It is question-
duces the three main elements of the state from the ble whether he himself collated a single manu-
three different activities of the soul ; and just as script.
duces the three main elements of the state from the ble whether he himself collated a single manu-
three different activities of the soul ; and just as script.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
15, Tim.
p.
51, b.
); but he retained the world, is abundantly manifest from the gradations
characteristic of the intuitive and real, in opposi- which he assumes for the development of our cog.
tion to the mere abstractness of ideas which be- nition. In the region of sense perception, or con-
long simply to the thinking which interposes itself. ception, again, he distinguishes the comprehension
He included under the expression idea every thing of images, and that of objects (eixaola and plotis),
stable amidst the changes of mere phenomena, all while in the region of thinking he separates the
really existing and unchangeable definitudes, by knowledge of those relations which belong indeed
which the changes of things and our knowledge
of them are conditioned, such as the ideas of The meaning of the somewhat novel, though
genus and species, the laws and ends of nature, convenient, word, antinomical (antinomisch) will be
as also the principles of cognition, and of moral evident to any one who examines the Greek word
action, and the essences of individual, concrete, dutivopisós, to which it is equivalent. [Transl. )
VOL UL.
DD
## p. 402 (#418) ############################################
402
PLATO.
PLATO.
to thinking, but which require intuition in the case aside the doubt that arises from the existence of
of sensuous objects, from the immediate grasp by evil and suffering in the world. (Braudis, Ibid.
thought of intelligible objects or ideas themselves, p. 331, &c. )
that is, of ultimate principles, devoid of all pre-
But then, how does the sensuous world, the
supposition (giávora, vous). To the first gradation world of phenomena, come into existence ? To
of science, that is, of the higher department of suppose that in his view it was nothing else than
thinking, belong principally, though not exclu: the mere subjective appearance which springs from
sively, mathematics ; and that Plato regarded the commingling of the ideas, or the confused con-
them (though he did not fully realise this notion)ception of the ideas (Ritter, Geschichte der Philo
as a necessary means for elevating experience into sophie, vol. ii. pp. 295, &c. 339, &c. ), not only
scientific knowledge, is evident from hints that contradicts the declarations of Plato in the Philebus
occur elsewhere. (Comp. Brandis, Handbuch, &c. (p. 23, b. 54, a. ), Timaeus (pp. 27, e. 48, e. 51),
vol. ii. pp. 269, &c. —274, &c. ) The fourfold di- &c. , but contradicts also the dualistic tendency of
vision which he brings forward, and which is dis- the whole of the ancient philosophy. He desig-
cussed in the De Republica (vi. p. 509, &c. ) he nates as the, we may perhaps say, material ground
appears to have taken up more definitely in his of the phenomenal world, ihat which is in itself
oral lectures, and in the first department to have unlimited, ever in a process of becoming, never
distinguished perception from experience (ayoongis really cristing, the mass out of which every thing
from óta), in the second to have distinguished is formed, and connects with it the idea of ex-
mediate knowledge from the immediate thinking tension, as also of unregulated motion ; attributes to
consciousness of first principles (Aothun from it only the joint causality of necessity, in opposition
voûs ; see Arist. De Anima, i. 2, with the note to the free causality of ideas, which works towards
of Trendelenburg).
ends, and, by means of his mythical conception of
Although, therefore, the carrying out of Plato's the soul of the universe, seeks to fill up the chasm
dialectics may be imperfect, and by no means between these opposed primary essences. This,
proportional to this excellent foundation, yet he standing midway between the intelligible (that tº
had certainly taken a steady view of their end, which the attribute of samencss belongs) and the
namely, to lay hold of ideas more and more sensible (the diverse), as the principle of order
distinctly in their organic connection at once with and motion in the world, according to him, com-
one another and with the phenomenal world, prehends in itself all the relations of number and
by the discovery of their inward relations; and measure. Plato had made another attempt to fill
then having done this, to refer them to their up the gap in the development of ideas by a sym-
ultimate basis. This ought at the same time to bolical representation, in the lectures he delivered
verify itself as the unconditional ground of the upon the Good, mentioned by Aristotle and others.
reality of objects and of the power we have to take in these he partly referred ideas to intelligible
cognisance of them, of Being and of Thought ; numbers, in order, probably, that he might be able
being comparable to the intellectual sun. Now to denote more definitely their relation of de.
this absolutely unconditional ground Plato de-' pendence on the Godhead, as the absolute one,
scribes as the idea of the good (De Rep. vi. as also the relation of their succession and mutual
p. 505, &c. ), convinced that we cannot imagine connection ; and partly described the Godhead as
any higher definitude than the good; but that the ultimate ground both of ideas and also of the
we must, on the contrary, measure all other material of phenomena, inasmuch as he referred
definitudes by it, and regard it as the aim them both to the divine causality — the former
and purpose of all our endeavours, nay of all immediately as original numbers, the latter through
developments. Not being in a condition to grasp the medium of the activity of the ideas. But on
the idea of the good with full distinctness, we are this Pythagorean mode of exhibiting the highest
able to approximate to it only so far as we elevate principles of Plato's doctrine we have but very im-
the power of thinking to its original purity perfect information. (Brandis, Ibid. vol. ii. I, p.
(Brandis, ibid. pp. 281, &c. 324, &c. ). Although 336, &c. ).
the idea of the good, as the ultimate basis both Both these departments which form the con-
of the mind and of the realities laid hold of by it, necting link between Dialectics and Physics, and
of thought and of existence, is, according to him, the principles of Physics themselves, contain only
more elevated than that of spirit or actual exist- preliminary assumptions and hypothetical decla-
ence itself, yet we can only imagine its activity as rations, which Plato describes as a kind of recrea-
the activity of the mind. Through its activity the tion from more earnest search after the really ex-
determinate natures of the ideas, which in them. istent, as an innocent enjoyment, a rational sport
selves only exist, acquire their power of causation, (Tim. pp. 27, e. 29, b. 59, c. ). Inasmuch as
a power which must be set down as spiritual, that physics treat only of the changeable and imitative,
is, free. Plato, therefore, describes the idea of the they must be contented with attaining probability;
good, or the Godhead, sometimes teleologically, as but they should aim, especially, at investigating
the ultimate purpose of all conditioned existence ; teleologically end-causes, that is, free causality, and
sometimes cosmologically, as the ultimate operative showing how they converge in the realisation of
cause; and has begun to develope the cosmological, the idea of the good. Al the determinations of
as also the physico-theological proof for the being the original undetermined matter are realised by
of God; but has referred both back to the idea of corporeal forms; in these forms Plato attempts to
the Good, as the necessary presupposition to all find the natural or necessary basis of the different
other ideas, and our cognition of them. Moreover, kinds of feeling and of sensuous perception.
we find him earnestly endeavouring to purify and Throughout the whole development, however, of
free from its restrictions the idea the Gudhead, his Physiology, as also in the outlines of his doc-
to establish and defend the belief in a wise and trine on Health and Sickness, pregnant ideas and
divine government of the world ; as also to set | clear views are to be met with. (See especially
## p. 403 (#419) ############################################
PLATO.
403
PLATO.
Th. H. Martin, Etudes sur le Timée de Platon, contradictions in which the assertions, on the one
Paris, 1841. )
hand that wrong actions are uglier than right
With the physiology of Plato his doctrine of the ones but more useful, on the other that the only
Soul is closely connected. Endowed with the right recognised by nature is that of the stronger,
same nature as the soul of the world, the human are involved. In this discussion the result is de
soul is that which spontaneously active and un- duced, that neither happiness nor virtue can con-
approachable by death, although in its connection sist in the attempt to satisfy our unbridled and
with the body bound up with the appetitive, the ever-increasing desires (de Rep. i. ). In the Menon
sensuous; and the Suuós, that which is of the nathe Good is defined as that kind utility which
ture of affection or eager impulse, the ground of can never become injurious, and whose realisation
courage and fear, love and hope, designed, while is referred to a knowledge which is absolutely
subordinating itself to the reason, to restrain scn- fixed and certain,-a knowledge, bowever, which
suality, must be regarded as the link between the must be viewed as something not externally com-
rational and the sensuous. (Tim. p. 69, d. 71, b. , de municable, but only to be developed from the
Rep. iv. p. 435, &c. ix. p. 571. ) Another link of con- spontaneous activity of the soul. Lastly, in the
nection between the intellectual and sensuous nature Philebus, the investigation respecting pleasure and
of the soul is referred to Love, which, separated pain, which was commenced in the Gorgias, as also
from concupiscent desire, is conceived of as an in- that on the idea of the Good, is completed ; and
spiration that transcends mere mediate intellection, this twofold investigation grounded upon the prin-
whose purpose is to realise a perpetual striving after ciples of dialectics, and brought into relation with
the immortal, the eternal ;- to realise, in a word, physics. Pain is referred to the disturbance of
by a close connection with others, the Good in the inward harmony, pleasure to the maintenance,
the form of the Beautiful. In the Phaedrus Plato or restoration of it; and it is shown how, on the one
speaks of love under the veil of a myth ; in the hand, true and false, on the other, pure and mixed
Lysis he commences the logical definition of it; pleasure, are to be distinguished, while, inasmuch
and in the Symposium, one of the most artistic and as it (pleasure) is always dependent on the acti-
attractive of his dialogues, he analyses the different vity out of which it springs, it becomes so much the
momenta which are necessary to the complete de truer and purer in proportion as the activity itself
termination of the idea. In these and some of the becomes more elevated. In this way the first
other dialogues, however, beauty is described as sketch of a table of Goods is attained, in which the
the image of the ideas, penetrating the veil of phe eternal nature of Measure, that is, the sum and
nomena and apprehended by the purest and bright substance of the ideas, as the highest canon, and
est exercise of sense, in relation to colours, forms, then the different steps of the actual realisation of
actions, and morals, as also with relation to the har them in life, in a regular descending scale, are
monious combination of the Manifold into perfect given, while it is acknowledged that the accom-
Unity, and distinctly separated from the Agreeable panying pure (unsensuous) pleasure is also to be
and the Useful. Art is celebrated as the power regarded as a good, but inferior to that on which
of producing a whole, inspired by an invisible it depends, the reason and the understanding,
arrangement ; of grouping together into one form science and art. Now, if we consider that, ac-
the images of the ideas, which are everywhere cording to Plato, all morality must be directed
scattered around.
to the realisation of the ideas in the phenomenal
That the soul, when separated from the body, - world ; and, moreover, that these ideas in their
or the pure spirit, — js immortal, and that a con- reality and their activity, as also the knowledge
tinuance, in which power and consciousness or respecting them, is to be referred to the Godhead,
insight are preserved, is secured to it, Socrates, we can understand how he could designate the
in the Phaedo of Plato, when approaching death, high good as being an assimilation to God.
endeavours to convince his friends, partly by means (Theaet. p. 176, a. , de Rep. x. 613 ; comp. Wyt-
of analogies drawn from the nature of things, partly tenbach, ad Plut. de Ser. Num. Vind. p. 27. )
by the refutation of the opposed hypothesis, that the In the Ethics of Plato the doctrine respecting
soul is an harmonious union and tuning of the virtue is attached to that of the highest good,
constituents of the body, partly by the attempt to and its development. That virtue is essentially
prove the simplicity of the essential nature of the one, and the science of the good, had been already
soul
, its consequent indestructibility, and its rela- deduced in the critical and dialectical introductory
tion to the Eternal, or its pre-existence ; partly dialogues ; but it had been also presupposed and
by the argumentation that the idea of the soul even hinted that, without detriment to its unity,
is inseparable from that of life, and that it different phases of it could be distinguished, and
can never be destroyed by moral evil, — the only that to knowledge there must be added practice,
evil to which, properly speaking, it is subjected and an earnest combating of the sensuous functions.
(comp. de Rep. x. p. 609, b. &c. , Phaedr. p. 245, c. ). In order to discover these different phases, Plato
Respecting the condition of the soul after death goes back upon his triple division of the faculties
Plato expresses himself only in myths, and his of the soul. “ Virtue, in other words, is fitness of
utterances respecting the Transmigration of Souls the soul for the operations that are peculiar to it
also are expressed in a mythical form.
(de Rep. i. p. 353, d. X. p. 601, d. ), and it
As a true disciple of Socrates, Plato devoted all inanifests itself by means of its (the soul's)
the energy of his soul to ethics, which again are inward harmony, beauty, and health (Gorg. pp.
closely connected with politics. He paves the way | 504, b. 506, b. , Phaedo, p. 93, e. , de Rep. iv. pp.
for a scientific treatment of ethics by the refuta- | 444, d. viii. 554, e. ). Different phases of virtue
tion of the sophistical sensualistic and hedonistic are distinguishable so far as the soul is not pure
(selfish) theories, first of all in the Protagoras and spirit ; but just as the spirit should rule both the
the three smaller dialogues attached to it (see other elements of the soul, so also should wisdom,
above), then in the Gorgias, by pointing out the As the inner development of the spirit, rule the
DD 2
## p. 404 (#420) ############################################
404
PLATO.
PLATO.
other virtues. Ability of the emotive element chiefly by Johannes Oporinus, who was afterwards
(Sudoeldés), when penetrated with wisdom to professor of Greek in that university. It does not
govern the whole sensuous nature, is Courage. If appear that he made use of any manuscripts, but
the sensuous or appetitive (étribuuntikóv) element he succeeded in correcting many of the mistakes to
is brought into unity with the ends of wisdom, be found in the edition of Aldus, though some of
moderation or prudence (owopooúvn), as an inward his alterations were corruptions of sound passages,
harmony, is the result. If the inward harmony of The edition was, however, enriched by having in-
the activities shows itself active in giving an corporated with it the commentaries of Proclus on
harmonious form to our outward relations in the the Timaeus and the State, which had shortly
world, Virtue exerts itself in the form of Justice before been discovered by Simon Grynaeus in the
(de Rep. iv. p. 428, b. &c. ). That happiness library of the university at Oxford, and a triple
coincides with the inward harmony of virtue, is Greek index,-one of words and phrases, another of
inferred from this deduction of the virtues, as also proper names, and a third of proverbs to be found
from the discussions respecting pleasure (de Rep. in Plato. The next edition, published at Basle in
viii. p. 547, &c. ix. p. 580, &c. ).
1556, was superintended by Marcus Hopperus,
If it be true that the ethico-rational nature of who availed himself of a collation of some manu-
the individual can only develope itself completely scripts of Plato made in Italy by Arnoldus Arle-
in a well-ordered state (de Rep. vi. 496, b. ), then nius, and so corrected several of the errors of the
the object and constitution of the state must per previous Basle edition, and gave a large number of
fectly answer to the moral nature of the individual, various readings ; the edition of H. Stephanus
and politics must be an essential, inseparable part (1578, in three volumes) is equally reniarkable
of ethics. While, therefore, Plato considers the for the careful preparation of the text, by correcting
state as the copy of a well-regulated individual life the mistakes of copyists and typographers, and
(de Rer. ji. p. 368, e. viii. p. 544, e. &c. ), he des introducing in several instances very felicitous im-
mands of it that it should exhibit a perfect har-provements, and for the dishonesty with which the
mony, in which everything is common to all, and editor appropriated to himself the labours of others
the individual in all his relations only an organ of without any acknowledgment, and with various
the state. The entire merging of the individual life tricks strove to conceal the source from which they
in the life of the state might have appeared to him as were derived. His various readings are taken
the only effectual means of stemming that selfishness chiefly, if not entirely, from the second Basle
and licence of the citizens, which in his time was edition, from the Latin version of Ficinus, and
becoming more and more predominant. Plato de- from the notes of Cornarius.
It is question-
duces the three main elements of the state from the ble whether he himself collated a single manu-
three different activities of the soul ; and just as script. The Latin version of Serranus, which
the appetitive element should be absolutely under is printed in this edition, is very bad. The
control, so also the working class, which answers occasional translations of Stephanus himself are
to it; and the military order, which answers to far better. The Bipont edition (11 vols. 8vo.
the emotive element, should develope itself in A. D. 1781-1786) contains a reprint of the text
thorough dependence upon the reason, by means of that of Stephanus, with the Latin version of
of gymnastics and music ; and from that the go- Marsilius Ficinus. Some fresh various readings,
verning order, answering to the rational faculty, collected by Mitscherlich, are added. It was, how-
must proceed. The right of passing from the rank ever, by Immanuel Bekker that the text of Plato
of a guard (φύλακες, το επικουρικόν) to that of a was first bronght into a satisfactory condition in
ruler, must be established by the capacity for rais- his edition, published in 1816—18, accompanied
ing oneself from becoming to being, from notion to by the Latin version of Ficinus (here restored,
knowledge ; for the ruler ought to be in a condition generally speaking, to its original form, the reprints
to extend and confirm the government of the reason of it in other previous editions of Plato containing
in the state more and more, and especially to direct numerous alterations and corruptions), a critical
and watch over training and education. Without commentary, an extensive comparison of various
admitting altogether the impracticability of his state, readings, and the Greek scholia, previously edited
yet Plato confesses that no realisation of it in the by Ruhnken, with some additions, together with
phenomenal world can fully express his idea, but copious indexes. The dialogues are arranged ac-
that an approximation to it must be aimed at by cording to the scheme of Schleiermacher. The Latin
a limitation of unconditional unity and community, version in this edition has sometimes been erro-
adapted to circumstances. On this account, with neously described as that of Wolf. A joint edition
the view of approximating to the given circum- by Bekker and Wolf was projected and com-
stances, he renounces, in his book on the Laws, menced, but not completed. The reprint of Bek-
that absolute separation of ranks ; fimits the power ker's edition, accompanied by the notes of Stephanus,
of the governors, attempts to reconcile freedom with Heindorf, Wyttenbach, &c. , published by Priestley
reason and unity, to mingle monarchy with demo- (Lond. 1826), is a useful edition. Ast's edition
cracy ; distinguishes several classes of rulers, and (Lips. 1819–1827, 9 vols. 8vo. , to which two
will only cominit to their organically constructed volumes of notes on the four dialogues, Protagoras,
body the highest power under the guarantee of the Phaedrus, Georgias, and Phaedo, have since been
laws.
[Ch. A. B. ] added) contains many ingenious and excellent
There are numerous editions both of the entire emendations of the text, which the editor's pro-
text of Plato, and of separate dialogues. The first found acquaintance with the phraseology of Plato
was that published by Aldus at Venice, in A. D. enabled him to effect. G. Stallbaum, who edited a
1513. In this edition the dialogues are arranged critical edition of the text of Plato (Lips. 1821–
in nine tetralogies, according to the division of 1825, 8 vols. 8vo. *, and 1826, 8 vols. 12mo. ),
Thrasyllus (see above). The next edition was
that published at Basle, in 1534. It was edited * This edition was completed by four additional
1
1
1
## p. 405 (#421) ############################################
PLATONIUS.
405
PLAUTIANUS.
coco
و نحوه
ORINS
commenced in 1827 an elaborate edition of Plato, the characteristics of the old, the middle, and the
which is not yet quite completed. This is perhaps new comedy, especially the two first, and the
the best and most useful edition which has appeared. causes of the various points of difference. The
The edition of J. G. Baiter, J. C. Orelli, and A. remarks are brief, but judicious. (W. M. G. )
G. Winckelmann (one vol. 4to. Zürich, 1839) de- PLATOR. 1. The commander of Oreum for
serves especial mention for the accuracy of the text Philip, betrayed the town to the Romans, B. c.
and the beauty of the typography.
207 (Liv. xxviii. 6). He is probably the same
Of separate dialogues, or collections of dialogues, Plator whom Philip sent with some Illyrians,
the editions are almost endless. Those of the about the commencement of the Second Punic
Cratylus and Theaetetus, of the Euthyphro, Apo-war, to the assistance of the Cretans. (Polyb. iv.
logia, Crito, and Phaedo, of the Sophista, Politicus 55. )
and Parmenides, and of the Philebus and Sympo- 2. The brother of Gentius, the Illyrian king,
sium by Fischer ; of the Lysis, Charmides, Hip who is called Plator by Livy (xliv. 30), but Pleu-
pias Major, and Phaedrus, of the Gorgias and ratus by Poly bius. [PLBURATUS. )
Theaetetus, of the Cratylus, Euthydemus and Par- 3. Of Dyrrhacium, was slain by Piso, proconsul
menides, of the Phaedo, and of the Protagorns and in Macedonia, B. c. 57, although he had been hos-
Sophistes by Heindorf (whose notes exhibit both pitably received in the house of Plator. (Cic. in
acuteness and sound judgment); of the Phaedo by Pison. 34, comp. de llurus. Resp. 16. )
Wyttenbach ; of the Philebus, and of the Par
1
PLATORI'NUS, a cognomen of the Sulpicia
menides by Stallbaum (in the edition of the latter gens, which occurs only upon coins, one of which
of which the commentary of Proclus is incor- 1 is annexed. The obverse represents the head of
porated), are most worthy of note. Of the trans- | Augustus with the legend CAESAR AVGVSTVs, the
lations of Plato the most celebrated is the Latin
reverse the head of M. Agrippa, with the legend
version of Marsilius Ficinus (Flor. 1483-1481, PLATORINVS VIVIR. M. AGRIPPA (Eckhel, vol v.
and frequently reprinted). It was in this version, p. 317. )
which was made from manuscripts, that the writings
of Plato first appeared in a printed form. The
translation is so extremely close that it has almost
the authority of a Greek manuscript, and is of
great service in ascertaining varieties of reading.
This remark, however, does not apply to the later,
altered editions of it, which were published subse-
quently to the appearance of the Greek text of
Plato. There is no good English translation of the
whole of Plato, that by Taylor being by no means
COIN OP PLATORINUS.
The efforts of Floyer Sydenham were
much more successful, but he translated only a few PLAU’TIA GENS, plebeian.
The name is
of the pieces. There is a French translation by also written Plotius, just as we have both Clodius
V. Cousin. Schleiermacher's German translation is and Claudius. The first person of this gens who
incomparably the best, but is unfortunately incom- obtained the consulship was C. Plautius Proculus
plete. There is an Italian translation by Dardi in B. C. 358 ; and from that time down to the im-
Bembo. The versions of separate dialogues in dif- perial period many of the Plautii held at differen
ferent languages are too numerous to be noticed. intervals the highest offices in the state. Undes
We have space to notice only the following out of the republic we find the cognomens of DECIANUS,
the very numerous works written in illustration of HYPSAEUS, PROCULUS, Silvanus, Venno, VE-
Plato: -
Platonis Dialogorum Argumenta Exposita Nox: and to these there were still further additions
et Ilustrata, by Tiedemann (Bip. 1786); Syslem in the time of the empire, a list of which is given
der Platonischen Philosophie, by Tennemann (4 vols. below. A few of the Plautii occur without any
8vo. Leipz. 1792-5); Initia Philosophiae Pla-
and of them an account is also given
tonicae, by P. G. Van Heusde (ed. ii. Lugd. Bat. below. Those persons whose names are usually
1842); Platons Leben und Schriften, by G. A. F. written Plotius are spoken of under this form.
Ast (Leipz. 1816); Geschichte und System der The only cognomens occurring on coins are Hyp:
Platonischen Philosophie, by C. F. Hermann (Hei- saeus and Plancus ; and the latter surname
delb. 1838); Platonis de Ideis et Numeris Doctrina does not properly belong to the Plotii, but was
ex Aristotele illustrata, by F. A. Trendelenburg retained by Munatius Plancus after he had been
(Lips. 1826); Platonische Studien, by E. Zeller adopted by L. Plautius. (Plancus, No. 5. )
(Tübing. 1839). There are also numerous smaller PLAU’TIA URGULANILLA, the first wife
treatises by Böckh, C. F. Hermann, Stallbaum, &c. , of the emperor Claudius, who divorced her on ac-
which may be consulted with profit. Schleierma- count of her lewd conduct, and of her being sus-
cher's introductions to some of the dialogues have pected of murder. She bore two children during
been translated and published in a separate form in her marriage, Drusus, who died at Pompeii in
English.
(C. P. M. ] A. D. 20 [Drusus, No. 23), and Clandia, whom
PLATONIUS (NIAarávos), a grammarian, of she had by a freedman of Claudius, and who was
whom all that we know is that a treatise bearing therefore exposed by command of the emperor.
his name is generally prefixed to the editions (Suet. Claud. 26, 27. ).
of Aristophanes. It is entitled Περί διαφοράς PLAUTIANUS, L. (or C. ) FU'LVIUS, an
κωμωδιών. The subject is the difference between | African by birth, the fellow-townsman and pro-
bably a connection of Septimius Severus. He
volumes containing the various readings, and por- served as praefect of the praetorium under this
tions of the commentary of Proclus on the Cratylus, emperor, who loaded hiin with honours and
edited by Boissonade.
wealth, deferred to his opinion upon all important
accurate.
surname ;
DD 3
## p. 406 (#422) ############################################
406
PLAUTILLA.
PLAUTIUS.
FACILS
QOAT
COIN OF PLAUTILLA.
a
points of state policy, granted all his requests, and between her marriage and exile, a statement which
virtually made over much of the imperial authority it is extremely difficult to reconcile with the fact
into his hands. Intoxicated by these distinctions that a vast number of coins were struck in honour
Plautianus indulged in the most despotic tyranny; of this princess, not only in the city but in the
and perpetrated acts of cruelty almost beyond more distant provinces. She had a brother, Plau-
belief. His cupidity was boundless: no state, no tius, who shared her banishment and her fate.
province, no city escaped his exactions ; in Rome (Dion Cass. lxxvi. 6, lxxvii. 1; Herodian, iii. 13.
he plundered all whose wealth excited his avarice, $ 7, iv. 6. 87; Eckhel, vol. vii. p. 225. ) (W. R. ]
contrived the banishment or death of every one
who impeded or thwarted his schemes, and ven-
tured to treat with contumely even the empress
Domna and her sons. He reached the pinnacle of
his ambition when Severus in the year A. D. 202
selected his daughter Plautilla as the wife of
Caracalla, and on that occasion he presented the
bride with an outfit which a contemporary his-
torian declares would have sufficed for hfty queens.
But even gratified ambition brought him no hap-
piness. His external appearance gave evidence of
a mind ill at ease: when seen in public he was PLAU'TIUS. 1. A comic poet, some of whose
ever deadly pale, and shook with nervous agi-comedies were erroneously ascribed to Plautus, as
tation, partly, says Dion Cassius who was himself we learn from Varro. (Gell. iii. 3. )
an eye-witness of these things, from the irregu- 2. A. PLAUTIUS, was sent by the emperor Clau-
larities of his life and diet, and partly from the dius in A. D. 43 to subdue Britain.
characteristic of the intuitive and real, in opposi- which he assumes for the development of our cog.
tion to the mere abstractness of ideas which be- nition. In the region of sense perception, or con-
long simply to the thinking which interposes itself. ception, again, he distinguishes the comprehension
He included under the expression idea every thing of images, and that of objects (eixaola and plotis),
stable amidst the changes of mere phenomena, all while in the region of thinking he separates the
really existing and unchangeable definitudes, by knowledge of those relations which belong indeed
which the changes of things and our knowledge
of them are conditioned, such as the ideas of The meaning of the somewhat novel, though
genus and species, the laws and ends of nature, convenient, word, antinomical (antinomisch) will be
as also the principles of cognition, and of moral evident to any one who examines the Greek word
action, and the essences of individual, concrete, dutivopisós, to which it is equivalent. [Transl. )
VOL UL.
DD
## p. 402 (#418) ############################################
402
PLATO.
PLATO.
to thinking, but which require intuition in the case aside the doubt that arises from the existence of
of sensuous objects, from the immediate grasp by evil and suffering in the world. (Braudis, Ibid.
thought of intelligible objects or ideas themselves, p. 331, &c. )
that is, of ultimate principles, devoid of all pre-
But then, how does the sensuous world, the
supposition (giávora, vous). To the first gradation world of phenomena, come into existence ? To
of science, that is, of the higher department of suppose that in his view it was nothing else than
thinking, belong principally, though not exclu: the mere subjective appearance which springs from
sively, mathematics ; and that Plato regarded the commingling of the ideas, or the confused con-
them (though he did not fully realise this notion)ception of the ideas (Ritter, Geschichte der Philo
as a necessary means for elevating experience into sophie, vol. ii. pp. 295, &c. 339, &c. ), not only
scientific knowledge, is evident from hints that contradicts the declarations of Plato in the Philebus
occur elsewhere. (Comp. Brandis, Handbuch, &c. (p. 23, b. 54, a. ), Timaeus (pp. 27, e. 48, e. 51),
vol. ii. pp. 269, &c. —274, &c. ) The fourfold di- &c. , but contradicts also the dualistic tendency of
vision which he brings forward, and which is dis- the whole of the ancient philosophy. He desig-
cussed in the De Republica (vi. p. 509, &c. ) he nates as the, we may perhaps say, material ground
appears to have taken up more definitely in his of the phenomenal world, ihat which is in itself
oral lectures, and in the first department to have unlimited, ever in a process of becoming, never
distinguished perception from experience (ayoongis really cristing, the mass out of which every thing
from óta), in the second to have distinguished is formed, and connects with it the idea of ex-
mediate knowledge from the immediate thinking tension, as also of unregulated motion ; attributes to
consciousness of first principles (Aothun from it only the joint causality of necessity, in opposition
voûs ; see Arist. De Anima, i. 2, with the note to the free causality of ideas, which works towards
of Trendelenburg).
ends, and, by means of his mythical conception of
Although, therefore, the carrying out of Plato's the soul of the universe, seeks to fill up the chasm
dialectics may be imperfect, and by no means between these opposed primary essences. This,
proportional to this excellent foundation, yet he standing midway between the intelligible (that tº
had certainly taken a steady view of their end, which the attribute of samencss belongs) and the
namely, to lay hold of ideas more and more sensible (the diverse), as the principle of order
distinctly in their organic connection at once with and motion in the world, according to him, com-
one another and with the phenomenal world, prehends in itself all the relations of number and
by the discovery of their inward relations; and measure. Plato had made another attempt to fill
then having done this, to refer them to their up the gap in the development of ideas by a sym-
ultimate basis. This ought at the same time to bolical representation, in the lectures he delivered
verify itself as the unconditional ground of the upon the Good, mentioned by Aristotle and others.
reality of objects and of the power we have to take in these he partly referred ideas to intelligible
cognisance of them, of Being and of Thought ; numbers, in order, probably, that he might be able
being comparable to the intellectual sun. Now to denote more definitely their relation of de.
this absolutely unconditional ground Plato de-' pendence on the Godhead, as the absolute one,
scribes as the idea of the good (De Rep. vi. as also the relation of their succession and mutual
p. 505, &c. ), convinced that we cannot imagine connection ; and partly described the Godhead as
any higher definitude than the good; but that the ultimate ground both of ideas and also of the
we must, on the contrary, measure all other material of phenomena, inasmuch as he referred
definitudes by it, and regard it as the aim them both to the divine causality — the former
and purpose of all our endeavours, nay of all immediately as original numbers, the latter through
developments. Not being in a condition to grasp the medium of the activity of the ideas. But on
the idea of the good with full distinctness, we are this Pythagorean mode of exhibiting the highest
able to approximate to it only so far as we elevate principles of Plato's doctrine we have but very im-
the power of thinking to its original purity perfect information. (Brandis, Ibid. vol. ii. I, p.
(Brandis, ibid. pp. 281, &c. 324, &c. ). Although 336, &c. ).
the idea of the good, as the ultimate basis both Both these departments which form the con-
of the mind and of the realities laid hold of by it, necting link between Dialectics and Physics, and
of thought and of existence, is, according to him, the principles of Physics themselves, contain only
more elevated than that of spirit or actual exist- preliminary assumptions and hypothetical decla-
ence itself, yet we can only imagine its activity as rations, which Plato describes as a kind of recrea-
the activity of the mind. Through its activity the tion from more earnest search after the really ex-
determinate natures of the ideas, which in them. istent, as an innocent enjoyment, a rational sport
selves only exist, acquire their power of causation, (Tim. pp. 27, e. 29, b. 59, c. ). Inasmuch as
a power which must be set down as spiritual, that physics treat only of the changeable and imitative,
is, free. Plato, therefore, describes the idea of the they must be contented with attaining probability;
good, or the Godhead, sometimes teleologically, as but they should aim, especially, at investigating
the ultimate purpose of all conditioned existence ; teleologically end-causes, that is, free causality, and
sometimes cosmologically, as the ultimate operative showing how they converge in the realisation of
cause; and has begun to develope the cosmological, the idea of the good. Al the determinations of
as also the physico-theological proof for the being the original undetermined matter are realised by
of God; but has referred both back to the idea of corporeal forms; in these forms Plato attempts to
the Good, as the necessary presupposition to all find the natural or necessary basis of the different
other ideas, and our cognition of them. Moreover, kinds of feeling and of sensuous perception.
we find him earnestly endeavouring to purify and Throughout the whole development, however, of
free from its restrictions the idea the Gudhead, his Physiology, as also in the outlines of his doc-
to establish and defend the belief in a wise and trine on Health and Sickness, pregnant ideas and
divine government of the world ; as also to set | clear views are to be met with. (See especially
## p. 403 (#419) ############################################
PLATO.
403
PLATO.
Th. H. Martin, Etudes sur le Timée de Platon, contradictions in which the assertions, on the one
Paris, 1841. )
hand that wrong actions are uglier than right
With the physiology of Plato his doctrine of the ones but more useful, on the other that the only
Soul is closely connected. Endowed with the right recognised by nature is that of the stronger,
same nature as the soul of the world, the human are involved. In this discussion the result is de
soul is that which spontaneously active and un- duced, that neither happiness nor virtue can con-
approachable by death, although in its connection sist in the attempt to satisfy our unbridled and
with the body bound up with the appetitive, the ever-increasing desires (de Rep. i. ). In the Menon
sensuous; and the Suuós, that which is of the nathe Good is defined as that kind utility which
ture of affection or eager impulse, the ground of can never become injurious, and whose realisation
courage and fear, love and hope, designed, while is referred to a knowledge which is absolutely
subordinating itself to the reason, to restrain scn- fixed and certain,-a knowledge, bowever, which
suality, must be regarded as the link between the must be viewed as something not externally com-
rational and the sensuous. (Tim. p. 69, d. 71, b. , de municable, but only to be developed from the
Rep. iv. p. 435, &c. ix. p. 571. ) Another link of con- spontaneous activity of the soul. Lastly, in the
nection between the intellectual and sensuous nature Philebus, the investigation respecting pleasure and
of the soul is referred to Love, which, separated pain, which was commenced in the Gorgias, as also
from concupiscent desire, is conceived of as an in- that on the idea of the Good, is completed ; and
spiration that transcends mere mediate intellection, this twofold investigation grounded upon the prin-
whose purpose is to realise a perpetual striving after ciples of dialectics, and brought into relation with
the immortal, the eternal ;- to realise, in a word, physics. Pain is referred to the disturbance of
by a close connection with others, the Good in the inward harmony, pleasure to the maintenance,
the form of the Beautiful. In the Phaedrus Plato or restoration of it; and it is shown how, on the one
speaks of love under the veil of a myth ; in the hand, true and false, on the other, pure and mixed
Lysis he commences the logical definition of it; pleasure, are to be distinguished, while, inasmuch
and in the Symposium, one of the most artistic and as it (pleasure) is always dependent on the acti-
attractive of his dialogues, he analyses the different vity out of which it springs, it becomes so much the
momenta which are necessary to the complete de truer and purer in proportion as the activity itself
termination of the idea. In these and some of the becomes more elevated. In this way the first
other dialogues, however, beauty is described as sketch of a table of Goods is attained, in which the
the image of the ideas, penetrating the veil of phe eternal nature of Measure, that is, the sum and
nomena and apprehended by the purest and bright substance of the ideas, as the highest canon, and
est exercise of sense, in relation to colours, forms, then the different steps of the actual realisation of
actions, and morals, as also with relation to the har them in life, in a regular descending scale, are
monious combination of the Manifold into perfect given, while it is acknowledged that the accom-
Unity, and distinctly separated from the Agreeable panying pure (unsensuous) pleasure is also to be
and the Useful. Art is celebrated as the power regarded as a good, but inferior to that on which
of producing a whole, inspired by an invisible it depends, the reason and the understanding,
arrangement ; of grouping together into one form science and art. Now, if we consider that, ac-
the images of the ideas, which are everywhere cording to Plato, all morality must be directed
scattered around.
to the realisation of the ideas in the phenomenal
That the soul, when separated from the body, - world ; and, moreover, that these ideas in their
or the pure spirit, — js immortal, and that a con- reality and their activity, as also the knowledge
tinuance, in which power and consciousness or respecting them, is to be referred to the Godhead,
insight are preserved, is secured to it, Socrates, we can understand how he could designate the
in the Phaedo of Plato, when approaching death, high good as being an assimilation to God.
endeavours to convince his friends, partly by means (Theaet. p. 176, a. , de Rep. x. 613 ; comp. Wyt-
of analogies drawn from the nature of things, partly tenbach, ad Plut. de Ser. Num. Vind. p. 27. )
by the refutation of the opposed hypothesis, that the In the Ethics of Plato the doctrine respecting
soul is an harmonious union and tuning of the virtue is attached to that of the highest good,
constituents of the body, partly by the attempt to and its development. That virtue is essentially
prove the simplicity of the essential nature of the one, and the science of the good, had been already
soul
, its consequent indestructibility, and its rela- deduced in the critical and dialectical introductory
tion to the Eternal, or its pre-existence ; partly dialogues ; but it had been also presupposed and
by the argumentation that the idea of the soul even hinted that, without detriment to its unity,
is inseparable from that of life, and that it different phases of it could be distinguished, and
can never be destroyed by moral evil, — the only that to knowledge there must be added practice,
evil to which, properly speaking, it is subjected and an earnest combating of the sensuous functions.
(comp. de Rep. x. p. 609, b. &c. , Phaedr. p. 245, c. ). In order to discover these different phases, Plato
Respecting the condition of the soul after death goes back upon his triple division of the faculties
Plato expresses himself only in myths, and his of the soul. “ Virtue, in other words, is fitness of
utterances respecting the Transmigration of Souls the soul for the operations that are peculiar to it
also are expressed in a mythical form.
(de Rep. i. p. 353, d. X. p. 601, d. ), and it
As a true disciple of Socrates, Plato devoted all inanifests itself by means of its (the soul's)
the energy of his soul to ethics, which again are inward harmony, beauty, and health (Gorg. pp.
closely connected with politics. He paves the way | 504, b. 506, b. , Phaedo, p. 93, e. , de Rep. iv. pp.
for a scientific treatment of ethics by the refuta- | 444, d. viii. 554, e. ). Different phases of virtue
tion of the sophistical sensualistic and hedonistic are distinguishable so far as the soul is not pure
(selfish) theories, first of all in the Protagoras and spirit ; but just as the spirit should rule both the
the three smaller dialogues attached to it (see other elements of the soul, so also should wisdom,
above), then in the Gorgias, by pointing out the As the inner development of the spirit, rule the
DD 2
## p. 404 (#420) ############################################
404
PLATO.
PLATO.
other virtues. Ability of the emotive element chiefly by Johannes Oporinus, who was afterwards
(Sudoeldés), when penetrated with wisdom to professor of Greek in that university. It does not
govern the whole sensuous nature, is Courage. If appear that he made use of any manuscripts, but
the sensuous or appetitive (étribuuntikóv) element he succeeded in correcting many of the mistakes to
is brought into unity with the ends of wisdom, be found in the edition of Aldus, though some of
moderation or prudence (owopooúvn), as an inward his alterations were corruptions of sound passages,
harmony, is the result. If the inward harmony of The edition was, however, enriched by having in-
the activities shows itself active in giving an corporated with it the commentaries of Proclus on
harmonious form to our outward relations in the the Timaeus and the State, which had shortly
world, Virtue exerts itself in the form of Justice before been discovered by Simon Grynaeus in the
(de Rep. iv. p. 428, b. &c. ). That happiness library of the university at Oxford, and a triple
coincides with the inward harmony of virtue, is Greek index,-one of words and phrases, another of
inferred from this deduction of the virtues, as also proper names, and a third of proverbs to be found
from the discussions respecting pleasure (de Rep. in Plato. The next edition, published at Basle in
viii. p. 547, &c. ix. p. 580, &c. ).
1556, was superintended by Marcus Hopperus,
If it be true that the ethico-rational nature of who availed himself of a collation of some manu-
the individual can only develope itself completely scripts of Plato made in Italy by Arnoldus Arle-
in a well-ordered state (de Rep. vi. 496, b. ), then nius, and so corrected several of the errors of the
the object and constitution of the state must per previous Basle edition, and gave a large number of
fectly answer to the moral nature of the individual, various readings ; the edition of H. Stephanus
and politics must be an essential, inseparable part (1578, in three volumes) is equally reniarkable
of ethics. While, therefore, Plato considers the for the careful preparation of the text, by correcting
state as the copy of a well-regulated individual life the mistakes of copyists and typographers, and
(de Rer. ji. p. 368, e. viii. p. 544, e. &c. ), he des introducing in several instances very felicitous im-
mands of it that it should exhibit a perfect har-provements, and for the dishonesty with which the
mony, in which everything is common to all, and editor appropriated to himself the labours of others
the individual in all his relations only an organ of without any acknowledgment, and with various
the state. The entire merging of the individual life tricks strove to conceal the source from which they
in the life of the state might have appeared to him as were derived. His various readings are taken
the only effectual means of stemming that selfishness chiefly, if not entirely, from the second Basle
and licence of the citizens, which in his time was edition, from the Latin version of Ficinus, and
becoming more and more predominant. Plato de- from the notes of Cornarius.
It is question-
duces the three main elements of the state from the ble whether he himself collated a single manu-
three different activities of the soul ; and just as script. The Latin version of Serranus, which
the appetitive element should be absolutely under is printed in this edition, is very bad. The
control, so also the working class, which answers occasional translations of Stephanus himself are
to it; and the military order, which answers to far better. The Bipont edition (11 vols. 8vo.
the emotive element, should develope itself in A. D. 1781-1786) contains a reprint of the text
thorough dependence upon the reason, by means of that of Stephanus, with the Latin version of
of gymnastics and music ; and from that the go- Marsilius Ficinus. Some fresh various readings,
verning order, answering to the rational faculty, collected by Mitscherlich, are added. It was, how-
must proceed. The right of passing from the rank ever, by Immanuel Bekker that the text of Plato
of a guard (φύλακες, το επικουρικόν) to that of a was first bronght into a satisfactory condition in
ruler, must be established by the capacity for rais- his edition, published in 1816—18, accompanied
ing oneself from becoming to being, from notion to by the Latin version of Ficinus (here restored,
knowledge ; for the ruler ought to be in a condition generally speaking, to its original form, the reprints
to extend and confirm the government of the reason of it in other previous editions of Plato containing
in the state more and more, and especially to direct numerous alterations and corruptions), a critical
and watch over training and education. Without commentary, an extensive comparison of various
admitting altogether the impracticability of his state, readings, and the Greek scholia, previously edited
yet Plato confesses that no realisation of it in the by Ruhnken, with some additions, together with
phenomenal world can fully express his idea, but copious indexes. The dialogues are arranged ac-
that an approximation to it must be aimed at by cording to the scheme of Schleiermacher. The Latin
a limitation of unconditional unity and community, version in this edition has sometimes been erro-
adapted to circumstances. On this account, with neously described as that of Wolf. A joint edition
the view of approximating to the given circum- by Bekker and Wolf was projected and com-
stances, he renounces, in his book on the Laws, menced, but not completed. The reprint of Bek-
that absolute separation of ranks ; fimits the power ker's edition, accompanied by the notes of Stephanus,
of the governors, attempts to reconcile freedom with Heindorf, Wyttenbach, &c. , published by Priestley
reason and unity, to mingle monarchy with demo- (Lond. 1826), is a useful edition. Ast's edition
cracy ; distinguishes several classes of rulers, and (Lips. 1819–1827, 9 vols. 8vo. , to which two
will only cominit to their organically constructed volumes of notes on the four dialogues, Protagoras,
body the highest power under the guarantee of the Phaedrus, Georgias, and Phaedo, have since been
laws.
[Ch. A. B. ] added) contains many ingenious and excellent
There are numerous editions both of the entire emendations of the text, which the editor's pro-
text of Plato, and of separate dialogues. The first found acquaintance with the phraseology of Plato
was that published by Aldus at Venice, in A. D. enabled him to effect. G. Stallbaum, who edited a
1513. In this edition the dialogues are arranged critical edition of the text of Plato (Lips. 1821–
in nine tetralogies, according to the division of 1825, 8 vols. 8vo. *, and 1826, 8 vols. 12mo. ),
Thrasyllus (see above). The next edition was
that published at Basle, in 1534. It was edited * This edition was completed by four additional
1
1
1
## p. 405 (#421) ############################################
PLATONIUS.
405
PLAUTIANUS.
coco
و نحوه
ORINS
commenced in 1827 an elaborate edition of Plato, the characteristics of the old, the middle, and the
which is not yet quite completed. This is perhaps new comedy, especially the two first, and the
the best and most useful edition which has appeared. causes of the various points of difference. The
The edition of J. G. Baiter, J. C. Orelli, and A. remarks are brief, but judicious. (W. M. G. )
G. Winckelmann (one vol. 4to. Zürich, 1839) de- PLATOR. 1. The commander of Oreum for
serves especial mention for the accuracy of the text Philip, betrayed the town to the Romans, B. c.
and the beauty of the typography.
207 (Liv. xxviii. 6). He is probably the same
Of separate dialogues, or collections of dialogues, Plator whom Philip sent with some Illyrians,
the editions are almost endless. Those of the about the commencement of the Second Punic
Cratylus and Theaetetus, of the Euthyphro, Apo-war, to the assistance of the Cretans. (Polyb. iv.
logia, Crito, and Phaedo, of the Sophista, Politicus 55. )
and Parmenides, and of the Philebus and Sympo- 2. The brother of Gentius, the Illyrian king,
sium by Fischer ; of the Lysis, Charmides, Hip who is called Plator by Livy (xliv. 30), but Pleu-
pias Major, and Phaedrus, of the Gorgias and ratus by Poly bius. [PLBURATUS. )
Theaetetus, of the Cratylus, Euthydemus and Par- 3. Of Dyrrhacium, was slain by Piso, proconsul
menides, of the Phaedo, and of the Protagorns and in Macedonia, B. c. 57, although he had been hos-
Sophistes by Heindorf (whose notes exhibit both pitably received in the house of Plator. (Cic. in
acuteness and sound judgment); of the Phaedo by Pison. 34, comp. de llurus. Resp. 16. )
Wyttenbach ; of the Philebus, and of the Par
1
PLATORI'NUS, a cognomen of the Sulpicia
menides by Stallbaum (in the edition of the latter gens, which occurs only upon coins, one of which
of which the commentary of Proclus is incor- 1 is annexed. The obverse represents the head of
porated), are most worthy of note. Of the trans- | Augustus with the legend CAESAR AVGVSTVs, the
lations of Plato the most celebrated is the Latin
reverse the head of M. Agrippa, with the legend
version of Marsilius Ficinus (Flor. 1483-1481, PLATORINVS VIVIR. M. AGRIPPA (Eckhel, vol v.
and frequently reprinted). It was in this version, p. 317. )
which was made from manuscripts, that the writings
of Plato first appeared in a printed form. The
translation is so extremely close that it has almost
the authority of a Greek manuscript, and is of
great service in ascertaining varieties of reading.
This remark, however, does not apply to the later,
altered editions of it, which were published subse-
quently to the appearance of the Greek text of
Plato. There is no good English translation of the
whole of Plato, that by Taylor being by no means
COIN OP PLATORINUS.
The efforts of Floyer Sydenham were
much more successful, but he translated only a few PLAU’TIA GENS, plebeian.
The name is
of the pieces. There is a French translation by also written Plotius, just as we have both Clodius
V. Cousin. Schleiermacher's German translation is and Claudius. The first person of this gens who
incomparably the best, but is unfortunately incom- obtained the consulship was C. Plautius Proculus
plete. There is an Italian translation by Dardi in B. C. 358 ; and from that time down to the im-
Bembo. The versions of separate dialogues in dif- perial period many of the Plautii held at differen
ferent languages are too numerous to be noticed. intervals the highest offices in the state. Undes
We have space to notice only the following out of the republic we find the cognomens of DECIANUS,
the very numerous works written in illustration of HYPSAEUS, PROCULUS, Silvanus, Venno, VE-
Plato: -
Platonis Dialogorum Argumenta Exposita Nox: and to these there were still further additions
et Ilustrata, by Tiedemann (Bip. 1786); Syslem in the time of the empire, a list of which is given
der Platonischen Philosophie, by Tennemann (4 vols. below. A few of the Plautii occur without any
8vo. Leipz. 1792-5); Initia Philosophiae Pla-
and of them an account is also given
tonicae, by P. G. Van Heusde (ed. ii. Lugd. Bat. below. Those persons whose names are usually
1842); Platons Leben und Schriften, by G. A. F. written Plotius are spoken of under this form.
Ast (Leipz. 1816); Geschichte und System der The only cognomens occurring on coins are Hyp:
Platonischen Philosophie, by C. F. Hermann (Hei- saeus and Plancus ; and the latter surname
delb. 1838); Platonis de Ideis et Numeris Doctrina does not properly belong to the Plotii, but was
ex Aristotele illustrata, by F. A. Trendelenburg retained by Munatius Plancus after he had been
(Lips. 1826); Platonische Studien, by E. Zeller adopted by L. Plautius. (Plancus, No. 5. )
(Tübing. 1839). There are also numerous smaller PLAU’TIA URGULANILLA, the first wife
treatises by Böckh, C. F. Hermann, Stallbaum, &c. , of the emperor Claudius, who divorced her on ac-
which may be consulted with profit. Schleierma- count of her lewd conduct, and of her being sus-
cher's introductions to some of the dialogues have pected of murder. She bore two children during
been translated and published in a separate form in her marriage, Drusus, who died at Pompeii in
English.
(C. P. M. ] A. D. 20 [Drusus, No. 23), and Clandia, whom
PLATONIUS (NIAarávos), a grammarian, of she had by a freedman of Claudius, and who was
whom all that we know is that a treatise bearing therefore exposed by command of the emperor.
his name is generally prefixed to the editions (Suet. Claud. 26, 27. ).
of Aristophanes. It is entitled Περί διαφοράς PLAUTIANUS, L. (or C. ) FU'LVIUS, an
κωμωδιών. The subject is the difference between | African by birth, the fellow-townsman and pro-
bably a connection of Septimius Severus. He
volumes containing the various readings, and por- served as praefect of the praetorium under this
tions of the commentary of Proclus on the Cratylus, emperor, who loaded hiin with honours and
edited by Boissonade.
wealth, deferred to his opinion upon all important
accurate.
surname ;
DD 3
## p. 406 (#422) ############################################
406
PLAUTILLA.
PLAUTIUS.
FACILS
QOAT
COIN OF PLAUTILLA.
a
points of state policy, granted all his requests, and between her marriage and exile, a statement which
virtually made over much of the imperial authority it is extremely difficult to reconcile with the fact
into his hands. Intoxicated by these distinctions that a vast number of coins were struck in honour
Plautianus indulged in the most despotic tyranny; of this princess, not only in the city but in the
and perpetrated acts of cruelty almost beyond more distant provinces. She had a brother, Plau-
belief. His cupidity was boundless: no state, no tius, who shared her banishment and her fate.
province, no city escaped his exactions ; in Rome (Dion Cass. lxxvi. 6, lxxvii. 1; Herodian, iii. 13.
he plundered all whose wealth excited his avarice, $ 7, iv. 6. 87; Eckhel, vol. vii. p. 225. ) (W. R. ]
contrived the banishment or death of every one
who impeded or thwarted his schemes, and ven-
tured to treat with contumely even the empress
Domna and her sons. He reached the pinnacle of
his ambition when Severus in the year A. D. 202
selected his daughter Plautilla as the wife of
Caracalla, and on that occasion he presented the
bride with an outfit which a contemporary his-
torian declares would have sufficed for hfty queens.
But even gratified ambition brought him no hap-
piness. His external appearance gave evidence of
a mind ill at ease: when seen in public he was PLAU'TIUS. 1. A comic poet, some of whose
ever deadly pale, and shook with nervous agi-comedies were erroneously ascribed to Plautus, as
tation, partly, says Dion Cassius who was himself we learn from Varro. (Gell. iii. 3. )
an eye-witness of these things, from the irregu- 2. A. PLAUTIUS, was sent by the emperor Clau-
larities of his life and diet, and partly from the dius in A. D. 43 to subdue Britain.
