Androgeos A Greek soldier killed during the sack of Troy. Androgeos The son of Minos, king of Crete, and Pasiphae; he was killed by the bull of Marathon having been sent by Aegeus to fight it. Andromache The wife of Hector and mother of Astyanax. She survived the sack of Troy and was taken to Epirus by Neoptolemus; after his death she married Helenus. She appears in the Iliad and Euripides wrote a play about her. Angitia A goddess among the Marsians, a people of central Italy living near lake Fucinus (modern Lago Fucino**). She was associated with drugs and spells and Servius identifies her with Medea. Anio A river in Latium, a tributary of the Tiber. Anius King of Delos and priest of Apollo. Anna The sister of Dido. According to some ancient sources she and not Dido loved Aeneas. She was identified (but not by Vergil) with Anna Perenna. Her story is told at Ovid Fasti 3. Antaeus A Rutulian pursued and presumably killed by Aeneas. Antigenes A shepherd. The name appears in Theocritus' seventh Idyll. Antiphates An illegitimate son of Sarpedon killed by Turnus. Another Antiphates appears in the Iliad, two more in the Odyssey. Antonius M. Roman soldier and statesman (83?-30 B.C.). A supporter of Julius Caesar he became Triumvir in 43 and defeated Brutus and Cassius at Philippi in 42. He subsequently took on responsibility for the eastern half of the empire and met Cleopatra in Egypt. During the 30s they became involved in a power struggle with Octavian and in 31 the latter defeated Antony and Cleopatra at Actium. They both fled to Alexandria and committed suicide. Antores A Greek. He was a comrade of Hercules who left Argos and settled in Italy with Evander. He is killed by Mezentius. Anubis An Egyptian divinity indentified with Hermes and represented with the head of a dog. He watched over the souls of the dead. Anxur A Rutulian killed by Aeneas. Anxurus A cult-title of Jupiter. Servius records that the name came from the Greek 'aneu xurou' = without razor, because the young god had not shaved. Aon The Aones were an ancient race settled in Boeotia near Thebes. The adjective Aon is found nowhere else. Aonius A name frequently used in Latin poetry to mean 'Boeotian'. Cf. Aon. Aornos The Greek name for Avernus, meaning literally 'birdless'. Aphidnus A Trojan killed by Turnus Apollo A Greek god, son of Zeus and Leto, brother of Artemis. He had many functions, including prophecy, music, poetry, archery, healing and colonisation, and was particularly associated with Delphi and Delos. His origins are unclear. Augustus adopted him as a kind of tutelary deity and dedicated a magnificent temple to him on the Palatine in 28 B.C. Appenninus The Apennines are the mountain range which runs practically the whole length of central Italy. It is unclear whether the name was originally applied to an individual peak. Aquarius One of the signs of the zodiac. The constellation is often associated with bad weather. It is often said to represent Ganymede, the cup-bearer of Zeus. Aquiculus A Rutulian soldier put to flight and perhaps killed by Pandarus and Bitias. Aquilo The north wind. Ara Maxima The Greek Ara Maxima cult of Hercules in the Forum Boarium at Rome probably dates from the fifth century B.C. Some sources say it was founded by one Potitius, others by Evander, others by Hercules himself. It was celebrated, probably on August 12, to commemorate the victory of Hercules over Cacus. Arabs Arabia. Vergil probably uses the term to to refer to not only the peninsula itself but also to its northern hinterland as far north as the Euphrates. Aracynthus A mountain range in Aetolia in western Greece. Arae The Altars, a rock formation off the coast of modern Tunisia. According to Servius Varro located them between Sardinia and Sicily. They are not to be identified with the Arae Philaenorum traditionally the eastern boundary of the Carthaginian Empire and later the boundary between the Roman provinces of Africa and Cyrenaica. They are perhaps the Skerki rocks about 60 miles S.W. of Lilybaeum. Arar A river in Gaul, the modern Saone. Araxes A river in Armenia flowing into the Caspian Sea, the modern** Arcadia A mountainous region in the central Peloponnese, birthplace of Evander. Arcas An adjective meaning Arcadian. Arcens A Sicilian whose son is killed by Mezentius. Arcetius A Rutulian killed by Mnestheus. Archippus King of the Marsians, a people of central Italy, probably of Sabine origin. Arcturus The brightest star in the constellation Bootes. Its rising and setting are associated with bad weather. Ardea A city in Latium, modern Ardea**. Most sources agree in making it a foundation of great antiquity. For Vergil it is the capital city of the Rutulians. Arethusa A nymph, one of the Nereids. Her name is associated with a number of springs, but the most famous story about her tells of how she was pursued by the river god Alpheus while bathing in his streams; as she fled she was transformed into a river by Artemis. She then flowed under the sea and reappeared on the Sicilian island of Ortygia. Argi, Argivi The Argives, another name for the Greeks. It is used frequently by Homer. The city of Argos (modern**) lies in the eastern Peloponnese. Hera was particularly associated with the place. Argo The name of the ship which carried Jason in search of the Golden Fleece. Argus A hundred-eyed monster who guarded Io after her metamorphosis into a cow. Argus A guest of Evander. When he tried to plot against the king he was killed by Evander's friends. Argiletum The name of the grove in which Argus (see above) was buried by Evander. The word means literally 'death of Argus'. Argyripa A town in Apulia, modern**. The name is associated with Argos since it is related that Diomedes fought for Daunus against the Messapians and as a reward received some of their land. Turnus sends an embassy there asking Diomedes to become an ally in the war against the Trojans but Diomedes refuses. Aricia A powerful and important town in Latium, homeplace of Virbius, the modern**. It was on the Appian Way about 16 miles from Rome. Arion A legendary musician and poet, comparable to Orpheus. The story of how his music so captivated some dolphins that one of them saved him from drowning is told by Herodotus (1.23-4) and Ovid (Fasti 2.79-118). Arisba A town in the Troad mentioned by Homer (Iliad 2.836). Aristaeus Son of Apollo and the nypmh Cyrene, a god or hero associated with hunting and herding whose cult is found in Thessaly, Cyrene, Ceos, Boeotia and Arcadia. As well as discovering bugonia (the art of regenerating bee-hives from the carcasses of dead oxen) he was responsible for the origin of the cooling Etesian Winds which blow in the Aegean for 40 days in mid-summer. Ariusius From Ariusia, a town in northern Chios famous for its wines. Armenius The term Armenia is used to refer to a vast territory in eastern Asia Minor covering parts of modern Turkey, Iraq and Georgia**. Arpi See Argyripa. Asbytes A Trojan killed by Turnus Ascanius Son of Aeneas and Creusa. Also called Iulus and hence claimed as ancestor by Julius Caesar. After the death of Aeneas he is said to have founded Alba Longa. Ascanius A river in Bithynia. It is associated with the rape of Hylas. Ascraeus Ascra in Boeotia was the home of the poet Hesiod. He famously described it as 'bad in winter, hard in summer, never good'. Asia A Roman province whose boundaries changed considerably over the years. The term was also used generally to refer to all the territory beyond the Hellespont and the eastern shore. Asius Asian Asius A Trojan, the son of Imbrasus. In the Iliad there are two Trojans named Asius (Il. 2. 873-9, 16.717-19). Asilas A Rutulian; he kills Corynaeus. Asilas An Etruscan; he is a prophet. Assaracus Son of Tros, father of Capys and grandfather of Anchises. He is often named in Latin poetry as an ancestor of Aeneas. Assyrius Assyria corresponds more or less to the modern Kurdistan but the word was usually associated with oriental luxury in general rather than with a clearly defined geographical region. Astura A town in Latium, modern**. Livy (8.13.5) has a river of the same name, Pliny (N.H. 3.57.81) an island. Astyanax Son of Hector and Andromache. He was killed either by Neoptolemus or Odysseus during the sack of Troy. His name means literally 'lord of the city'. Astyr An Etruscan; his name comes from Astura (q.v.). Athesis A northern Italian river, modern Adige. Servius wrongly says that it flows into the Po. Athos A mountain in northern Greece, modern**. The name was also applied to the peninsula running out into the sea on which the mountain stands. Atina Vergil seems to assume that this town was in Latium, but it was actually in Volscian territory. The modern name is**. Atinas A Rutulian. Atlas One of the Titans, son of Iapetus and Cymene. In Homer he guards the pillars of heaven and earth, but he is more normally considered to hold up the sky. He became identified with a range of mountains in north-west Africa, the Atlas mountains. Atridae A Greek patronymic referring to the sons of Atreus, Agamemnon and Menealus who led the Greek expedition to Troy in order to recapture Helen. Atys A young Trojan, eponymous ancestor of the Roman family the Atii. Aventinus A son of Hercules. He is known from no other source. Aventinus The Aventine, modern**, one of the seven hills of Rome. Avernus A lake in Campania bwteen Cumae (modern**) and the Gulf of Baiae (modern**). It is in the crater of an extinct volcano and was considered to hide an entrance into the Underworld since the whole region was heavily wooded and reeked of sulphurous emissions from the lake. It was associated with Odysseus' descent into Hades when the ancients began plotting his wanderings on the map of the Mediterranean. Aufidus A river in Apulia, modern Ofanto**, one of the biggest in southern Italy. It flows into the Adriatic north of Bari. Augustus Caesar C. Octavius (63 B.C. - A.D. 14), Roman general and statesman, founder of the Roman Empire. He was introduced to public life by Julius Caesar and found himself declared Caesar's chief heir. He subsequently set about avenging the assassinated dictator and soon became involved in a power struggle with M. Antony. He proved to be ambitious and ruthless and he finally won a decisive victory in 31 B.C. at Actium, thus bringing to an end a long series of terrible civil wars that had plagued Italy for decades. He next set about establishing himself in power, a process which he represented as the restoration of the Republic. In 27 B.C. he took the title Augustus. In his person were concentrated supreme political and military power and overwhelming moral authority, and he soon became the focus of an imperial cult which presented him as a divine figure. With the help of Maecenas he was the patron of Vergil, Horace and other poets, although few today believe that they commissioned the writing of the Georgics and Aeneid. Through the empire he founded Augustus profoundly changed the course of world history. Aulestes An Etruscan; captain of a ship in the Etruscan fleet led by Tarchon; killed by Messapus. Aulis The poet in Boeotia from which the Greek fleet set sail for Troy. Aurus A Ligurian, one of whose sons is killed by Camilla. Aurora The goddess of the dawn, the mother of Memnon. Aurunci A northern Campanian tribe. The word is in origin probably identical with Ausonii. Ausonia The word is used to refer to Italy; the Ausonii are the Italians. Originally it referred to a particular tribe but one which can no longer be identified. Auson was said to be the son of Odysseus and Calypso. Auster The south wind. Automedon A Greek, charioteer of Achilles. His name occurs frequently in the Iliad. Bacchus The Greek god of wine and inebriation. Bactra A town in Turkestan, modern Balkh**, an important point on the trade routes between Asia and Rome. Baiae A coastal town in Campania on the Bay of Naples, modern**. Balearis The Balearic Islands, Majorca etc. Barcaei The inhabitants of the city of Barce, modern** Barche The nurse of Sychaeus, Dido's husband. Batulum A town in Campania. Its site is unknown. Bavius A poet; nothing is known about him except that he and Vergil did not share similar ideas about poetry. Cf. Mevius who incurred the enmity of Horace (Epodes 10.2). Bebrycia Bebrycia was on the eastern shore of the Hellespont in the region the Romans called Bithynia. Belides Belus was usually considered to be the father of Danaus but Vergil has him as the father of Palamedes. Bella A variant reading for Abella (q.v.) at Aeneid 7.740. Bellona A personification of war as a female divinity who was considered to be the sister of Mars. Bellum A personification of war as a neuter divinity. Belus King of Phoenicia and father of Dido. He took control of Cyprus and welcomed Teucer there. His name is a hellenisation of the oriental name Baal or Bel. Benacus A lake in Cisalpine Gaul in northern Italy, the modern Lago di Garda. Berecyntius Berecyntus was a city in Phrygia. Its location is unknown. The Berecyntes worshipped the Magna Mater. Beroe A nymph. Beroe A Trojan woman, wife of Doryclus. Bianor Servius records that Bianor, also called Ocnus, was son of the river god Tiberis and the prophetess Manto, the legendary founder of Mantua. Bisaltae A people of Thrace Bitias A Tyrian. Bitias A Trojan, brother of Pandarus, killed by a Turnus. Bola A town in Latium, perhaps modern Lugnano**. Bootes A constellation in the northern sky. Arcturus is its brightest star. Boreas The north wind. Briareus A hundred-headed giant, son of Gaia and Ouranos. Britanni The inhabitants of Britannia, i.e. Great Britain. Brontes One of the Cyclopes. Brutus L. Junius Brutus, traditionally the founder of the Roman Republic. He is said to have expelled Tarquinius Superbus and executed two of his sons for plotting the restoration of the Tarquins. Busiris An Egyptian king who was said to slaughter all foreigners visiting Egypt on the altar of Zeus. Butes A Bebrycian killed by the Trojan Dares at Hector's funeral games. Butes A Trojan, arm-bearer of Anchises. Butes A Trojan killed by Camilla. Buthrotum A town in Epirus in northwest Greece, modern Butrinto. Byrsa The Greek word 'bursa' means a bull's hide. The Greeks identified the word with the Phoenician name for the citadel of Carthage, Bosra. Cacus A monstrous figure who terrorised the community of Evander at Pallanteum and stole the cattle of Hercules when he was passing through Italy on his way back from the west with the cattle of Geryon, for which theft Hercules killed him. His story is also told memorable at Livy 1.7. Servius notes that Cacus = 'kakos', the Greek word for 'bad'. Caeculus Son of Vulcan, founder of Praeneste and eponymous ancestor of the gens Caecilia. Cato told the story of how as a baby he was found near a temple fire by maidens going to fetch water. He was called Caeculus ( = little blind boy) because his eyes were closed on account of the smoke. Caedicus A friend of Remulus of Tibur to whom he gave some weapons as presents. These were in turn passed on to Remulus' grandson, who is killed by Euryalus. Caedicus An Etruscan who kills the Trojan Alcathous. Caelius Caeli is a variant reading for caeli at Ecl. 3.105. Caeneus A Thessalian. He was originally a woman called Caenis, daughter of the king of the Lapiths. When Poseidon seduced her she requested to be turned into a man. He subsequently fought bravely against the Centaurs before being defeated and hammered into the ground. Ovid tells his story at Metamorphoses 12.**. Vergil alone has him becoming a woman again in Hades. Caeneus A Trojan who kills the Rutulian Ortygius. Caere An important town in Etruria, modern Cerveteri. Caesar Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.), Roman general, statesman and writer. He grew to a position of supreme power in Rome as a result of a brilliant political and military career before being assassinated by some Roman aristocrats who feared his apparently boundless ambition. His accounts of his campaigns in Gaul in seven books and of his civil war against Pompey in three books survive. Caicus A river in Mysia, modern Ak-su or Bakir**. Caicus A Trojan. Caieta A town in Latium situated opposite Formiae on a promontory which forms the northern extremity of the Golfi di Gaeta. It was said to have derived its name from the burial there of Aeneas' nurse Caieta. Calaber Calabria is a region in southern Italy. Calchas A prophet who accompanied the Greeks to Troy. He is famous especially for his role in the sacrifice of Iphigeneia at Aulis and in the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon in the first book of the Iliad. Cales An important city in Campania. Calliope One of the Muses. She was particularly associated with epic poetry when their functions became fixed. Calybe An Italian priestess of Juno. Calydon A famous city in Aetolia, founded by Aetolus who named it after his son. Its name appears frequently in Homer. Camenae Italian goddesses originally associated with a spring and meadow in Rome who came to be identified with the Muses. Camerina A town in Sicily, modern**. Camers A Rutulian, the son of Volcens.