho. Her hus-
used to boast that she had taken care not to propa- band extolled her charms with such rapture to the
gate the race of such a tyrant. But, although emperor, that he soon became anxious to see the
Hadrian treated her almost like a slave, he would lovely wife of his friend. Poppaea, who was a per-
not allow others to fail in their respect towards the fect coquette, first employed all her blandishments
empress ; aud, accordingly, when Septicius Clarus, to win the prince, and when she saw that she had
the praefect of the praetorian cohorts, Suetonius secured her prize she affected modesty, and pleaded
Tranquillus, and many other high officers at the that respect for her husband would not allow her
court behaved rudely to her during the expedition to yield to the emperor's wishes. Such conduct
into Britain, Hadrian dismissed them all from their had the desired effect. Nero became more ardent
employments. Worn out by his ill-treatment in his passion, and to remove Otho out of the way
Sabina at length put an end to her life. There sent him to govern the province of Lusitania. This
was a report that she had even been poisoned by was in A. D. 58. (Tac. Ann. xiii. 45, 46. ) Other
her husband. Spartianus speaks as if she had died writers give rather a different account of Poppaea's
about two years before Hadrian, and it appears first acquaintance with Nero. They relate that
from a coin of Amisus, that she was alive in A. D. Otho married Poppaea at the request of Nero, who
136. Tillemont supposes that she did not die till was anxious to conceal the intrigue from his mo-
after the adoption of Antoninus, since the latter ther, and that the two friends enjoyed her toge-
calls her his mother in an inscription. This, how ther, till the emperor became jealous of Otho and
ever, is scarcely sufficient evidence. Antoninus was sent him into Lusitania. This was the account
adopted in February, A. D. 138, and Hadrian died which Tacitus appears to have received when he
in July in the same year. (Spartian, Hadr. 1,2, 11, was composing his Histories (Hist. i. 13); but as
23 ; Aurel. Vich. Epit. 14. ) Sabina was honoured | he relates the circumstances at greater length in his
## p. 687 (#703) ############################################
SABINA.
687
SABINUS.
SE BAIE
Orvasi
ВВА.
FOTTHIASAN
Annals, which were written subsequently, he had
110 doubt obtained satisfactory authority for the
account which he there gives.
Poppaea now became the acknowledged mistress
of Nero, but this did not satisfy her ambition. She
was anxious to be his wife. But as long as Agrippina,
the mother of Nero, was alive, she could scarcely
hope to obtain this honour. She therefore employed
all her influence with Nero to excite his resent-
ment against his mother; and by her arts, seconded
as they were by the numerous enemies of Agrip-
pina, Nero was induced to put his mother to death
in A. D. 59. Still she did not immediately obtain COIN OP POPPAEA SABINA, THE WIFE OF NERO.
the great object of her desires ; for although Nero
hated his wife Octavia, he yielded for a time to the SABI'NIA, FU'RIA, or SABI'NA TRAN.
advice of his best counsellors, not to divorce the QUILLI'NA, daughter of Misitheus (M181-
woman who had brought him the empire. At THEUS), and wife of the third Gordian. From
length, however, Poppaca, who still continued to numbers exhibited upon coins of Alexandria and of
exercise a complete sway over the emperor, induced Cappadocian Caesareia numismatologists have con-
him to put away Octavia, in A. D. 62, on the plea cluded that the marriage took place, a. D. 241,
of barrenness, and to marry her a days after- but it is not known whether they ha any pro-
wards. But Poppaea did not feel secure as long as geny, nor have any indications been preserved of
Octavia was alive, and by working alternately upon her fate after the death of her father and her
the fears and passions of her husband, she prevailed husband, A. D. 241. (Capitolin. Gordian. tres, 23;
upon him to put the unhappy girl to death in the Eutrop. ix. 2 ; Eckhel, vol. vii. p. 318. ) (W. R. ]
course of the same year. (OCTAVIA, No. 3. ) Thus SABINIANUS, a friend of the younger Pliny
two of the greatest crimes of Nero's life, the mur- who addressed two letters to him (Ep. ix. 21, 24).
der of his mother and of his wife, were committed SABINIANUS, a Roman general in the reign
at the instigation of Poppaea
of Constans, who appointed him in A. D. 359 to
In the following year, A. D. 63, Poppaea was supersede the brave Ursicinus in the command of
delivered of a daughter at Antium. This event the
army employed against the Persian king Sapor
caused Nero the most extravagant joy, and was or Shapur. The choice was a very bad one, for
celebrated with public games and other rejoicings. Sabinianus was not only an incompetent general,
Poppaea received on the occasion the title of Au- though he had many campaigns, but was a
gusta. The infant, however, died at the age of traitor and a coward. He had scarcely taken the
four months, and was enrolled among the gods. In command, when Ursicivus was ordered to serve
A. D. 65 Poppaea was pregnant again, but was under him, that he might do the work, while
killed by a kick from her brutal husband in a fit of Sabinianus enjoyed the honour. But Sabinianus
passion. It was reported by some that he had could not even secure to himself the anticipated suc-
poisoned her; but Tacitus gave no credit to this cess. Through his cowardice Amida, the bulwark of
account, since Nero was desirous of offspring, and the empire in Mesopotamia, was lost, and its gar-
continued to the last epamoured of his wife. Her rison massacred. Among the few who escaped the
body was not burnt, according to the Roman custom, fury of the Persians was Ammianus Marcellinus,
but embalmed, and was deposited in the sepulchre who served in the staff of Ursicinus. The reason
of the Julii. She received the honour of a public why Sabinianus did not relieve Amida as he was
funeral, and her funeral oration was pronounced by urged to do by Ursicinus, was a secret order of the
Nero himself. She was enrolled among the gods, court eunuch, to cause as much disgrace to Ursi-
and a magnificent temple was dedicated to her by cinus as possible, in order to prevent him from
Nero, which bore the inscription Sabinae deae Veneri regaining his former influence and power. In this
matronae fecerunt. Nero continued to cherish her they succeeded completely, for after his return to
memory, and subsequently married a youth of the Constantinople in 360, Ursicinus was banished
name of Sporus, on account of his likeness to Pop- from the court and ended his days in obscurity.
paea. (SPORUS. ) But though the emperor lamented A similar though better-deserved fate was destined
her death, the people rejoiced at it on account of for Sabinianus, for on the accession of Julian, he
her cruelty and licentiousness ; and the only class shrunk back from public life, and was no longer
in the empire who regretted her may have been heard of. There was another Roman general,
the Jews, whose cause she had defended. It is Sabinianus, a worthy man_and distinguished
rather curious to find Josephus (Ant. xx. 8. § 11) captain, who was worsted by Theodoric the Great,
calling this adulteress and murderess a pious woman. in the decisive battle of Margas. (Amm. Marc.
Poppaea was inordinately fond of luxury and xviii. 4, &c. , xix. 1, &c. ; Zonar. vol. ii. p. 20, &c.
pomp, and took immense pains to preserve the éd. Paris. )
[W. P. )
beauty of her person. Thus we are told that all SABI'NUS. 1. A contemporary poet and a
her mules were shod with gold, and that five hun- friend of Ovid, known to us only from two pas-
dred asses were daily milked to supply her with a sages of the works of the latter. From one of
bath.
these (Am. ii. 18. 27—34) we learn that Sabinus
(Tac. Ann. xiii. 45, 46, xiv. 1, 60, 61, xv. had written answers to six of the Epistolae Heroi-
23, xri, 6, 7, 21; Suet. Ner. 35, Oth. 3 ; Plut. dum of Orid. Three answers enumerated by Ovid
Galb. 19; Dion Cass. Ixi. 11, 12, lxii. 13, 27, 28, in this passage are printed in many editions of the
lxiii. 26; Plin. H. N. xi. 42. s. 96, xii. 18. 6. 41, poet's works as the genuine poems of Sabinus. It
xxvii. 12. s. 50, xxxii, 11. 6. 49, xxxvii
. 3. s. 12; is remarked in the life of Ovid (Vol. III. p. 72, a. )
comp. Eckhel, vol. vi. p. 286. )
that their genuineness is doubtful; but we may go
## p. 688 (#704) ############################################
688
SABINUS.
SABINUS.
further, and assert with certainty that they were 3. A bishop of Heracleia in Thrace, and a fo!
written by a modern scholar, Angelus Sabinus, about lower of the heresy of Macedonius, was one of the
the year 1467. The other passage of Orid, in earliest writers on ecclesiastical councils. His
which Sabinus is mentioned (ex Pont. iv. 16. 13— work, entitled Luvaywart Two Luvodwr, is fre-
16) alludes to one of the answers already spoken of, quently quoted by Socrates and other ecclesiastical
and likewise informs us of the titles of two other historians. (Soc. H. E. i. 5, ii. 11, 13, 16;
works of Sabinus:-
Sozom. H. E. Praef. ; Niceph. Call. ix. ; Epiphan.
