Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 1.djvu/104

86 commanded a fleet of fifty ships in the Ionian sea, and completely defeated Domitius Calvinus on the day of the first battle of Philippi, as the latter attempted to sail out of Brundusium. He was saluted Imperator in consequence, and a record of this victory is preserved in the annexed coin, which represents a trophy placed upon the prow of a vessel The head on the other side of the coin has a beard, in reference to the reputed origin of the family.

After the battle of Philippi (42), Ahenobarbus conducted the war independently of Sex. Pompeius, and with a fleet of seventy ships and two legions plundered the coasts of the Ionian sea.

In 40 Ahenobarbus became reconciled to Antony, which gave great offence to Octavianus, and was placed over Bithynia by Antony. In the peace concluded with Sex. Pompeius in 39, Antony provided for the safety of Ahenobarbus, and obtained for him the promise of the consulship for 32. Ahenobarbus remained a considerable time in Asia, and accompanied Antony in his unfortunate campaign against the Parthians in 36. He became consul, according to agreement, in 32, in which year the open rupture took place between Antony and Augustus. Ahenobarbus fled from Rome to Antony at Ephesus, where he found Cleopatra with him, and endeavoured, in vain, to obtain her removal from the army. Many of the soldiers, disgusted with the conduct of Antony, offered the command to him; but he preferred deserting the party altogether, and accordingly went over to Augustus shortly before the battle of Actium. He was not, however, present at the battle, as he died a few days after joining Augustus. Suetonius says that he was the best of his family. (Cic. Phil. 2.11, 10.6, Brut. 25, ad Fam. 6.22; Appian, App. BC 5.55, 63, 65; Plut. Ant. 70, 71; Dio Cass. lib. xlvii.--1; Vell. 2.76, 84; Suet. Nero 3; Tac. Ann. 4.44.)

9. L. Domitius Cn. F. L. N. AHENOBARBUS, son of the preceding, was betrothed in B. C. 36, at the meeting of Octavianus and Antony at Tarentum, to Antonia, the daughter of the latter by Octavia. He was aedile in B. C. 22, and consul in B. C. 16. After his consulship, and probably as the successor of Tiberius, he commanded the Roman army in Germany, crossed the Elbe, and penetrated further into the country than any of his predecessors had done. He received in consequence the insignia of a triumph. He died A. D. 25. Suetonius describes him as haughty, prodigal, and cruel, and relates that in his aedileship he commanded the censor L. Plancus to make way for him; and that in his praetorship and consulship he brought Roman knights and matrons on the stage. He exhibited shows of wild beasts in every quarter of the city, and his gladiatorial combats were conducted with so much bloodshed, that Augustus was obliged to put some restraint upon them. (Suet. Nero 4; Tac. Ann. 4.44; D. C. 54.59; Vell. 2.72.)

10. Cn. Domitius Cn. N. Ahenobarbus, L. F.' son of the preceding, and father of the emperor Nero. He married Agrippina, the daughter of Germanicus. He was consul A. D. 32, and afterwards proconsul in Sicily. He died at Pyrgi in Etruria of dropsy. His life was stained with crimes of every kind. He was accused as the accomplice of Albucilla of the crimes of adultery and murder, and also of incest with his sister Domitia Lepida, and only escaped execution by the death of Tiberius. When congratulated on the birth of his son, afterwards Nero, he replied that whatever was sprung from him and Agrippina could only bring ruin to the state. (Suet. Nero 5, 6; Tac. Ann. 4.75, 6.1, 47, 12.64; Vell. 2.72; D. C. 58.17.)

11. DOMITIA, daughter of No. 9. [DOMITIA.]

12. Domitia Lepida, daughter of No. 9. [DOMITIA LEPIDA.]

13. L. Domitius Ahenobarbus, son of No. 10, afterwards the emperor Nero. [NERO.]

14. Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, praetor in B. C. 54, presided at the second trial of M. Coelius. (Cic. ad Qu. Fr. 2.13.) He may have been the son of No. 5.

15. L. Domitius Ahenobarbus, praetor B. C. 80, commanded the province of nearer Spain, with the title of proconsul In 79, he was summoned into further Spain by Q. Metellus Pius, who was in want of assistance against Sertorius, but he was defeated and killed by Hirtuleius, quaestor of Sertorius, near the Anas. (Plut. Sert. 12; Liv. Epit. 90; Eutrop. 6.1; Florus, 3.22; Oros. 5.23.)

 AJAX, 1. A son of Telamon, king of Salamis, by Periboea or Eriboea (Apollod. iii. 12. §7 ; Paus. i. 42. §4 ; Pind. Isth. vi. 65; Diod. iv. 72), and a grandson of Aeacus. Homer calls him Ajax the Telamonian, Ajax the Great, or simply Ajax (Il. ii. 768, ix. 169, xiv. 410; comp. Pind. Isth. vi. 38), whereas the other Ajax, the son of Oïleus, is always distinguished from the former by some epithet. According to Homer Ajax joined the expedition of the Greeks against Troy, with his Salaminians, in twelve ships (//. ii. 557 ; comp. Strab. ix. p. 394), and was next to Achilles the most distinguished and the bravest among the Greeks, (ii. 768, xvii. 279, &c.) He is described as tall of stJitm'e, and his head and broad shoulders as rising above those of all the Greeks (iii. 226, &c.) ; in beauty he was inferior to none but Achilles. {Od. xi. 550, xxiv. 17 ; comp. Paus. i. 35. § 3.) When Hector challenged the bravest of the Greeks to single combat, Ajax came forward among several others. The people prayed that he might fight, and when the lot fell*^ to Ajax (//, vii. 179, &c), and he approached. Hector himself began to tremble. (215.) He wounded Hector and daslied him to the ground by a huge stone. The combatants were separatecj, and upon paiting they exchanged arms with one another as a token of mutmd esteem. (305, &c.) Ajax was also one of the ambassadors whom Agamemnon sent to conciliate Achilles, (ix. 169.) He fought several times besides with Hector, as in the battle near tlie ships of the Greeks (xiv. 409, &c. xv. 415, xvi. 114), and in protecting the body of Patroclus. (xvii. 128, 7 32.) In the games at the funeiul pile of Patroclus, Ajax fought with Odysseus, but without gaining any decided advantage over him (xxiii. 720, &c.), iind in like manner with 