Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Menas 1.
MENAS (Μηνᾶς). 1. A Lacedaemonian, was one of the commissioners for ratifying the fifty years' truce between Athens and Sparta in B. C. 421, and also the separate treaty of alliance between these states in the same year. (Thuc. v. 19, 24.)
2. A Bithynian, whom Prusias II. (κυνηγός), sent to Rome in B. C. 149, to join with Nicomedes (son of Prusias) in an application to the senate to remit the remainder of the sum which they had compelled him to engage to pay to Attalus II. of Pergamus in B. C. 154. The counter-representations, however, of Andronicus, the envoy of Attalus, prevailed, and the senate decided against Prusias. In the event of failure, Menas had received a command from Prusias to put Nicomedes to death, in order to make way for his sons by a second wife; but he shrank from doing so, and entered into a conspiracy with Nicomedes and Andronicus against his master, inducing the 2000 soldiers whom Prusias had sent with him, to transfer their allegiance to Nicomedes. (App. Mithr. 4, 5; comp. Just, xxxiv. 4; Liv. Epit. 50; Polyb. xxxiii. 11, xxxvii. 2; Diod. xxxii. Eclog. iv. p. 523.)
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