Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 1.djvu/95

Rh cognomen, in the early times of the empire, but not under the republic. One of the mythical kings of Alba is called by this name. (Liv. 1.3.) According to Aulus Gellius (16.16), Pliny (Plin. Nat. 7.6. s. 8), and Solinus (1), the word signifies a birth, at which the child is presented with its feet foremost; but their derivation of it from aegre partus or pes is absurd enough. (Comp. Sen. Oed. 813.)

AGRIPPA (Ἀγρίππας), a sceptical philosopher, only known to have lived later than Aenesidemus, the contemporary of Cicero, from whom he is said to have been the fifth in descent. He is quoted by Diogenes Laertius, who probably wrote about the time of M. Antoninus. The "five grounds of doubt" (οἱ πέντε τρόποι), which are given by Sextus Empiricus as a summary of the later scepticism, are ascribed by Diogenes Laertius (9.88) to Agrippa.

I. The first of these argues from the uncertainty of the rules of common life, and of the opinions of philosophers.

II. The second from the " rejectio ad infinitum :" all proof requires some further proof, and so on to infinity.

III. All things are changed as their relations become changed, or, as we look upon them in different points of view.

IV. The truth asserted is merely an hypothesis or, V. involves a vicious circle. (Sextus Empiricus, Pyrrhon. Hypot. 1.15.)

With reference to these πέντε τρόποι it need only be remarked, that the first and third are a short summary of the ten original grounds of doubt which were the basis of the earlier scepticism. [PYRRHON.] The three additional ones shew a progress in the sceptical system, and a transition from the common objections derived from the fallilility of sense and opinion, to more abstract and metaphysical grounds of doubt. They seem to mark a new attempt to systematize the sceptical philosophy and adapt it to the spirit of a later age. (Ritter, Geschichte der Philosophie, 12.4.)

AGRIPPA, M. ASI'NIUS, consul A. D. 25, died A. D. 26, was descended from a family more illustrious than ancient, and did not disgrace it by his mode of life. (Tac. Ann. 4.34, 61.)

AGRIPPA CASTOR (Ἀγρίππας Κάστωρ), about A. D. 135, praised as a historian by Eusebius, and for his learning by St Jerome (de Viris Illusir. c. 21), lived in the reign of Hadrian. He wrote against the twenty-four books of the Alexandrian Gnostic Basilides, on the Gospel. Quotations are made from his work by Eusebius. (Hist. Eccles. 4.7; see Gallandi's Bibliotheca Patrum, vol. i. p. 330.)

AGRIPPA, FONTEIUS. 1. One of the accusers of Libo, A. D. 16, is again mentioned in A. D. 19, as offering his daughter for a vestal virgin. (Tac. Ann. 2.30, 86.)

2. Probably the son of the preceding, commanded the province of Asia with pro-consular power, A. D. 69, and was recalled from thence by Vespasian, and placed over Moesia in A. D. 70. He was shortly afterwards killed in battle by the Sarmatians. (Tac. Hist. 3.46; J. BJ 7.4.3.)

AGRIPPA, D. HATE'RIUS, called by Tacitus (Tac. Ann. 2.51) the propinquus of Germanicus, was tribune of the plebs A. D. 15, praetor A. D. 17, and consul A. D. 22. His moral character was very low, and he is spoken of in A. D. 32, as plotting the destruction of many illustrious men. (Tac. Ann. 1.77, 2.51, 3.49, 52, 6.4.) AGRIPPA, HERO'DES I. (Ἡρώδης Ἀγρίππας), called by Josephus (J. AJ 17.2.2), " Agrippa the Great," was the son of Aristobulus and Berenice, and grandson of Herod the Great. Shortly before the death of his grandfather, he came to Rome, where he was educated with the future emperor Claudius, and Drusus the son of Tiberius. He squandered his property in giving sumptuous entertainments to gratify his princely friends, and in bestowing largesses on the freedmen of the emperor, and became so deeply involved in debt, that he was compelled to fly from Rome, and betook himself to a fortress at Malatha in Idumaea. Through the mediation of his wife Cypros, with his sister Herodias, the wife of Herodes Antipas, he was allowed to take up his abode at Tiberias, and received the rank of aedile in that city, with a small yearly income. But having quarrelled with his brother-in-law, he fled to Flaccus, the proconsul of Syria. Soon afterwards he was convicted, through the information of his brother Aristobulus, of having received a bribe from the Damascenes, who wished to purchase his influence with the proconsul, and was again compelled to fly. He was arrested as he was about to sail for Italy, for a sum of money which he owed to the treasury of Caesar, but made his escape, and reached Alexandria, where his wife succeeded in procuring a supply of money from Alexander the Alabarch. He then set sail, and landed at Puteoli. He was favourably received by Tiberius, who entrusted him with the education of his grandson Tiberius. He also formed an intimacy with Caius Caligula. Having one day incautiously expressed a wish that the latter might soon succeed to the throne, his words were reported by his freedman Eutychus to Tiberius, who forthwith threw him into prison. Caligula, on his accession (A. D. 37), set him at liberty, and gave him the tetrarchies of Lysanias (Abilene) and Philippus (Batanaca, Trachonitis, and Auranitis). He also presented him with a golden chain of equal weight with the iron one which he had worn in prison. In the following year Agrippa took possession of his kingdom, and after the banishment of Herodes Antipas, the tetrarchy of the latter was added to his dominions. On the death of Caligula, Agrippa, who was at the time in Rome, materially assisted Claudius in gaining possession of the empire. As a reward for his services, Judaea and Samaria were annexed to his dominions, which were now even more extensive than those of Herod the Great. He was also invested with the consular dignity, and a league was publicly made with him by Claudius in the forum. At his request, the kingdom of Chalcis was given to his brother Herodes. (A. D. 41.) IIe then went to Jerusalem, where he offered sacrifices, and suspended in the treasury of the temple the golden chain which Caligula had given him. His government was mild and gentle, and he was exceedingly popular amongst the Jews. In the city of Berytus he built a theatre and amphitheatre, baths, and porticoes. The suspicions of Claudius prevented him from finishing the impregnable fortifications with which he had begun to surround Jerusalem. His friendship was courted by many of the neighbouring kings and rulers. It was probably to increase his popularity with the Jews that he caused the apostle James, the brother of John, to be beheaded, and Peter to be cast into