at Pergamus, a colony from Epidaurus; that of Tricca in Thessaly enjoyed a reputation of long standing, and in the islands that of Cos, the birthplace of the physician Hippŏcrătēs.
At Rome, the worship of the deity there called Æsculapius was introduced by order of the Sibylline books, on occasion of the plague of 293 b.c., and the god was brought from Epidaurus in the shape of a snake. For in the form of a snake, the symbol of rejuvenescence and of prophecy, he was wont to reveal himself, and snakes were accordingly kept in his temples. He had a sanctuary and a much frequented sanatorium on the island in the Tiber. With him were worshipped his wife Epĭŏnē (= soother), his two sons mentioned above, and several daughters, especially Hygieia, (q.v.) also Telesphŏrŏs (= fulness-bringer) the deity of Recovery, who was pictured as a boy. In later times Asclepius was often confounded with the Egyptian Serāpis. He is among the most favourite subjects of ancient art; at several places where he was worshipped he had statues of gold and ivory. He is commonly represented with a beard, and resembling Zeus, but with a milder aspect, sometimes with Telesphoros, in a thick veil, or little Hygieia, at his side; his usual attribute is a staff with a serpent coiled round it. The cock was sacrificed to him.
Ascōnĭus Pĕdĭānus (Quintus), a Roman grammarian and historian, probably born at Patavium about the year 3 a.d. He lived latterly at Rome, where he enjoyed the favour of men in high place. During the reigns of Claudius and Nero, having carefulfy studied the literature of the Ciceronian age, and availing himself of state-papers then existing, he composed for the use of his own sons his valuable historical Commentaries on Cicero's Orations, of which only those on five orations (In Pīsōnem, Pro Scauro, Pro Mīlōne, Pro Cornēlio, In tŏgā Candĭdā) are preserved, unfortunately in a very fragmentary condition. The commentaries on the Verrine Orations, which bear his name, belong probably to the 4th century a.d. They treat chiefly of grammatical points. No other works by Asconius have survived. He died, after twelve years’ blindness, about 88 a.d.
Asellĭō (C. Sempronius). A Roman annalist. See Annalists.
Asīnius Pollĭō (Gaius). A celebrated the Roman poet, orator, and historian. He was born b.c. 75, and made his first public appearance by bringing an impeachment in b.c. 54; in the Civil Wars he fought on Cæsar's side at Pharsālus and in Africa and Spain. After the murder of Cæsar he at first inclined to the Republicans, but in b.c. 43 joined Antony, and on the break-up of the Triumvirate obtained Gallia Transpadana for his province. In the redistribution of lands there he saved the poet Vergil's paternal estate for him. After negotiating the Peace of Brundisium between Antony and Octavian, b.c. 41, he became consul in 40, conquered the Parthīni in Dalmatia in 39, and celebrated a triumph. He then retired from political life, and devoted himself to the advancement of learning. He served the cause of literature not only by his own writings, but by setting up the first public library at Rome, and by introducing the custom of reading new works aloud to a circle of experts, before publication. (See Recitatio.) He was himself a stern critic of others, as we see by his strictures on Cicero, Sallust and Livy, though it was remarked that he was not always so severe upon himself. He was especially celebrated as an orator; yet his speeches, in spite of careful preparation, were devoid of elegance, and, as Quintilian remarks, might be supposed to have been written a century earlier than Cicero's. He wrote tragedies also, in which the same stiffness and dryness are complained of. And he composed a history of the Civil Wars in seventeen books, from the first Triumvirate to the battle of Philippi, which seems not to have been published in a complete form till after his death. Not one of his works has survived. [The history of Cæsar's African campaign, Bellum Afrĭcum, has recently been attributed to him, but on insufficient grounds.] He died 80 years old, a.d. 4.
Ascōlia. The second day of the rural Dionysia (q.v.).
Aspis. The Greek name for a long shield (For further information, see Shield.)
Assărăcus, son of Trōs, and founder of the collateral line to which Anchīsēs and Ænēās belong in the royal house of Troy. (Comp. Dardanus.)
Assignātio. The Latin term for the assignment of public lands to single citizens or to colonies. See Colonies and Ager Publicus.
Astĕria, daughter of the Titan Cœus and the Titanid Phœbē; sister of Lētō, and mother of Hĕcătē by Perses, son of the Titan Crius. She is said to have turned into an
