the Athenian, a philosopher and a Christian, concerning the Christians, to the Emperors Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, &c." This statement has given rise to considerable discussion, but from it and internal evidence the date of the Apology may be fixed at about 176 or 177 A.D. Athenagoras is also the author of a discourse on the resurrection of the dead, which is not authenticated otherwise tha n by the titles on the various manuscripts. In the Apology, he refutes the accusations brought against the Christians of atheism, eating human flesh, and licentiousness, and in doing so takes occasion to make a vigorous and skilful attack on Pagan polytheism and mythology. The discourse on the resurrection answers objections to the doctrine, and attempts to prove its truth from considerations of God s purpose in the creation of man, His justice, and the nature of man himself. Athena goras is a powerful and clear writer, but his theology is strongly tinged with Platonism. His discussion of the Trinity has some points of speculative interest, but it is not sufficiently worked out ; he regards the Son as the Reason or Wisdom of the Father, and the Spirit as a divine effluence. On some other points, as the nature of matter, the immortality of the soul, and the principle of sin, his views are interesting. There are many editions of Athena goras ; the best are those of the Benedictine Maranus, and of Otto, Jena, 1857. The works have been translated into English by Humphreys, London, 1714, and by the Eev. B. P. Pratten, Edinburgh, 1807 (Ante-Nicene Christum Library}. In 1599 and 1612 appeared in French a work on True and Perfect Love, purporting to be a translation
from the Greek of Athenagoras ; it is a palpable forgery.ATHENODORUS, surnamed Cananites or Sandonus, a Stoic philosopher, was born at Tarsus. He probably gave instruction to Augustus when he was at Apollonia ; and on proceeding to the Roman courts, he was made tutor to Tiberius. The emperor esteemed him greatly for his proved virtue and probity. He was in the habit of giving his opinion very freely, and warned Augustus, whenever ho found himself giving way to anger, to rehearse the twenty- four letters of the alphabet before saying or doing any thing. Retiring late in life to his native town, he died there at the age of 82. None of his works have sur vived. Another Stoic of this name, surnamed Coedylion, also of Tarsus, was keeper of the library at Pergamus, and died at Rome in the house of Cato the Younger. There were likewise two sculptors named Athenodorus, one of whom assisted Agesander in the group of the Laocoon.
ATHENRY, a decayed town of Ireland, county of Galway, and province of Connaught, 14 miles E. of Galway. It is a place of antiquity, and traces of its walls and castle, and of an old Dominican monastery, are still visible. It gave the title of baron to the family of De Bermingham, and from the time of Richard II. till the Union it returned two members to parliament. Population of the parish in 1871, 3639.
end of volume second.
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