Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/323

 JIEDULLUS. itself. (Gell, Top. of Rome, pp. 312, 319; Nibbj, iJintorni, vol. ii. pp. 293, 327 ; Abeken, M. I. p. 73.) [E. H. B.] MEDULLUS (Flor. iv. 12; Jledulliuin, Oros. vi. 21), a mountain in Hispania TarraconensLs, risking above the river Minius ; perhaps the Sierra de Ma- meda, upon the river Sil, a tributaiy of the Mino. lAIEDUS (6 MtjSos, Strab. xv. p. 729), a river of ancient Persis, which, according to Strabo, after taking its source in Media, flowed into the Araxes, which waters the plain of Tersepolis. Cartius, however, in speaking of these rivers, makes the A'-ases, which was the greater stream, flow into the Medus, which was the less (v. 4. § 7). There can be no doubt, however, that Strabo is more correct than Curtius. The Medus is the small stream (now called the Pidwdn) which flows past the remains of Pasargadae, Istakr, and Persepolis, and falls into the Araxes (^Kur or Bend-amir^ a few miles below the last ruins. The united stream of the two rivers terminates in lake Bahhtegdn, about 40 miles from Persepolis. (Fergusson, Ninev. and Persep. p. 90.) [V.] MEGABAKI (Uiydgapot, Strab. xvii. pp. 786, 819; M67aSap5o(, Ptol. iv. 7. § 30; Megabarri, Plin. vi. 30. s. 35), a people of Aethiopia, near Meroe, also called Adibari according to some autho- rities (Plin. I. c), and possessing a town of Apollo. Their name appears to survive in the tribe of the Mekaberab near Schendt/. {Hhter, Erdhmde,vo. i. p. 663; Forbiger, vol. ii. p. 811.) MEGA'LIA. [Megakis.] MEGALO'POLIS (?; MfyaKri ttoAis or Ms7aAo- ttoAij: Eth. MeyaoiroiTr]s: Shuinit), the " Great City," one of the most recent of the Grecian cities, and the later capital of Arcadia, was founded in b. c. 370, a few months after the battle of Leuctra, and was finished in the course of three years. (Pans, viii. 27. § 1; Diod. xv. 52, 62, 72.) Arcadia had been previously divided into a number of independent political communities; and it had always been the object of Sparta to maintain them in their isolated condition, that she might the more easily exercise su- premacy over them. But after the fatal blow, which the Spartans had received at the battle of Leuctra, several of the leading Arcadians, supported by Epa- minoiidas, who was the soul of the undertaking, resolved to found a new city, which should become the capital of an Arcadian confederation. Ten oecists were appointed to carry this resolution into efleet, of whom two were from Tegea, two from Muntincia, two from Cleitor, two from the district of Maenalns, and two from that of Parrhasia. The site, which they chose, was an extensive plain upon the north- west frontier of Laconia; and the city was built upon the river Helisson, a tributary of the Alpheius. Forty distinct Arcadian townships were either per- suaded or compelled to contribute their inhabitants to form the new state. (Paus. viii. 27; Diod. xv. 94.) The inhabitants were furnished from seven states: 10 from Maenahis, 8 from the Parrhasii, 3 from Orchomenus, 4 from Cynuria, 6 from Eu- tresis, 3 from Tripolis, and jirobably 6 (though Pausanias mentions the names of only 5) from Aegytis. The city was 50 stadia (more than .5 miles and a half) in circumference (Polyb. ix. 21); while the territory assigned to it was more extensive than that of any other Arcadian state, extending northwards about 23 English miles from the city, being bounded on the ea.st by the territories of Tegea, Mantineia. Orciiomenus. and Cajihyiie, and MEGALOPOLIS. 307 on the we.st by those of Messene, Phigalia, and He- raea. (On the foundation of Megalopolis, see Clin- ton, Fast. Eell. vol. ii. p. 418; Thirlwall, Hist, of Greece, vol. v. p. 85, seq.; Grote, Bist. of Greece vol. X. p. 306, seq.) Megalopolis was the place of meeting of the Arcadian corjfedeivation which was now formed. The council of the confederation was called the Ten Thousand (ol Mvpioi), and consisted of representa- tives of all the Arcadian states, except Orchomenus and Heraea. The number must be regarded as au indefinite one ; and it is probable that all the citi- zens of the separate states had the right of attending the meetings. (Xen. Hell. vi. 5. § 6, vii. 1. § 38 ; Diod. XV. 59 ; Paus. viii. 32. § 1 ; Dem. de Fah. Leg. p. 344.) A body of troops, called Epariti ('ETrapiToi), was raised for the service of the confe- deration; their number was 5000 (Xen. Hell. vii. 4. § 34, vii. 5. § 3; Diod. xi. 62, 67.) The new con- federation succeeded for a time in giving a certain degree of unity of sentiment and action to the Arca- dians; but its influence gradually declined; and the city of Megalopolis never attained that importance which its founders had anticipated, and which had caused it to be laid out on a scale too large for the the population collected within its walls. (Polyb ii. 55.) Upon the decline of the Theban power, the Spar- tans directed their attacks against Megalopolis: imt these were easily repelled; and upon the rise of the Macedonian power the Megalopolitans formed a close alliance with Philip, and subsequently with Alex- ander, as their best security against their formidable neighbour. After the death of Alexander they continued faithful to the Macedonian alliance, and refused to join the other Greeks against Antipater. In the contest between Polysperchon and Cassander, Megalopolis espoused the side of the latter; in conse- quence of which Polysperchon laid siege to the ciiy in B. c. 318. It was, however, bravely defended by its inhabitants, under an ofiicer named Damis; and though Poly.-perchon succeeded in making a breach in its walls, he was finally repulsed with loss. (Diod. xviii. 70, 71.) We learn from Diodorus {I. c.) that the territory of Megalopolis possessed at this tiu}e 15,000 men capable of bearing arms, which im- plies a population of about 65,000 souls. After this time Megalopolis was governed by tyrants, of whom the first was Aristodemus, a Phii;alian by birth, who, on account of his good qualities, was called XprjcTToy. During his reign the Spartans, under their king Acrotatus, the son of Areus, and grandson of Cleonymus II., attacked Megalopdlis, but were defeated, and Acrotatus was slain. (Paus. viii. 27. § 11, who erroneously calls Acrotatus the son of Cleonymus.) Two generations later Lydiades, a native of Megalopolis, became tyrant of the city, but he voluntarily resigned his power in b. c. 232, and united Megalopolis to the Achaean League. (Paus. viii. 27. § 12, seq.; Polyb. ii. 44.) In b c. 222, Cleomenes III. surprised Megalopolis; the greater part of the inhabitants succeeded in making their escape to Messene; but, after plundering the city, he laid the greater part of it in ruins. (Paus. viii. 27. § 15, Ke(i.; Polyb. ii. 55; Pint. Philop. 5, Clcom. 25.) Soon after the defeat of Cleomenes at the battle of Sellasia (b. c. 221), the Megalopolitans began to rebuild their city; but a dispute arose among them respecting its size. One party wished the compass of the walls to be contracted, that they might be tlie more easily defended; and the other X 2