OHYTRI
766
CIASCA
or civil functions (I Mach., ii, 18, iii, 38, vi, 10, 14, 28,
vii, 6-8, etc.). It is likely, then, that Chusai's title
of "friend" of King David does not imply the inti-
mate relations suggested by the term; but the account
that is given of him during Absalom's rebellion (II
K., xv-xvii) shows that in his case the title was not
merely official. Just after David has heard of the
treason of Achitophel, he is met, on his way up the
Mount of Olives, by Chusai, his garments rent, and his
head covered with dust. He is probably an old man,
for David tells him he would be a burden in the
flight; but the king does honour to his cleverness by
sending him to Jerusalem to "defeat the counsel of
Achitophel". Chusai persuades Absalom to take
him into his confidence, and, in the council held
shortly afterwards in regard to the measures to be
taken against David, he obtains a delay which secured
the safety of the king. He is able likewise to convey
information to David through Sadoc, Abiathar, and
their sons. It may be questioned how far Chusai's
conduct can be justified even according to the eth-
ics of war. Scripture relates his conduct, without
thereby approving it.
Palis in Vig., Diet, de la Bible, s.v.; Stenning in Hast., Dirt, of the Bible, s.v. Hushai.
W. S. Reilly.
Chytri, a titular see of Cyprus. The Greek see of similar title was suppressed in 1222 by Cardinal Pelagius, papal legate. It was beautifully located in the centre of the island, in the territory of Chy- traea, west of Messaria. The flourishing modern village Kyrka (pronounced tsirkd), in Greek offici- ally Kythraia, Turkish Deirmennik has preserved the ancient name. There has been found here a pre-Phcenician necropolis. In the time of Assur- banipal, Pihigura was King of Kitrusi, one of the ten kingdoms in the island. Numerous inscriptions have been found in the Cypriot dialect, some in ordinary Greek. Chytri was noted for the worship of Apollo, Artemis, and Aphrodite Paphia. Later forms of the name are Cythraia, Cythereia, Cythroi, Chytrides; according to the late Greek work of Sakellarios (Ky- priaka, 2nd ed., 202-205) Kyrka should be Cythera or Cythereia; he identifies Chytri with Palo-Kythro. a village with ruins two hours south of Kyrka. The historical texts, however, mention only one town. Chytri was at an early date an episcopal see. Le- quien's list of the bishops of the see (II, 1069) is very incomplete, only eight being recorded: the first is St. Pappus, who suffered martyrdom under Licinius, Maximinus, or Constantius; the most famous is St. Demetrian, S85-912 (?).
Oberhummer, Chytroi in Pacly-Wissowa, Real-Encyk., VI, 2529 sq.; Gregoire, S. Dimrtrianos in Byzant. Zeil- schrift. XVI,206sqq.; M.kS-L.kTmt:, U He deChi/pre (Paris, 1S79\ 36 sqq ; Hvckett, .1 History of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus (London, 1901), 321.
S. Petrides.
Ciampini, Giovanni Giustino, ecclesiastical archae- ologist, b. at Rome, 1633; d. there 169S. He grad- uated from the Roman University as a student of law but soon devoted himself to archaeological interests, which an important oflice (M agister brevivm gratia?) in the Apostolic Chancery permitted him to pursue. Ilr devoted himself with ardour to the collection of books, oins. and statues, and to the creation of scien- tific circles for the development of antiquarian learn- ing; thus he founded, in 1671, a society for ecclesias- tical history and, in 1679, an academy of the sciences, the latter under the patronage of his friend, Queen Christina of Sweden. He continued the school of archaeological research begun by Onofrio Panvinio and Antonio Bosio, and carried on, though with in- ferior genius, by Fabretti, Boldetti, and Bottari, until, in our own days, Padre Marcbi and Giovanni Battista De Rossi renewed the original traditions of scientific
thoroughness. Apart from some minor archaeological
studies and an investigation of the "Liber Pontifi-
calis" (1693), he has left two illustrated works of
permanent utility, one a history of the ancient
churches East and West, built by Constantine the
Great (De sacris aedificiis a Constantino magno con-
structs, Rome, 1693), and the other a history of the
art of mosaic (Vetera monimenta in quibus prsecipua
. . . musiva opera . . . illustrant ur, Rome, 2 vols.,
1690-99). Both works contain good illustrations of
many ancient Christian edifices and mosaics that, have
since perished or suffered change and deterioration;
they contain, moreover, a rare ecclesiastical erudition,
much of it yet useful. His works were edited (Rome,
1747) in three volumes by Giannini.
Buchberger, Kirchliches Handlexikon (Munich, 1907), I, 938; CREaclMBENl, Vile degli Arcadi illustri (Rome, 1779); Fabroni, Vitce Italorum doctrind excelleniium (Pisa, 1766-83).
Thomas J. Shahan.
Ciasca, Agostino (in the world, Pasqtjale), an Italian Augustinian and cardinal, b. at Polignano a Mare, in the province of Bari, 7 May, 1835; d. at Rome, 6 February, 1902. He received the habit of the Order of St. Augustine in 1S56, made his religious profession in 1S57, and in 1858 was ordained priest. Having perfected himself at Rome in the study of philosophy, theology, and canon law, he dedicated himself in particular to the study of the Oriental lan- guages, especially Arabic and Coptic. Possessed of a keen intellect and a tenacious memory, he soon ac- quired a vast, and profound knowledge in this branch of study. He was a religious of exemplary life, of strong character, assiduous in his work, well versed in ecclesiastical matters, and most loyal to the Catholic Church — qualities which made him especially dear to Leo XIII, who honoured him with his confidence and entrusted to him several delicate missions. In his order, besides being professor of dogmatic theology, Sacred Scripture, and the Oriental languages, Ciasca also held the positions of prefect of studies, assistant general, and afterwards of procurator general.
In 1866 he obtained the chair of Hebrew in the College of Propaganda, and later took part in the Vatican Council in the quality of theologian and as interpreter for the Oriental bishops. He also occu- pied the following positions: consultor of the Congre- gation of Propaganda for the affairs of Oriental Rites (1S72); writer in the Vatican Library for Arabic (1876); pontifical interpreter at the Congregation of Propaganda; ordinary censor of Oriental books and professor of Oriental languages in the Roman Semi- nary (187S); dean of the faculties of Oriental lan- guages and theology in the same seminary, and presi- dent of the college of interpreters at the Propaganda (1S82); consultor of the Holy Office (1889). In 1S91 lie was created Titular Archbishop of Larissa with the appointment to the office of prefect of the Vatican Archives; in the same year he was sent by the Holy See to preside over the Ruthenian synod at Lemberg. In 1892 he was named pro-secretary and afterwards secretary of the Congregation of Propaganda (1893). His brilliant career was crowned by bis elevation to the eardinalate at the secret consistory of 19 June, 1899.
Among Cardinal Ciasca's many services to eccle- siastical learning may be mentioned his publication (1885-89) of the extant fragments of a very ancient Coptic version of the Old Testament, from manu- scripts in the Borgia (Propaganda) Museum and his discovery ami edition (1888) of a valuable Arabic ver- sion of the "Diatcssaron" or gospel-harmony of the second-century Christian writer T.itian, a text of much importance for the history of the Canon of the NewTestamenl (cf. M. Maher, "Recenl Evidencefor the Authenticity of the Gospel: Tati.m's Diatcs- saron", London, 1903). His own principal works are: "Exarnen Critico-Apologeticum super Constitu-
