Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/829

Rh sovereignty of Thessaly, but came to an untimely end, being murdered by one of her lovers. . first of this name was Theano Locrensis, a native of the city of Locri, and surnamed Melica, from the exact melody to which all her lyric airs and songs were composed. The second, a Cretan poetess, is by some said to have been the wife of Pythagoras. The third, Theano Thuria, or Metapontina, daughter of the poet Lycophron. They are all three mentioned by Suidas. There are also three epistles of Theano, probably one of the three now mentioned, though which of them is not determined, published, with the epistles of several ancient Greek authors, at Venice, by Aldus. . about six or seven years of age, she and her young brother formed a resolution of going into Africa, to seek martyrdom among the Moors; but an uncle stopped them in their flight. As she grew up, she employed herself in reading romances, and even composed some; but learning the futility of this study, began to read good authors, and to be very religious. She renounced her prospects in the world, and became a nun; but the rules of the convent being relaxed from their original austerity, Theresa was dissatisfied with them, and founded another in the same city, far more strict. She composed many religious works, which were esteemed