Staseas, a peripatetic philosopher, engaged to instruct young Marcus Piso in philosophy. Cicero, On Oratory, bk. 1, ch. 22.
Stasicrătes, a statuary and architect in the wars of Alexander, who offered to make a statue of mount Athos, which was rejected by the conqueror, &c.
Stasileus, an Athenian killed at the battle of Marathon. He was one of the 10 pretors.
Statilli, a people of Liguria, between the Tænarus and the Apennines. Livy, bk. 42, ch. 7.—Cicero, bk. 11, Letters to his Friends, ltr. 11.
Statilia, a woman who lived to a great age, as mentioned by Seneca, ltr. 77.——Another. See: [Messalina].
Statilius, a young Roman celebrated for his courage and constancy. He was an inveterate enemy to Cæsar, and when Cato murdered himself, he attempted to follow his example, but was prevented by his friends. The conspirators against Cæsar wished him to be in their number, but the answer which he gave displeased Brutus. He was at last killed by the army of the triumvirs. Plutarch.——Lucius, one of the friends of Catiline. He joined in his conspiracy, and was put to death. Cicero, Against Catiline, ch. 2.——A young general in the war which the Latins undertook against the Romans. He was killed, with 25,000 of his troops.——A general who fought against Antony.——Taurus, a proconsul of Africa. He was accused of consulting magicians, upon which he put himself to death. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 12, ch. 59.
Statĭnæ, islands on the coast of Campania, raised from the sea by an earthquake. Pliny, bk. 2, ch. 88.
Statīra, a daughter of Darius, who married Alexander. The conqueror had formerly refused her, but when she had fallen into his hands at Issus, the nuptials were celebrated with uncommon splendour. No less than 9000 persons attended, to each of whom Alexander gave a golden cup, to be offered to the gods. Statira had no children by Alexander. She was cruelly put to death by Roxana, after the conqueror’s death. Justin, bk. 12, ch. 12.——A sister of Darius the last king of Persia. She also became his wife, according to the manners of the Persians. She died after an abortion, in Alexander’s camp, where she was detained as a prisoner. She was buried with great pomp by the conqueror. Plutarch, Alexander.——A wife of Artaxerxes Memnon, poisoned by her mother-in-law queen Parysatis. Plutarch, Artaxerxes.——A sister of Mithridates the Great. Plutarch.
Statius Cæcilius, a comic poet in the age of Ennius. He was a native of Gaul, and originally a slave. His latinity was bad, yet he acquired great reputation by his comedies. He died a little after Ennius. Cicero, de Senectute.——Annæus, a physician, the friend of the philosopher Seneca. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 15, ch. 64.——Publius Papinius, a poet born at Naples, in the reign of the emperor Domitian. His father’s name was Statius of Epirus, and his mother’s Agelina. Statius has made himself known by two epic poems, the Thebais in 12 books, and the Achilleis in two books, which remained unfinished on account of his premature death. There are, besides, other pieces composed on several subjects, which are extant, and well known under the name of Sylvæ, divided into four books. The two epic poems of Statius are dedicated to Domitian, whom the poet ranks among the gods. They were universally admired in his age at Rome, but the taste of the times was corrupted, though some of the moderns have called them inferior to no Latin compositions except Virgil’s. The style of Statius is bombastic and affected, and he often forgets the poet to become the declaimer and the historian. In his Sylvæ, which were written generally extempore, are many beautiful expressions and strokes of genius. Statius, as some suppose, was poor, and he was obliged to maintain himself by writing for the stage. None of his dramatic pieces are extant. Martial has satirized him, and what Juvenal has written in his praise, some have interpreted as an illiberal reflection upon him. Statius died about the 100th year of the christian era. The best editions of his works are that of Barthius, 2 vols., 4to, Zwickau, 1664, and that of the Variorum, 8vo, Leiden, 1671; and of the Thebais, separate, that of Warrington, 2 vols., 12mo, 1778.——Domitius, a tribune in the age of Nero, deprived of his office when Piso’s conspiracy was discovered. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 15, ch. 17.——A general of the Samnites.——An officer of the pretorian guards, who conspired against Nero.
Stator, a surname of Jupiter, given him by Romulus, because he stopped (sto) the flight of the Romans in a battle against the Sabines. The conqueror erected him a temple under that name. Livy, bk. 1, ch. 12.