)
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? MEDITERRANEUM MAKE.
MEUITEKKAMOlM MAKE.
seveial energies and capabilities would be developed.
The comparative shortness of the distances of the sev-
eral places, rendering navigation easy and pleasant
in small and imperfect vessels, would, by facilitating
intercourse from an early period, tend to diffuse and
rromote civilization; while commerce, by bringing
together men of different habits, manners, and lan-
guages, and fe. '. j circulating practical information,
would supply the materials for the perfection of the
arts and sciences. --The navigation of the Mediterra-
nean must no doubt be of very early date. The story
of Minos destroying pirates {Thucyd. , 1, 4) takes for
granted the fact, that there must have been merchant.
vessels carrying something worth plundering from the
earliest recorded period. If, with Strabo, we allow
the accuracy of Homer's descriptions, it by r. ) means
follows that the Greeks knew everything that could
have been known to every other nation at that time;
and the stories told of the jealousy with which the
Phoenicians and Carthaginians guarded their discover-
ies, prove at least that geographical knowledge was
not common property: and with regard to these very
nations, the knowledge which the Greeks could have
had of them, among other barbarians, must have been
inferior to that which we possess in the minute ac-
curacy of the Scriptures alone. The story of Utica
having been established 130 years before Carthage,
proves a regular communication between this place
and Syria, a distance of upward of 1200 miles; and
we may conclude that occasional voyages of that en-
terprising people had already extended the bounds of
knowledge far beyond these limits. If the precise
time of the discovery of places, lying, as it were, in
the thoroughfare of this sea, is so uncertain, the his-
lory of the places in the deep bays of the northern
shores must be still more obscure: we shall therefore
give at once a slight sketch of the geography of this
Ms from Strabo, who wrote in the first century of our
? ra. --The stadium adopted by Strabo was that of
Eratosthenes, 700 stadia making 1? of latitude or lon-
gitude on the equator, or 60 nautical miles; hence a
stadium is 0. 0857 of a nautical mile, the mile being
about 6082 feet. The Mediterranean was dividccTinto
three basins: the first comprised the sea between the
Columns of Hercules and Sicily; the second, between
Sicily and Rhodes; the third, between Rhodes and the
shores of Syria. Strabo supposed that the parallel of lat-
itude of 36$? passed through the Sacred Promontory
(Cape St. Vincent) between the Pillars of Hercules, di-
viding this part of the Mediterranean in the middle of
its breadth, which was believed by navigators to be 5000
stadia, or 42S}- nautical miles, from the Gulf of Lyons
to the shores of Africa, hut which measures only 330.
The sea here, however, lies altogether to the north of
'. his parallel; and hence, as the configuration of the
European shores seems to have been tolerably good,
the coast of Africa must have been proportiombly dis-
torted. This parallel was carried through the straits
of Sicily, Rhodes, and the Gulf of Issus, now the Gulf
of Scandcroon. In consequence of the above suppo-
sition, he placed Massilia (Marseille) to the southward
instead of the northward of Byzantium. He supposed
Sardinia and Corsica to lie northwest and southeast
instead of north and south, and made the distance of
Sardinia from the coast of Africa 2400 stadia, or 206
miles instead of 100, which is the true distance.
From the Columns of Hercules to the Straits of Sicily
? ? be considers to he 12,000 stadia, or 1028 miles: it is
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? MED
MEG
S>>. --Compare Arittot. , it Munio, c. 3. --GtUius, N.
A. , 10, 7. ) Diodorua Siculus, i/ kiiH' i/uilr duXaooa
(4, 18--Compare Polyb. , 3, 37. --Smb. , 83. -- Ap-
ptan. Bell. Milhradat. , c. 93. -- Mazimut Tyriut,
14, 3). Maximus Tyrius, i/ iripo ? du'Kaaoa (41, 1).
Strabo, 7/ hiroc $<i? . aaoa. (Compare Marc. Jicracl,
Peripl. , p. 85. -- Agathem. , 2, 4. ) Aristotle, q cvtoc
WpaxXeiuv ott/Xuv dukanaa (Meteor. , 2, 1. --Com-
pare Dion. Hal, 1,3. --Plut, Vit. Pomp. ,c. 26). The
Latin writers in general, as we have already said, give
it the appellation of Nottrum Mare (Sallutt. , Jug. , c.
17. --Mela, 1, 1, 5. --Lit. , 26, 4. --Cat. , B. G. , 6, 1.
Amen. , Or. Marit. , v. 56. --Compare Duker, ad Flor. ,
3, 6, 9. -- Cort. ad Sallutt. , B. Jug. , c. 18). Pliny
styles it Mare internum (3, proem. , c. 5). Florus,
Mare inlettinum (4, 2). Later writers, not classical,
have Mare Mediterraneum. (Solin. , e. 22. ) Isidorus
gives the following explanation of th i name: " Quia
per medium lerram usque ad Orientem perfunditur, Eu-
'opam et A/ricam Atiamque determinant. " (Orig. ,
13, 13. -- Compare 1'riscian. , Peritg. , 52. ) Oroaius
? ays, " Mare nostrum quod Magnum generaiiter dici-
mus;" and Isidorus remarks, "quia cetera maria in
eomparatione cjut minora tunt. " (Orot. , 1,2. --hid. ,
Orig. , 13, 16--Compare Hardouin, ad Plin, 9, 18.
-- Burmann,ad Vol. FlaccArg. , 1, 50. ) According
to Polybius (3, 42), that part of tho Mediterranean
which Isy between the Pillars of Hercules and the
Rhone was called Xapddviov rrikayoc, while Aristotle
calls the part between the Pillars and Sardinia ? ap-
iovucoc (Meteor. , 2, 1. --Id. , de Mund. , 3. --Eratotth. ,
tp. Plin. , 3, 10). Strabo gives the part between the
Pillars and the Pyrenees the name of Mnpuciv ire? . ayoc
(122. --Compare Agathem. , 1, 3. -- Dionyt. Perieg. ,
v. 69. -- Niceph. Blcm. , cd. Spohn. , p. 3). Pliny re-
marks, " Hitpanum mare, qualenut Hitpanias aUuit;
th alixs Ibericum aul Balearicum" (3, 2. -- Id. ibid,
4,34. --Compare Solin. , c. 23. --AmpcL, c. 7. --Ptol. ,
t, 6). According to Zonaras (Annul , 8, p. 406), the
tei to the east of the Pyrenees was called the . SV<< of
tit Bcbryciant. (Compare Markland. , ad Max. Tyr. ,
32, 3. --Ukerl's Geogr. , vol. 2, p. 247, teqq. , in notit. )
Meditbina, the goddess of healing, whose festival,
called Meditrinalia, was celebrated at Rome and
throughout I^atium on the 5th day before the Ides of
October. (Compare the Ancient Calendar given by
Gruter, p. 133. ) On this occasion new and old wine
were poured out in libation, and tasted, " medicamenti
causa. " Compare the explanatory remarks of Kes-
tus: "Meditrinalia dicta Imc dc causa. Mot erat
Lalinit populis, quo die quit primum guslarel mus-
. turn, dicerc ominis gratia, ' vetus novum vinum bibo:
veteri novo morbo medeor. ' A quibut verbis Medi-
trina dca nomen captum, ejusque sacra Medilrinalia
dicta sunt. " (Festut, t. v. --Consult Dacier, ad loc. )
Msnolci, a people of Venetia, in Cisalpine Gaul,
noticed only by Strabo (216). From the affinity which
their name bears to that of the Meduacus or Brenta, it
seems reasonable to place them near the source of that
liver, and in the district of Bassano. (Cramer's Anc.
Italy, vol. 1, p. 125. )
Mrdoacus or Meduacus, I. Major, a river of Vene-
tia, r. nv the Brenta. --II. Minor, a river of Venetia,
now . he Bachiglione. --Both theae rivers rise in the
territory of the Euganei, and fall into the Adriatic be-
low Venice. Patavium was situate between these
two streams, but nearer the Medoacua Minor. (Plin. ,
? ? 3, 18. --Lev. , 10, 2.
)
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? MEGALOPOLIS.
MEG
necessary arrangements for conducting the lew col
on/. (Pausai. , 8, 27. ) This event took place ic
the 102d Olympiad, or 370-1 B. C. The territory as-
signed to Megalopolis was extensive, since it reached
is far as the little states of Orchomenus and Caphyas
on the northeast, while to the south and southwest it
adjoined Laconia and Messenia. (Pausan. , 8, 25. )
Diodorus affirms, that the city contained about 15,000
men capable of bearing arms, according to which cal-
culation we may compute the whole population at
65,000. {Died. Sic. , 18, 70. ) The Megalopolitans
experienced no molestation from the Lacedaemonians
as long as Thebo^ was able to protect them; but, on
tbe decline of that city, and when it also became en-
gaged in the sacred war against the Phocians, they
were assailed by the Spartans, who endeavoured to
obtain possession of their town; these attacks, how-
ever, were easily repelled by the aid of the Argives
and Messenians. (Pausan. , 8, 37. ) To the Athe-
nians the Megalopolitans were likewise indebted for
then: protection against the attempts of Sparta, as well
as for their assistance in settling some dissensions in
their republic, which had led to the secession of several
townships that originally contributed to the foundation
of the city. (Demoslh. , Oral, pro Megalop. , p. 202. )
In order to strengthen themselves still farther against
the Lacedxmonians, they formed an alliance with
Philip, son of Amyntas, who conciliated the favour of
the Arcadians not only towards himself, but towards
all his successors. (I'uusan , 8, 27. --Polyb. , 2, 48. )
On the death of Alexander, Megalopolis had to defend
itself against the army of Polysperchon, who was en-
gaged in war with Cassander. This general vigor-
ously assaulted the city, but, owing to the bravery of
tbe inhabitants, headed by Damis, who had served
under Alexander, his attacks were constantly repulsed.
(Diod. Sic. , 18, 70. ) Subsequently we find Megalop-
olis governed by tyrants, the first of whom was Aris-
todemu* of Phigalea, whose excellent character ob-
"ainec for him the surname of Xpqorbc. Under his
tcign the Spartans again invaded Megalopolis, but
were defeated after an obstinate conflict; Acrntatus,
the son of Cleomenes, who commanded the army, be-
ing among the slain. (Pausan. , 8, 27. ) Some time
after the death of Aristodemus, the sovereignty was
? gam usurped by Lydiades, a man of ignoble birth, but
of worthy character, since he voluntarily abdicated his
authority for the benefit of his countrymen, in order
that he might unite them with the Achaean confederacy.
(Pauian. , 8, 27. --Polyb. , 2, 44. ) At this period Me-
galopolis was assailed for the third time by the Spar-
tans; who, having defeated the inhabitants, laid siege
to the city, of which they would have made themselves
matters but for a violent wind, which overthrew and
demolished their engines. (Paiuan. , 8, 27. ) Not
long, however, after this failure, Cleomenes, the son
of Leonidas, in violation of the existing treaty, sur-
prised the Megalopolitans by night, and, putting to the
sword all who offered any resistance, destroyed the
city. Philopcemen, with a considerable part of the
population, escaped into Messenia. (Polyb. , 2, 55. --
Paiuan. , 8, 27. ) Megalopolis was restored by the
Achsans after the battle of Sellaaia; but it never
again rose to its former flourishing condition. The
virtues and talents of its great general Philopcemen
added materially to ita celebrity and influence in the
Achaean councils, and after uis death its fame was
? ? upheld by the abilities of Lycortas and Polybius, who
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? MEGARA
MEG
17) The walls of Megara, which had l>een destroyed
by Minos, were rebuilt by Alcathotis, the son of Pe-
lops, who came from Elis. (1'avsan. , 1, 41. ) In this
undertaking, Apollo was said to have assisted him.
(Tkeogn. , 771. --Ovid, Met. , 8, 14. ) Hyperion, the
son of Agamemnon, according to Pausanias, was the
last sovereign of Megara; after his death, the govern-
ment, by the advice of en oracle, became democrati-
cal. (Pausan. , 1, 43. ) As a republic, however, it re-
mained still subject to Athens. Strabo indeed af-
firms, that, till the reign of Codrus, Megaris had al-
ways been included within the limits of Attica; and
he thus accounts for Homer's making no special men-
tion of its inhabitants, from his comprehending them
with the Athenians under the general denomination of
Ionians. (Strab. , 392. ) In the reign of Codrus, Me-
gara was wrested from the Athenians by a Pelopon-
nesian force; and a colony having been established
there by the Corinthians and Messenians, it ceased to
be considered as of Ionian origin, but thenceforth be-
came a Dorian city, both in its language and political
institutions. The pillar, also, which marked the bound-
tries of Ionia and the Peloponnesus, was on that oc-
casion destroyed. (Strab , 39:? --Pausan. , 1, 39. --
The scholiast on Pindar (JVem. 7) informs us, that the
Corinthians, at this early period, considering Megara
as their colony, exercised a sort of jurisdiction over
the city. Not long after, however, Thcagenes, one of
Us citizens, usurped the sovereign power, by the same
method, apparently, which was afterward adopted by
Pisistratus at Athens. (Aristot. , Rhct , 1, 2. -- Id. ,
PolU. , 5, H--Tkueyd. , 1, 126. ) He was finally ex-
pelled by his countrymen; after which event a mod-
erate republican form of government was established,
though afterward it degenerated into a violent democ-
racy. (Plut. , Queue. Gr. , 18. ) This should probably
be considered as the period of Megara's greatest pros-
perity, since it then founded the cities of Selymbria,
Mescnibria, and Byzantium, on the shores of the Enx-
ine, and Megara Hybkea in Sicily. {Strabo, 319. ) It
was at this lim* also that its inhabitants were engaged
in war wi;H the Athenians for the possession of Sala-
mis, which after an obstinate contest, finally remained
in the hands of the latter. (Pausan. , 1, 40. --Strabo,
394) The Megareans fought at Artemisium with
twenty ships, and at Salamis with the same number.
(Herod. , 8, I, 45. ) They also gained some advantage
over the Persians under Mardonius, in an inroad which
he made into their territory (Pausan. , 1, 40); and,
lastly, they sent 3900 soldiers to Plates, who deserved
well of their country in the memorable battle fought
in its plains. (Herod. , 9, 21. --Ptui. , de defect. Orac. ,
p. 186. ) After the Persian war, wc find Megara en-
faged in hostilities with Corinth, and renouncing the
'eloponnesian confederacy to ally itself with Athene.
(Tkueyd, 1, 103. --Duxi. Sic. , 2, 60. ) This state of
things was not, however, of long duration; for the Co-
rinthians, after effecting a reconciliation with the oli-
garchical party in Megara, persuaded the inhabitants
to declare against the Athenians who garrisoned their
city. These were presently attacked and put to the
sword, with ihe exception of a Bmall number who es-
caped to Nisaja. (Tkueyd. , 1,114. ) The Athenians,
justly incensed at this treacherous conduct, renounced
all intercourse with the Megareans, and issued a decree
excluding them from their ports and markets; a meas-
cre which appears to have been severely fell by the
? ? latter, and was made a pretence for war on the part of
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? MKi,
MEL
we Scironian Pass, which is the steep escarpment
of the mountains that terminate on the coast of the
Saronic Gulf, passed by Crommyon (Strabo, 391);
and along the side of the escarpment was the direct
mad front Corinth to Athens. This road was made
wide enough, by the Emperor Hadrian, for two ve-
sicles abreast (Pausan. , 1, 40, 10), but at present it
only admits a single vehicle, except in a few places
(Thiersch, De VEtat Acluel de la Greee, 2, p. 32);
yet the roi i, on the whole, is in good condition. The
other road, following the coast of the Corinthian Gulf,
crossed the Gerancan Mountains, which belong to the
Oneian range, and led to Pegae, on the Corinthian
Gulf, and tbence into Bceotia. --The extreme breadth
of Megaris, from Pegs to Nissea on the Corinthian
Gulf, is reckoned by Strabo at 120 stadia; and the
area of the country is calculated by Mr. Clinton, from
Arrowsmith's map, at 720 square miles. (Fast. Hell. ,
vol. 2, p. 385. ) Megaris is a rugged and mountain-
ous territory, and contains only one plain of small ex-
tent, in which the capital Megara was situated. The
rocks are chiefly, if not entirely, calcareous. The
country is very deficient in springs. (Encycl. Us.
Knoiri, vol. 15, p. 64. )
Megasthe. nks, a Greek historian and geographical
writer in the age of Seleucus Nicator, king of Syria,
about 300 years before Christ. He was sent by Se-
leucus to Palibothra in India, to renew and confirm a
previous treaty with Sandrocottus, monarch of the
Prasii. He remained there many years, and after his
return he wrote, under the title of Indica (IvitKa),
an account of whatever he had seen or heard during
his travel*. His work is lost; but Strabo, Arrian,
and -Elian have preserved some fragments of it. He
was the first who made the western nations acquaint-
ed with the countries beyond the Ganges, and with
the manners of their inhabitants. Strabo has on sev-
eral occasions expressed an unfavourable opinion of
the trustworthiness of Megasthenes; but still it is
quite certain, that the work of the latter contained
much valuable information, which was then entirely
new to the Greeks. Megasthenes gave the first ac-
count of Taprobane or Ceylon. (Schbll, Hist. Lit.
Gr. . vol. 3, p. 333. )
Mel*. Pomponius, a geographical writer, the first
Latin author of a general work on this subject, and
who floL-rished during the reign of the Emperor Clau-
dius. He was bom in Spain, of an illustrious Roman
family, the Pornponii, who pretended to trace up their
lineage to Numa. Some critics have thought that
Mela only belonged to this family by adoption, and
that he was that third son of the rhetorician Marcus
Seneca to whom this writer dedicated bis works;
while others are inclined to regard him as the grand-
son of Seneca the philosopher. (Consult Tzschucke,
Diss, de Pomp. Mel. , c. 1. ) In either of these cases,
however, the word Annsus would most probably have
been added to his name. --There is reason to believe
that his true name was not Mela, but Molla. (Com-
pare Voss. , de Hist. Lat. , 1, 25. -- Fabricius, Bihl.
Lot. , 2, 8, p. 75, seqq. --Saxe, Onomast. , 1, p. 243. --
Tzschucke, Diss, de Pomp. Mel. ) - Pomponius Mela
names his native city in one passage of his work (2,
6), but the text unfortunately is so corrupt, that it is
uncertain whether we ought to read Tingentera, Mel-
? aria, Tarlessus, or Tingisbera. He lived, as has
been already remarked, under the Emperor Claudius,
? ? for the passage (3, 6) in which he speaks of a triumph
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? MEL
He awoke in some terror; and, to his astonishment,
found that lie understood the voices of the birds which
were flying around him; and, learning from their
tongues the future, he was enabled to declare it to
mankind.
? MEDITERRANEUM MAKE.
MEUITEKKAMOlM MAKE.
seveial energies and capabilities would be developed.
The comparative shortness of the distances of the sev-
eral places, rendering navigation easy and pleasant
in small and imperfect vessels, would, by facilitating
intercourse from an early period, tend to diffuse and
rromote civilization; while commerce, by bringing
together men of different habits, manners, and lan-
guages, and fe. '. j circulating practical information,
would supply the materials for the perfection of the
arts and sciences. --The navigation of the Mediterra-
nean must no doubt be of very early date. The story
of Minos destroying pirates {Thucyd. , 1, 4) takes for
granted the fact, that there must have been merchant.
vessels carrying something worth plundering from the
earliest recorded period. If, with Strabo, we allow
the accuracy of Homer's descriptions, it by r. ) means
follows that the Greeks knew everything that could
have been known to every other nation at that time;
and the stories told of the jealousy with which the
Phoenicians and Carthaginians guarded their discover-
ies, prove at least that geographical knowledge was
not common property: and with regard to these very
nations, the knowledge which the Greeks could have
had of them, among other barbarians, must have been
inferior to that which we possess in the minute ac-
curacy of the Scriptures alone. The story of Utica
having been established 130 years before Carthage,
proves a regular communication between this place
and Syria, a distance of upward of 1200 miles; and
we may conclude that occasional voyages of that en-
terprising people had already extended the bounds of
knowledge far beyond these limits. If the precise
time of the discovery of places, lying, as it were, in
the thoroughfare of this sea, is so uncertain, the his-
lory of the places in the deep bays of the northern
shores must be still more obscure: we shall therefore
give at once a slight sketch of the geography of this
Ms from Strabo, who wrote in the first century of our
? ra. --The stadium adopted by Strabo was that of
Eratosthenes, 700 stadia making 1? of latitude or lon-
gitude on the equator, or 60 nautical miles; hence a
stadium is 0. 0857 of a nautical mile, the mile being
about 6082 feet. The Mediterranean was dividccTinto
three basins: the first comprised the sea between the
Columns of Hercules and Sicily; the second, between
Sicily and Rhodes; the third, between Rhodes and the
shores of Syria. Strabo supposed that the parallel of lat-
itude of 36$? passed through the Sacred Promontory
(Cape St. Vincent) between the Pillars of Hercules, di-
viding this part of the Mediterranean in the middle of
its breadth, which was believed by navigators to be 5000
stadia, or 42S}- nautical miles, from the Gulf of Lyons
to the shores of Africa, hut which measures only 330.
The sea here, however, lies altogether to the north of
'. his parallel; and hence, as the configuration of the
European shores seems to have been tolerably good,
the coast of Africa must have been proportiombly dis-
torted. This parallel was carried through the straits
of Sicily, Rhodes, and the Gulf of Issus, now the Gulf
of Scandcroon. In consequence of the above suppo-
sition, he placed Massilia (Marseille) to the southward
instead of the northward of Byzantium. He supposed
Sardinia and Corsica to lie northwest and southeast
instead of north and south, and made the distance of
Sardinia from the coast of Africa 2400 stadia, or 206
miles instead of 100, which is the true distance.
From the Columns of Hercules to the Straits of Sicily
? ? be considers to he 12,000 stadia, or 1028 miles: it is
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? MED
MEG
S>>. --Compare Arittot. , it Munio, c. 3. --GtUius, N.
A. , 10, 7. ) Diodorua Siculus, i/ kiiH' i/uilr duXaooa
(4, 18--Compare Polyb. , 3, 37. --Smb. , 83. -- Ap-
ptan. Bell. Milhradat. , c. 93. -- Mazimut Tyriut,
14, 3). Maximus Tyrius, i/ iripo ? du'Kaaoa (41, 1).
Strabo, 7/ hiroc $<i? . aaoa. (Compare Marc. Jicracl,
Peripl. , p. 85. -- Agathem. , 2, 4. ) Aristotle, q cvtoc
WpaxXeiuv ott/Xuv dukanaa (Meteor. , 2, 1. --Com-
pare Dion. Hal, 1,3. --Plut, Vit. Pomp. ,c. 26). The
Latin writers in general, as we have already said, give
it the appellation of Nottrum Mare (Sallutt. , Jug. , c.
17. --Mela, 1, 1, 5. --Lit. , 26, 4. --Cat. , B. G. , 6, 1.
Amen. , Or. Marit. , v. 56. --Compare Duker, ad Flor. ,
3, 6, 9. -- Cort. ad Sallutt. , B. Jug. , c. 18). Pliny
styles it Mare internum (3, proem. , c. 5). Florus,
Mare inlettinum (4, 2). Later writers, not classical,
have Mare Mediterraneum. (Solin. , e. 22. ) Isidorus
gives the following explanation of th i name: " Quia
per medium lerram usque ad Orientem perfunditur, Eu-
'opam et A/ricam Atiamque determinant. " (Orig. ,
13, 13. -- Compare 1'riscian. , Peritg. , 52. ) Oroaius
? ays, " Mare nostrum quod Magnum generaiiter dici-
mus;" and Isidorus remarks, "quia cetera maria in
eomparatione cjut minora tunt. " (Orot. , 1,2. --hid. ,
Orig. , 13, 16--Compare Hardouin, ad Plin, 9, 18.
-- Burmann,ad Vol. FlaccArg. , 1, 50. ) According
to Polybius (3, 42), that part of tho Mediterranean
which Isy between the Pillars of Hercules and the
Rhone was called Xapddviov rrikayoc, while Aristotle
calls the part between the Pillars and Sardinia ? ap-
iovucoc (Meteor. , 2, 1. --Id. , de Mund. , 3. --Eratotth. ,
tp. Plin. , 3, 10). Strabo gives the part between the
Pillars and the Pyrenees the name of Mnpuciv ire? . ayoc
(122. --Compare Agathem. , 1, 3. -- Dionyt. Perieg. ,
v. 69. -- Niceph. Blcm. , cd. Spohn. , p. 3). Pliny re-
marks, " Hitpanum mare, qualenut Hitpanias aUuit;
th alixs Ibericum aul Balearicum" (3, 2. -- Id. ibid,
4,34. --Compare Solin. , c. 23. --AmpcL, c. 7. --Ptol. ,
t, 6). According to Zonaras (Annul , 8, p. 406), the
tei to the east of the Pyrenees was called the . SV<< of
tit Bcbryciant. (Compare Markland. , ad Max. Tyr. ,
32, 3. --Ukerl's Geogr. , vol. 2, p. 247, teqq. , in notit. )
Meditbina, the goddess of healing, whose festival,
called Meditrinalia, was celebrated at Rome and
throughout I^atium on the 5th day before the Ides of
October. (Compare the Ancient Calendar given by
Gruter, p. 133. ) On this occasion new and old wine
were poured out in libation, and tasted, " medicamenti
causa. " Compare the explanatory remarks of Kes-
tus: "Meditrinalia dicta Imc dc causa. Mot erat
Lalinit populis, quo die quit primum guslarel mus-
. turn, dicerc ominis gratia, ' vetus novum vinum bibo:
veteri novo morbo medeor. ' A quibut verbis Medi-
trina dca nomen captum, ejusque sacra Medilrinalia
dicta sunt. " (Festut, t. v. --Consult Dacier, ad loc. )
Msnolci, a people of Venetia, in Cisalpine Gaul,
noticed only by Strabo (216). From the affinity which
their name bears to that of the Meduacus or Brenta, it
seems reasonable to place them near the source of that
liver, and in the district of Bassano. (Cramer's Anc.
Italy, vol. 1, p. 125. )
Mrdoacus or Meduacus, I. Major, a river of Vene-
tia, r. nv the Brenta. --II. Minor, a river of Venetia,
now . he Bachiglione. --Both theae rivers rise in the
territory of the Euganei, and fall into the Adriatic be-
low Venice. Patavium was situate between these
two streams, but nearer the Medoacua Minor. (Plin. ,
? ? 3, 18. --Lev. , 10, 2.
)
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? MEGALOPOLIS.
MEG
necessary arrangements for conducting the lew col
on/. (Pausai. , 8, 27. ) This event took place ic
the 102d Olympiad, or 370-1 B. C. The territory as-
signed to Megalopolis was extensive, since it reached
is far as the little states of Orchomenus and Caphyas
on the northeast, while to the south and southwest it
adjoined Laconia and Messenia. (Pausan. , 8, 25. )
Diodorus affirms, that the city contained about 15,000
men capable of bearing arms, according to which cal-
culation we may compute the whole population at
65,000. {Died. Sic. , 18, 70. ) The Megalopolitans
experienced no molestation from the Lacedaemonians
as long as Thebo^ was able to protect them; but, on
tbe decline of that city, and when it also became en-
gaged in the sacred war against the Phocians, they
were assailed by the Spartans, who endeavoured to
obtain possession of their town; these attacks, how-
ever, were easily repelled by the aid of the Argives
and Messenians. (Pausan. , 8, 37. ) To the Athe-
nians the Megalopolitans were likewise indebted for
then: protection against the attempts of Sparta, as well
as for their assistance in settling some dissensions in
their republic, which had led to the secession of several
townships that originally contributed to the foundation
of the city. (Demoslh. , Oral, pro Megalop. , p. 202. )
In order to strengthen themselves still farther against
the Lacedxmonians, they formed an alliance with
Philip, son of Amyntas, who conciliated the favour of
the Arcadians not only towards himself, but towards
all his successors. (I'uusan , 8, 27. --Polyb. , 2, 48. )
On the death of Alexander, Megalopolis had to defend
itself against the army of Polysperchon, who was en-
gaged in war with Cassander. This general vigor-
ously assaulted the city, but, owing to the bravery of
tbe inhabitants, headed by Damis, who had served
under Alexander, his attacks were constantly repulsed.
(Diod. Sic. , 18, 70. ) Subsequently we find Megalop-
olis governed by tyrants, the first of whom was Aris-
todemu* of Phigalea, whose excellent character ob-
"ainec for him the surname of Xpqorbc. Under his
tcign the Spartans again invaded Megalopolis, but
were defeated after an obstinate conflict; Acrntatus,
the son of Cleomenes, who commanded the army, be-
ing among the slain. (Pausan. , 8, 27. ) Some time
after the death of Aristodemus, the sovereignty was
? gam usurped by Lydiades, a man of ignoble birth, but
of worthy character, since he voluntarily abdicated his
authority for the benefit of his countrymen, in order
that he might unite them with the Achaean confederacy.
(Pauian. , 8, 27. --Polyb. , 2, 44. ) At this period Me-
galopolis was assailed for the third time by the Spar-
tans; who, having defeated the inhabitants, laid siege
to the city, of which they would have made themselves
matters but for a violent wind, which overthrew and
demolished their engines. (Paiuan. , 8, 27. ) Not
long, however, after this failure, Cleomenes, the son
of Leonidas, in violation of the existing treaty, sur-
prised the Megalopolitans by night, and, putting to the
sword all who offered any resistance, destroyed the
city. Philopcemen, with a considerable part of the
population, escaped into Messenia. (Polyb. , 2, 55. --
Paiuan. , 8, 27. ) Megalopolis was restored by the
Achsans after the battle of Sellaaia; but it never
again rose to its former flourishing condition. The
virtues and talents of its great general Philopcemen
added materially to ita celebrity and influence in the
Achaean councils, and after uis death its fame was
? ? upheld by the abilities of Lycortas and Polybius, who
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? MEGARA
MEG
17) The walls of Megara, which had l>een destroyed
by Minos, were rebuilt by Alcathotis, the son of Pe-
lops, who came from Elis. (1'avsan. , 1, 41. ) In this
undertaking, Apollo was said to have assisted him.
(Tkeogn. , 771. --Ovid, Met. , 8, 14. ) Hyperion, the
son of Agamemnon, according to Pausanias, was the
last sovereign of Megara; after his death, the govern-
ment, by the advice of en oracle, became democrati-
cal. (Pausan. , 1, 43. ) As a republic, however, it re-
mained still subject to Athens. Strabo indeed af-
firms, that, till the reign of Codrus, Megaris had al-
ways been included within the limits of Attica; and
he thus accounts for Homer's making no special men-
tion of its inhabitants, from his comprehending them
with the Athenians under the general denomination of
Ionians. (Strab. , 392. ) In the reign of Codrus, Me-
gara was wrested from the Athenians by a Pelopon-
nesian force; and a colony having been established
there by the Corinthians and Messenians, it ceased to
be considered as of Ionian origin, but thenceforth be-
came a Dorian city, both in its language and political
institutions. The pillar, also, which marked the bound-
tries of Ionia and the Peloponnesus, was on that oc-
casion destroyed. (Strab , 39:? --Pausan. , 1, 39. --
The scholiast on Pindar (JVem. 7) informs us, that the
Corinthians, at this early period, considering Megara
as their colony, exercised a sort of jurisdiction over
the city. Not long after, however, Thcagenes, one of
Us citizens, usurped the sovereign power, by the same
method, apparently, which was afterward adopted by
Pisistratus at Athens. (Aristot. , Rhct , 1, 2. -- Id. ,
PolU. , 5, H--Tkueyd. , 1, 126. ) He was finally ex-
pelled by his countrymen; after which event a mod-
erate republican form of government was established,
though afterward it degenerated into a violent democ-
racy. (Plut. , Queue. Gr. , 18. ) This should probably
be considered as the period of Megara's greatest pros-
perity, since it then founded the cities of Selymbria,
Mescnibria, and Byzantium, on the shores of the Enx-
ine, and Megara Hybkea in Sicily. {Strabo, 319. ) It
was at this lim* also that its inhabitants were engaged
in war wi;H the Athenians for the possession of Sala-
mis, which after an obstinate contest, finally remained
in the hands of the latter. (Pausan. , 1, 40. --Strabo,
394) The Megareans fought at Artemisium with
twenty ships, and at Salamis with the same number.
(Herod. , 8, I, 45. ) They also gained some advantage
over the Persians under Mardonius, in an inroad which
he made into their territory (Pausan. , 1, 40); and,
lastly, they sent 3900 soldiers to Plates, who deserved
well of their country in the memorable battle fought
in its plains. (Herod. , 9, 21. --Ptui. , de defect. Orac. ,
p. 186. ) After the Persian war, wc find Megara en-
faged in hostilities with Corinth, and renouncing the
'eloponnesian confederacy to ally itself with Athene.
(Tkueyd, 1, 103. --Duxi. Sic. , 2, 60. ) This state of
things was not, however, of long duration; for the Co-
rinthians, after effecting a reconciliation with the oli-
garchical party in Megara, persuaded the inhabitants
to declare against the Athenians who garrisoned their
city. These were presently attacked and put to the
sword, with ihe exception of a Bmall number who es-
caped to Nisaja. (Tkueyd. , 1,114. ) The Athenians,
justly incensed at this treacherous conduct, renounced
all intercourse with the Megareans, and issued a decree
excluding them from their ports and markets; a meas-
cre which appears to have been severely fell by the
? ? latter, and was made a pretence for war on the part of
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? MKi,
MEL
we Scironian Pass, which is the steep escarpment
of the mountains that terminate on the coast of the
Saronic Gulf, passed by Crommyon (Strabo, 391);
and along the side of the escarpment was the direct
mad front Corinth to Athens. This road was made
wide enough, by the Emperor Hadrian, for two ve-
sicles abreast (Pausan. , 1, 40, 10), but at present it
only admits a single vehicle, except in a few places
(Thiersch, De VEtat Acluel de la Greee, 2, p. 32);
yet the roi i, on the whole, is in good condition. The
other road, following the coast of the Corinthian Gulf,
crossed the Gerancan Mountains, which belong to the
Oneian range, and led to Pegae, on the Corinthian
Gulf, and tbence into Bceotia. --The extreme breadth
of Megaris, from Pegs to Nissea on the Corinthian
Gulf, is reckoned by Strabo at 120 stadia; and the
area of the country is calculated by Mr. Clinton, from
Arrowsmith's map, at 720 square miles. (Fast. Hell. ,
vol. 2, p. 385. ) Megaris is a rugged and mountain-
ous territory, and contains only one plain of small ex-
tent, in which the capital Megara was situated. The
rocks are chiefly, if not entirely, calcareous. The
country is very deficient in springs. (Encycl. Us.
Knoiri, vol. 15, p. 64. )
Megasthe. nks, a Greek historian and geographical
writer in the age of Seleucus Nicator, king of Syria,
about 300 years before Christ. He was sent by Se-
leucus to Palibothra in India, to renew and confirm a
previous treaty with Sandrocottus, monarch of the
Prasii. He remained there many years, and after his
return he wrote, under the title of Indica (IvitKa),
an account of whatever he had seen or heard during
his travel*. His work is lost; but Strabo, Arrian,
and -Elian have preserved some fragments of it. He
was the first who made the western nations acquaint-
ed with the countries beyond the Ganges, and with
the manners of their inhabitants. Strabo has on sev-
eral occasions expressed an unfavourable opinion of
the trustworthiness of Megasthenes; but still it is
quite certain, that the work of the latter contained
much valuable information, which was then entirely
new to the Greeks. Megasthenes gave the first ac-
count of Taprobane or Ceylon. (Schbll, Hist. Lit.
Gr. . vol. 3, p. 333. )
Mel*. Pomponius, a geographical writer, the first
Latin author of a general work on this subject, and
who floL-rished during the reign of the Emperor Clau-
dius. He was bom in Spain, of an illustrious Roman
family, the Pornponii, who pretended to trace up their
lineage to Numa. Some critics have thought that
Mela only belonged to this family by adoption, and
that he was that third son of the rhetorician Marcus
Seneca to whom this writer dedicated bis works;
while others are inclined to regard him as the grand-
son of Seneca the philosopher. (Consult Tzschucke,
Diss, de Pomp. Mel. , c. 1. ) In either of these cases,
however, the word Annsus would most probably have
been added to his name. --There is reason to believe
that his true name was not Mela, but Molla. (Com-
pare Voss. , de Hist. Lat. , 1, 25. -- Fabricius, Bihl.
Lot. , 2, 8, p. 75, seqq. --Saxe, Onomast. , 1, p. 243. --
Tzschucke, Diss, de Pomp. Mel. ) - Pomponius Mela
names his native city in one passage of his work (2,
6), but the text unfortunately is so corrupt, that it is
uncertain whether we ought to read Tingentera, Mel-
? aria, Tarlessus, or Tingisbera. He lived, as has
been already remarked, under the Emperor Claudius,
? ? for the passage (3, 6) in which he speaks of a triumph
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? MEL
He awoke in some terror; and, to his astonishment,
found that lie understood the voices of the birds which
were flying around him; and, learning from their
tongues the future, he was enabled to declare it to
mankind.
